The cruise industry is currently the fastest-growing segment in the tourism industry, yet it is only a small percentage of all travel bookings. More people are coming to understand the value of a cruise and are giving it a chance, and once they do, they are hooked!  The number of first-time cruisers since COVID-19 is the highest seen over the decade prior, with an astounding 4 million first-time cruises in the last 3 years.

One of the mindsets that prevent many travellers from booking a cruise is that the cruise industry is terrible for the environment. That may have been the case in the past. However, that is changing.  The cruise industry has made significant changes to how they operate in response to climate change, and they were the first ones in the tourism industry to do so.  Let’s take a look at what they have done:

-Eliminate single-use plastics.  This was the first stop. Plastic straws are no longer used, and many brands offer paper or compostable straws, on request.  This one item has eliminated a significant amount of plastic from the world.  But it does not end there.  Many cruise lines (emphasis many, not all, so do your homework) no longer use creamers, butter cups, plastic drinking cups, and plastic wrapping for food and purchases. 

-Food waste.  Buffets are the biggest issue when it comes to food waste.  Over the last few years, we have seen changes to the buffets.  The amount of food in buffets has decreased, meaning less food is wasted if it’s not eaten during that mealtime.  One cruise line, Virgin Voyages, took a bold step when it launched in 2021 by not offering a buffet.  They embraced the food hall concept where you order food from a themed station (i.e. paninis, burgers, noodle bar, etc) and it is made for you.   The food waste elimination does not stop at the buffet.  Many cruise lines are now reducing their menus so they have fewer ingredients to spoil if an item is not ordered enough.  Also, food is not thrown into the trash; it is kept separate and eliminated differently than regular trash.

-Engine efficiency and fuel.   The newest ships are using alternative fuel sources, such as LNG. Hybrid ships are becoming more common, using electricity during peak power demand (i.e. cooking).   As older ships are refurbished, upgrades are being made to make them more fuel-efficient. Exhaust is filtered to reduce and sometimes eliminate harmful pollutants. Cruise ships have to be compliant with IMO emissions standards. These standards evolve as clean air technology and emissions controls improve.

-Shore power. Many cruise terminals around the world are enabling cruise ships access to land-based power grids instead of running their engines and burning fuel while in port.  This reduces emissions as well as noise pollution. Headway is being made; CLIA (Cruise Line Industry Association) has reported that all newly built CLIA-registered cruise ships will be shore power equipped and older ships will be retrofitted. The EU set a goal that all EU cruise terminals offer shore power by 2030. 

-Local economies. Cruise ships visit countries, cities and communities worldwide, offering excursions to local sites, museums, attractions, and even homesteads for a culturally rich experience. The cruise lines work with local tour operators to provide these various opportunities, and the income generated stays in the country you are visiting. Many cruise lines have programs in which school supplies and computers are purchased and given to children in poor countries, helping them obtain a better education.

-Beach/ocean clean-ups.  There are a handful of cruises that offer beach cleanups in remote areas.  Garbage is collected, taken on board and disposed of properly.  One expedition cruise line, HX, also notifies the country of origin where their trash landed, and then properly disposes of it.  Virgin Voyages makes hammocks and wristbands out of plastic collected from the oceans.

-Expedition cruising. Expedition cruises show us the importance of taking care of our environment and show us first-hand how climate change is changing the oceans, wildlife and weather.  Guests are invited to assist with science experiments and documentation. They adhere to strict rules while in the polar regions and the Galapagos. Guests are required to learn these rules before stepping foot in these heavily protected regions. Expedition cruises not only open our eyes wide but also show us the importance of changing our ways when we return home.

There are many more ways in which the cruise line industry helps with sustainability. The topics described above give you a good idea of what they have done and that cruising is significantly more sustainable than in the early years.  Hotels and resorts are now working hard to catch up. As always, regulation, the industry, and local authorities have to catch up with each other. For example, many cruise ships are capable of accepting shore power, but not all ports have the infrastructure in place to deliver it.

If you learned something from this article and/or enjoyed it, please share it.  If you have any questions or would like to learn more about sustainable cruising, please contact us.  Our beautiful planet is important to Gin & Tonic Travel, and we support sustainability in our business, by working with sustainable suppliers and how we operate our business. 

You can read more about sustainability in travel in our weekly Sustainable Sips blog.  If there is a topic you would like for us to write about, please send us your suggestion to explore@ginandtonictravel.com. 

Article by Angela Jeffreys-Geuzinge, travel specialist and co-founder of Gin & Tonic Travel .       

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