AIDA says it is the first German cruise line offering this service, which will be inaugurated initially onboard AIDAstella for future expansion to other ships including AIDAprima, arriving in Hamburg next spring. The cruise line is promoting the service as 'Express Check-In'.
AIDAstella will carry six mobile check-in desks which can be set up ashore in the terminal for embarking passengers to generate their own boarding card by scanning their identification document/passport. The machine will scan the passport photo and print it onto the boarding card. Alternatively passengers may also choose the check-in desk to take a new photo and print it on the card. A camera has been integrated into each desk. The process takes 30 seconds.
AIDA says any passenger may use the new service, provided their preferred means of cashless payment number has been registered in advance of the cruise online in the MyAIDA registration tool.
The cruise line says it will continue offering manned check-in desks alongside the new express option. Crew members will be on hand to assist passengers in case of difficulty with the 'Express Check-In' booths.