Can cruise ships and the environment really mix?
Cruise ships are forever targeted as a floating crusade of emissions and environmental damage. But how bad is it? The answer is not what you may have been expecting.
Cruise ships have long been criticised for having a negative impact on the environment. Concerns rage about carbon emissions, waste disposal and ocean-injected pollution. Headlines regularly showcase the potential chaos caused to Mother Nature by incoming cruise liners. It paints a toxic picture.
However, the reality is far more nuanced than some would have you believe. As a deep-dive investigation by Cruise Trade News demonstrated, the cruise industry continues to make significant strides towards sustainability. It’s not an issue that’s being ignored.
The likes of Hurtigruten and Ambassador Cruise Line have taken position for leading the charge with greener initiatives, while cutting-edge propulsion technologies from Atlas Ocean Voyages are set to redefine the industry’s relationship with the environment.
Can cruise lines and the environment co-exist?
Debunking cruise pollution
You can’t escape the past. Cruise ships have historically relied on heavy fuel – oil, coal and diesel – contributing to oceanic destruction and greenhouse gas emissions. But remember, that was then, and we are very much in the now.
As our century continues, advancements in sustainable technology and increased regulatory oversight have led to a cleaner, more responsible industry. The investigation by Cruise Trade News highlighted how cruise lines are actively mitigating their impact through stringent environmental regulations, cleaner fuel alternatives, and new waste management strategies. That includes older ships that have been renovated, rather than wasting precious materials at the breaker’s yard.
There’s an argument for restoring and upgrading a more mature vessel to meet contemporary standards. And we firmly stand behind the logic.
The leaders in eco-friendly cruising
Norwegian cruise operator Hurtigruten has long been known for its Arctic voyages. The marque has offered a lifeline over the last two centuries to the people of Norway’s coastline, providing the foundations for the country’s enviable modern socioeconomic position. They know the landscape and subsequently understand what needs to change.
It should come as no surprise then to learn how Hurtigruten has invested heavily in hybrid-powered ships; not only significantly reducing their carbon footprint but also leaving the area’s delicate marine life undisturbed. It’s a pioneering attitude now adopted by larger conglomerates.
Their MS Roald Amundsen, for example, boasts status as the world's first battery-powered hybrid cruise ship, allowing it to sail through sensitive environments with minimal impact. The company has also banned single-use plastics onboard and sources local, sustainable ingredients for its dining services – rather than carting supplies cross country from abroad.
Besides the flavourful benefits of local cuisine, this attitude further reinforces the notion that old-school practices now firmly rest in the past. It’s all about saving energy and preventing unnecessary travel.
Ambassador Cruise Line is another marked example of decisive action aimed at operating with more sustainability. If you delve behind the doom-slaying headlines, you’ll find the brand entirely focused on keeping environmental impact to a minimum.
The UK-based cruise line operates with a fleet that meets the highest IMO (International Maritime Organization) standards for emissions, despite employing more mature vessels. The company has pledged to remove heavy fuel oil from its operations and replace it with more environmentally friendly alternatives, significantly lowering its sulphur and nitrogen oxide output.
This mantra also resonates with Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard, P&O and Explora, to name only a few. Of course, news that certain countries (including Norway) are set to ban cruise ships that don’t adhere to stern regulations will ultimately have spurred CEOs and bigwigs into action – also preserving the local infrastructures that depend so much on tourism. It’s a delicate blend of politics and the economy, pitted against environmentalism.
The future of propulsion
One of the most exciting developments in cruise sustainability is the evolution of propulsion systems. Atlas Ocean Voyages is at the forefront of this movement, pioneering hybrid-electric propulsion and clean-energy solutions that promise to transform the industry.
Their upcoming vessels will utilise liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology, a cleaner-burning alternative to traditional fuel sources. Additionally, alternative energy sources such as hydrogen fuel cells and wind-assisted propulsion are actively being explored by major cruise lines, paving the way for a much greener future by blending age-old and well proven methodologies from centuries before with future technologies.
