How to cruise Norway the green way

Ambassador Cruise Line launched in spring 2022 and, from the get-go, pledged to be one of the most sustainable cruise lines in the business.

This isn’t just good for the oceans—it’s good for you too. Ambassador complies with the highest emissions standards worldwide (IMO Tier III, if you must know), and thanks to their smaller ship sizes, the fleet can access the untouched corners of the Norwegian fjords that larger, less sustainable ships simply can’t. Could one say they’re green with envy?

In fact, Ambience now ranks in the top 10 to 15 percent of environmentally sustainable cruise ships worldwide. And with Norway set to allow only zero-emission cruise ships and ferries in key fjords from 2026, Ambassador’s forward-thinking approach puts them well ahead of the pack.

Here’s how one of Britain’s newest cruise lines is making it possible to cruise the Norwegian fjords the green way.

Sustainable cruise technology on Ambassador ships

Since acquiring and upgrading its ships in 2022, Ambassador has made huge strides in sustainability.

Let’s get technical for a moment. The main modifications to Ambience have resulted in:

• 95% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions, thanks to tech that converts harmful gases into nitrogen and water vapour
• 7% fuel reduction
• 80% less sulphur oxide (SOx)
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 5,358 tons

Nope, we don’t exactly know what all this means either, but it certainly sounds impressive– and it’s all served to significantly relieve the impact the cruise line leaves on the oceans. Hooray!

Green features onboard Ambassador cruises

The sustainability efforts don’t stop at emissions. Ambassador has replaced food pulpers with Bio Digesters that break down waste into water and heat. Advanced sewage systems reduce discharge, while single-use plastics have been ditched entirely. Bottle washers and the line’s own onboard bottling plant mean guests sip still and sparkling water without plastic waste – good for the ocean, and good for you. Go on, have another.

Ambassador has also gone big on digital. Across the fleet, menus, shore plans and activity schedules are paperless, and there are now 45 digital screens on board Ambience—including 22 interactive ones where guests can view itineraries, track the ship or find their cabin using the handy Cabin Finder.

To comply with EEXI regulations, the ships implement shaft power limitation, reducing average speed from 18.5 to 16.25 knots. More time to admire the scenery (or enjoy a third cocktail).

Sustainability isn’t just about hardware. Ambassador has partnered with ORCA, a marine conservation charity, to help protect ocean wildlife. In 2022 and 2023, two conservationists sailed aboard Ambience for over 200 days to deliver talks and collect scientific data in key regions.

Together, they launched the Ambassador x ORCA Pledge—the cruise industry’s first anti-whaling campaign. From lobbying against commercial whaling to educating guests about avoiding unethical wildlife tourism, this initiative is part of a long-term promise to protect the creatures we share the seas with.

Cruise Norway’s UNESCO Fjords Sustainably

Thanks to their sustainability credentials, Ambassador ships can access Norway’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed fjords—a rare privilege as the country moves toward becoming the world’s first zero-emission zone at sea.

Geirangerfjord, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005, is one such highlight. Here, towering mountains, thundering waterfalls and deep blue waters create a scene that looks straight out of a fantasy novel.

The most iconic of these waterfalls? The Seven Sisters—seven streams that plunge 250 metres into the fjord. According to legend, they were all unmarried, despite the romantic advances of a nearby waterfall dubbed ‘The Suitor’. Independent women, indeed.

You’ll also spot the Bridal Veil, named for the delicate mist that forms a veil-like shimmer when backlit by the sun. Cruising through this storybook landscape on a ship that actively works to protect it? Good for you, indeed.