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USAA recent in-depth report has revealed which cruise lines are acing it in a bid to offer the best in green travel experiences. Here’s all you need to know about cruising eco-consciously.
A recent in-depth report has revealed which cruise lines are acing it in a bid to offer the best in green travel experiences. Here’s all you need to know about cruising eco-consciously.
Virgin Voyages has the benefit of still being relatively fresh when it comes to cruise companies – the brand launched in 2021 – meaning all of its ships are pretty brand-spanking new, and thus boast beautifully sustainable designs.
Innovative marine technology converts engine heat to electricity, in turn reducing fuel demand, while catalytic reduction systems cut nitrogen oxide emissions by an impressive 75 percent. Each of the four ships is designed for efficiency, with fuel-efficient hulls, low-friction paint (who knew this was a thing!), plus energy-saving features like LED lighting, tinted windows, and light/heat sensors in rooms.
The cruise line has eliminated single-use plastics and tackled food waste by slashing traditional buffets. Environmentally conscious marine fuels, recycling programmes and responsibly sourced food are all central to Virgin Voyages’ efforts.
So if you’re looking for kid-free fun (Virgin Voyages are a strict 18+ affair), parties and great entertainment in the knowledge that you’re also being a green god or goddess, this is the cruise line to go for.
Mid-sized destination and foodie-focused cruise line Oceania Cruises is a great choice for anyone looking to sail with a little bit of glamour, while also doing your bit for the environment.
The cruise line’s ‘Sail & Sustain’ programme is all geared towards cutting greenhouse gas house emissions to zero by 2050 while giving back to communities and preserving oceans.
Itineraries are now more ‘open jaw’ (embarking and disembarking in different ports) when you sail with Oceania Cruises, as opposed to ‘closed loop’ (roundtrip cruises) – as this reduces emissions by 16 percent, according to the cruise line’s research.
Oceania ships produce around 89 percent of their onboard fresh water and use reverse osmosis and evaporators, significantly reducing reliance on port-supplied water, while five ships have shore power plug-in systems – hugely effective in reducing pollution while ships are stationed in port.
Oceania Cruises fleet of seven ships all also have advanced sewage treatment systems, which is key to performing highly in the Friends of the Earth report. Not so glam, but nevertheless essential!
Of Viking Cruises’ fleet of 13 ocean ships, 12 have horeside power capabilities, sailing especially to ports where they can plug in and mitigate air pollution.
Sailing in many fragile natural areas such as the Earth’s Poles means keeping environmental impact to a minimum is central. Viking Cruises uses dynamic positioning systems to avoid damaging seabeds and follows whale-safe speeds to protect sensitive marine life.
A “Silent-E” certification reflects the cruise line’s efforts in reducing underwater noise. Specialist laboratories are onboard each of Viking’s two expedition ships, and on every sailing Scientists climb aboard to progress research into phytoplankton and other key areas.
An interesting collaboration with the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology investigated how to reduce bird strikes (when a bird collides with a manmade object), which they succeeded in by inventing special lighting techniques.
Older models of ships have been sold off, and Viking’s current ships are designed to be environmentally friendly, with energy-efficient hulls, propellers, limited exhausts, rudders and engines.
Regent Seven Seas is a shining example of having every luxury and whim you could wish for (assigned personal butler, anyone?) while being responsible and sustainable at the same time.
Shoreside employees participate in beach and community clean-ups throughout the year while partnerships with the Marine Environment Protection Association and Seas Alliance ensure Regent is always doing its best to mitigate and progress research into preventing environmental harm.
Any carbon emissions that are (at this stage) unpreventable are offset by the cruise line’s investment in renewable energy and forest conservation projects globally. Over the past three years Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings – the parent company of Regent – has offset the equivalent of three million tons of carbon dioxide. This is the equivalent of 7.5 billion miles driven by an average passenger car or the amount of carbon sequestered in 3.6 million acres of forest in one year. Whew. That’s a lot of CO2.
Though Disney cruises provide the ultimate escape into a carefree world of beloved childhood characters and immersive dreamscapes, the cruise line is nothing if not serious and rooted in reality when it comes to looking after the planet.
So, what makes Disney one of the most sustainable cruise lines? Key efforts include the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on newer ships like the Disney Wish – reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent – and a design that features advanced propulsion systems and silicone-based hull coatings to minimise drag and improve fuel efficiency.
Onboard, energy and water conservation is upheld throughout the ships, with elements such as LED lighting, demand-based heating and cooling, and even the recycling of condensation!
On top of this, Disney recycles cooking oil into biodiesel and also joins the ranks in limiting single-use plastics in favour of biodegradable and reusable options. Over at the cruise line’s private island destination, Castaway Cay, Disney harnesses the Bahamas’ near 365 days of sunshine by using solar power to generate most of the resort’s energy.
Taking the top spot and leading the charge for green cruising is HX’s big brother, Hurtigruten. The first cruise line to ban heavy fuel back in 2009, and then single-use plastics in 2018, this Norwegian cruise company has always been ahead of the game.
Its commitment to supporting local communities is reflected in the cruise line’s partnerships with 50 farms, bakeries and producers across Norway – going so far as to provide farms with industrial levels of compost from any unwanted or waste food! Now that’s teamwork.
Guests can get involved, too, by sailing with Hurtigruten to Norway’s Lofoten Islands where you can visit a family-run farm that supplies all the goat’s cheese for the fleet.
All seven ships in Hurtigruten’s Norwegian Coastal Express fleet are being converted either to run on hybrid power or biofuel by spring 2025 – one of the initiatives that has led to the brand investing nearly €100 million in reducing emissions. Fun, if slightly gory, fact: the biofuel is made partly from the offcuts of dead fish!
Many of Hurtigruten’s suppliers are selected on the basis of their sustainable practices, while many crew uniforms are made from recycled fishing nets.
Hurtigruten’s CEO, Hedda Felin, said of the Friends of the Earth Report: “The cruise industry has long been a significant polluter, and progress toward further action on sustainability has been too slow. Comprehensive evaluations like this are essential for holding our industry accountable, and we are proud to be recognised as the top-ranked operator. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to setting a higher standard for more sustainable travel. We don’t claim perfection, but progress.”