Waste management and ocean conservation efforts
There’s more to it all than fuel and emissions, however. Waste management has always been a longstanding concern, where all manner of objects, fluids and non-organic matter has been dumped overboard.
You must remember that this reputation for unethical practices has been developed from behaviours once considered practical but now deemed unsavoury and – ultimately, by modern standards – wrong. By moving with the times, modern cruise lines have adopted rigorous waste treatment processes to minimise their environmental impact, preventing vessels from returning to their old ways.
State-of-the-art treatment systems now ensure that all sewage and wastewater are treated before being discharged, often exceeding the water quality found in coastal areas. Advanced recycling programs and partnerships with ocean conservation initiatives also demonstrate a strong commitment to preserving marine ecosystems.
Reports still point to historical waste disposal methods, yet these actions are not found in today’s cruising scene. According to a report by Friends of the Earth, cruise ships once produced over one billion gallons of sewage annually, much of which ended up in the seas. Once again, that was then. This is now.
Modern regulations have made such practices illegal, and cruise lines have committed to extensive reforms to counteract damage caused in the past.
MSC Cruises have introduced advanced recycling systems that repurpose up to 100% of waste, while Royal Caribbean has installed waste-to-energy conversion facilities onboard. Carnival Corporation has invested over $500 million in new environmental technologies to improve waste treatment and water purification systems. Norwegian Cruise Line has implemented “Sail & Sustain,” an environmental program focused on waste reduction, fuel efficiency, and ecosystem protection.
Industry accountability
Strict environmental regulations are playing a crucial role in holding the cruise industry accountable. The IMO has implemented policies that require ships to meet stringent emissions and waste disposal standards.
Cruise lines that fail to comply face heavy fines and reputational damage, encouraging the adoption of more sustainable practices. Initiatives such as the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) score ships based on their environmental performance, encouraging industry-wide transparency and accountability. With the sector firmly pointing in the right direction, we’d say that it was working.
One of the most impactful changes has been the implementation of Emission Control Areas (ECAs), which restrict the use of high-sulphur fuels in designated regions.
As a result, companies including Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises have switched to low-sulphur marine fuels and installed exhaust gas cleaning systems, commonly known as scrubbers. However, it's worth mentioning that scrubbers, specifically open-loop ones, have been criticised for creating water pollution. Some cruise lines are acting on this fact: 92% of systems installed on Norwegian Cruise Line ships are hybrid, operating in open loop or in environmentally friendlier closed loop.
Additionally, ports worldwide are encouraging cruise lines to adopt shore power technology, allowing ships to plug into the local electricity grid instead of burning fuel while docked. Essentially, this is Tesla-era technology finally finding its way into the sector that requires it most.
This initiative alone has led to significant reductions in port emissions, particularly in cities such as Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Hamburg – preventing an outright ban, as Amsterdam and Venice have previously implemented.
While consumer demand for sustainable travel grows, cruise operators are not just meeting regulatory requirements but actively exceeding them to improve their environmental image.
Hurtigruten, for example, has set an ambitious goal to become completely carbon neutral by 2050. Similarly, Virgin Voyages has pledged to eliminate single-use plastics across its fleet and rely entirely on reusable and recyclable materials. We feel that Mother Nature is in safer hands these days.
Can cruise ships and the environment coexist?
In a word? Yes.
While it’s easy to assume that cruise ships are inherently harmful to the environment, the industry has made enormous strides in adopting greener technologies and practices.
Cruise lines are currently leading the way with hybrid-powered ships and responsible waste management, while other innovators are investing in future propulsion systems that will ultimately improve sustainability at sea.
Cruise lines have also taken responsibility for past pollution, implementing extensive reforms, waste recycling, and conservation programs to mitigate their historical impact.
The future of cruising is undoubtedly one where luxury and sustainability go hand in hand. With advancements in propulsion, waste management, and stricter regulatory oversight, cruise ships and the environment can indeed coexist.
As regulations tighten and consumer demand for responsible travel grows, the cruise industry is poised to become one of the most forward-thinking sectors in sustainable tourism. The next time you consider a cruise vacation, rest assured that the tides are turning in favour of a greener future.
