Cruise companies are now putting sustainability at the top of their agenda and are committing to lowering their global impact. There's plenty you can do too to ensure that you're not impacting the beautiful environments on your itinerary. Below is our handy guide to cruising sustainably. Discover the new innovations revolutionising the industry, top tips for cruisers and a lowdown on the best eco-friendly companies to sail with.
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Sustainable innovations
The future of cruising is bright green! There's plenty of reasons so be excited for the future as you book your next cruise holiday. Here are just some of the latest innovations:
- Solar power is now a popular way of generating electricity for ships and in areas such as the Caribbean, it can provide a large proportion of the energy required.
- Innovative exhaust cleaning systems remove harsh chemicals before they're pumped out of the ship and into the sea, making cruising better for the ocean habitats.
- Food miles are reducing as companies turn to local produce in the ports. This, in turn, also supports small communities, who depend on cruise tourism, in a really positive way.
- There's a reduction in plastic packaging throughout ships with some now banning it altogether.
- The shape of ships is changing to ensure they're more streamlined than ever - this can save over 10% of their energy used in travelling across the oceans.
- Using LED lights seems a small change but can save a lot of energy on ships with large public areas which are lit all night.
- Companies are supporting research programmes by monitoring water quality as they travel and sharing this data with scientists.
Top tips for cruisers
Water
Bottled water is the main source of drinking water aboard cruise ships who don't have a large supply saved in the taps. This can create larger volumes of plastic waste. Therefore, it's best to bring reusable bottle to fill up from your cabin tap and use this throughout the day.
Be mindful of the laundry you're creating. Do you need your towels washed each day? Does your bedding need to be changed multiple times throughout your cruise? Can you save the beach towels for your next trip to the pool?
Watch your rubbish
The best way to deal with rubbish is to recycle onboard and most ships have the set up for this. When you're onshore, put your rubbish in the bins there to stop build up on the ship and of course, don't throw anything off the ship.
Reduce your energy consumption
Just like at home, you can make a difference by being mindful each time you leave your cabin. Check you haven't left the radio or the lights on. It's also worth opening your balcony door if possible instead of using the air con - that will save energy and the fresh air is better for you too.
Buffet wisely
Everyone loves a buffet and it can be tempting to pick up one of everything but try to pick up just what you know you can realistically eat. It's far better to take less and head back for more later.
Choose your cruise line carefully
The most important way that you can cruise sustainably is by choosing a company that is passionate about their impact and are making clear changes. If you book a cruise those who are clearly working hard to lower their footprint, you're showing the industry what you expect from your future holidays.
Research your ship
Within companies, ships often have a wide range of eco credentials. To find out how your next ship ranks, read it's Cruise Ship Report Card, which gives each vessel a rating. Ideally, you're looking for a ship rated A or B.
Most sustainable cruise companies
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages, a relativity new cruise company, made their impact on the Earth a priority from the very start. They have always been carbon neutral through carbon offsetting. They've also thought about sustainability in the way they serve food and beverages, with no buffets in sight, meaning far less wastage and no single use plastic (all guests have refillable bottles instead).
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity
The company owning both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity has made huge promises for the future of cruising. Some of these include greener fuels and redesigning their ship’s hulls to create less drag. They also work with advisors from WWF to reduce their impact on the wildlife living in the habitats in which they sail.
MSC
MSC are a proud member of the Hydrogen Council which is promoting the future use of the fuel. Another great initiative is their private Caribbean island, which used to be an abandoned industrial hub, but is now a marine reserve. MSC have worked tirelessly to promote the growth of its natural coral reef and colonies of migrating birds and turtles.
P&O
P&O are in the Carnival cruise family, who are all making sustainability a priority. P&O’s latest ship, Iona, runs on LNG. This cleaner gas is only available in certain ports and so it limits her itineraries, but by sailing aboard her, you know that you're impact on the Earth is dramatically reduced.
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