The vessel was delivered in May 2017 and was formally named in June 2017 by its godmother, German fashion model and television host Lena Gercke.

The cruise ship has 1,643 cabins and capacity for 3,286 passengers in double occupancy.

The cruise ship AIDAperla is driven by three Caterpillar 12VM43C diesel units, each with power of 12,670 hp.

While en-route from Hamburg to La Coruña, a crew member was reported missing, believed overboard, off Ramsgate on 22 October 2023.

A 9-hour search by HM Coastguard helicopter and the RNLI assisted by the AIDAperla which had returned to the area the person was thought to have gone missing, failed to find them and the search was called off.