On September 27, 2013, the Port of Barcelona and the Carnival Corporation & plc signed a contract for the construction of a new cruise ship terminal. Carnival Corporation & plc, which is the global leader in the cruise industry and also the parent company of AIDA Cruises, will invest more than 20 million euros in the terminal's construction and operation. Completion is planned for 2016.

"For AIDA, the signing of this contract today is an important milestone that will lend stability to our plans for the further expansion of our activities in the Mediterranean. Barcelona is already a popular destination for our guests. In the future the Spanish tourism industry will profit from cruise business not only during the summer months, but also increasingly year-round," according to Michael Ungerer, President AIDA Cruises, on the occasion of the contract signing.

In 2014 Barcelona will host four ships from the AIDA fleet a total of 82 times. This year alone, the three ships AIDAblu, AIDAmar, and AIDAvita will have visited the Catalan metropolis a total of 55 times.
Completion of the terminal, which will have a total area of around 10,000 square meters, is planned for 2016. The modern facility will have space to handle up to 4,500 passengers.

AIDA Cruises currently employs 6,900 people from 25 different countries. Of these employees, 6,000 work on board and 900 work at the company headquarters in Rostock and Hamburg. As a cruise line and tour operator, AIDA Cruises currently operates and markets a fleet of 10 of the most modern and environmentally friendly cruise ships in the world. AIDAaura, AIDAbella, AIDAcara, AIDAdiva, AIDAvita, AIDAluna, AIDAblu, AIDAsol, AIDAmar, and AIDAstella all belong to this fleet. The ships are operated in compliance with the highest international quality, environmental, and safety standards. By 2016, the AIDA fleet will have grown to twelve ships that will be offering voyages in the Mediterranean, all around the Canaries, in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, in North and South America, in the Persian Gulf, and in Asia. The fleet's trademark is the characteristic smiling lips on the prow of the ship. AIDA provides casual cruises that are compatible with the lifestyle of active, open-minded guests of every age.