[8] Built by Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg, Germany, she is the third ship of the class, preceded by AIDAdiva and AIDAbella, and is followed by AIDAblu, AIDAsol, and AIDAmar.

On 23 February, departing Emden to continue sea trials, she ventured to Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg for final inspection at dock Elbe 17.

During the inspection, an object was seen, being tangled on AIDAluna's propellers, which was supposedly caused by the ship's short trip.

This 14-day voyage culminated in Palma de Mallorca, with stops at Le Havre, Santander, A Coruña, Lisbon, Cadiz, Tangier, Valencia, and Barcelona.

[8] AIDAluna made her first call in Kiel on 22 April and in Rostock-Warnemünde on 8 May, departing from Palma de Mallorca.

The Canadian Coast Guard launched a search operation,[16][17][18] assisted by AIDAluna and the Holland America cruise ship Zuiderdam.