Top 5 Most Environmentally-Friendly Cruise Ships

Cruising has been a popular way to travel since P&O Cruises first introduced a passenger vessel designed for cruising in 1844. And throughout the years, sustainable cruising has become more and more important to both cruise lines and those choosing to travel on them; with reports such as CLIA’s State of the Cruise Industry Outlook putting a spotlight on responsible cruise tourism.

In 1975, the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) was established to provide authority and support to the global cruise community. Throughout the years they have been striving for more environmentally friendly cruising. Working with over 50 cruise lines including MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and Explora Journeys, they have set out certain goals for the industry. These goals include:

• Net zero carbon cruising by 2050
• Reduce the carbon footprint of cruise ships (whilst in port and at sea)
• Increase the number of ships that can utilise LNG fuel
• Increase the number of ships and ports that have shoreside power capabilities
• Strive for the use of sustainable marine fuels, including biofuels
• Encourage hybrid solutions - incorporating batteries/fuel cells

One of the latest updates within the industry (laid out by the International Maritime Organization) that cruise lines from around the world will have to abide by, is that all ships must now calculate their Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index, along with their annual Carbon Intensity rating. This mandatory measure is designed to calculate the ships energy efficiency and carbon footprint to ensure that by 2030 the carbon intensity of ships is reduced by 40%.

But which cruise lines are leading the way for sustainable cruising? And which ships within their fleet have utilised LNG, have shoreside power capabilities, offer hybrid power solutions or other advanced sustainable technologies? We’ve created a list of the top 5 most environmentally friendly cruise ships and the steps they’ve taken to pave the way towards a more sustainable future for the cruise industry.

Read on to find out more!

MSC Cruises’ Euribia

First up on the list is MSC Euribia. Onboard this extraordinary and futuristic ship, there are a number of sustainable measures put in place in an effort to be more environmentally friendly.

Firstly, like many others within the MSC fleet, MSC Euribia is powered by LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). MSC Euribia utilises LNG to try and cut its CO₂ emissions by up to 20%, alongside the amount of nitrogen oxide it produces by up to 85%. Alongside using LNG onboard, MSC Euribia has also taken the following steps towards cruising sustainably:

• Lower the carbon intensity and optimise the energy efficiency through the use of cooling systems, LED lighting, smart heating and ventilation
• Utilising oxide fuel cells to further reduce the emissions it creates alongside renewable waste biofuels
• Using an advanced wastewater treatment system - purifying saltwater to create drinking water onboard (designed to produce up to 80% of the freshwater)
• Separating paper, metal, glass, plastic etc. before unloading the onboard materials in designated facilities within ports
• Using state-of-the-art propellers to produce less noise
• Toilets onboard are adapted to only need one litre of water to flush, along with showerheads and taps that use a lot less water than on shore.
• Using a new hull design to consume less fuel and lower drag - to lower the impact that the ship has on marine life

The MSC Foundation Youth Lab also has activities that are focused around sustainability and how the next generation can be more environmentally friendly.

When MSC Euribia left the shipyard in France towards the naming ceremony in Copenhagen, it even operated the industry’s first ‘net-zero greenhouse gas emissions voyage’. The Executive Chairmen of the the MSC Group, Pierfrancesco Vago stated the following about the sailing:

“This industry-first net zero gas emissions voyage of our latest flagship MSC Euribia heralds another significant step on our decarbonisation journey and demonstrates more than anything the extent of our commitment. We will be proud to share with the entire cruise industry, and the world, the learnings that come for all from this demonstration that net zero emissions cruising is already possible.”

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience

Second on the list is Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience. Offering no-fly cruises from the UK, this cruise ship which set sail in 2022 has a number of sustainable systems in place.

Working with a ship management company, the upgrades they installed were designed to align with Environmental Social Governance in order to reach International Maritime Organization’s highest emission standards within Tier 3. Some of the sustainable measures onboard include:

• Utilise advanced systems (such one that converts gases into water vapour and inert nitrogen) in order to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide it emits - Ambassador reported that “from her first sailing in April 2022, Ambience’s emissions have been reduced by 95%”
• Reducing the amount of fuel they use, sulphur oxide it produces and its CO₂ emissions - of which it has been reported that fuel reduction has been reduced by 7%, sulphur oxide emissions by 80% and CO₂ emissions by over 5 tons since it’s first set sail
• Implementing shaft power limitation - which will restrict the power that’s used onboard by up to 25% to align with the aforementioned Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index
• Installed advanced sewage systems and Bio Digesters to convert food waste into heat and water
• Bottle washers installed onboard

Seabourn Cruises' Venture

The first ultra-luxury cruise ship on this list that set sail in 2021, Seabourn’s Venture is an intimate ship with a smaller capacity of just over 300 people. Onboard Seabourn Venture, there are several green initiatives put in place to help improve the sustainability of the ship. Some of the sustainable measures onboard include:

• Creating desalinated water by using reverse osmosis (utilising up to 30% less energy)
• Filling stations around the ship, alongside reusable coffee mugs
• The ship strives to use dynamic positioning to minimise ocean disturbance
• No single use plastic bottles for liquid soaps
• Minimising the amount of paper used on board by promoting the use of the Seabourn app and in-room televisions - which have all the daily information on
• The bow thrusters are fitted with fixed pitch propellers - to reduce energy consumption (up to 30% compared to that of traditional thrusters)
• A ‘ultra-low-friction’ coating system on the underwater hill - in order to reduce energy consumption by up to 10%

Hurtigruten’s Sea Zero Project

It is the goal of Hurtigruten to cut the emissions that their ships emit by 25%. They are striving to do this by not only upgrading their fleet with more environmentally friendly features, but by introducing a ‘zero-emission’ ship. Setting sail in 2030 on a Norwegian cruise, the eco-friendly ship will not only have a 60mWh battery bank to help with energy efficiency (it will use renewable energy onshore to charge up), but it will utilise innovative technologies such as:

• 50 metre-tall retractable wind and solar sails
• Underwater air lubrication
• Enhanced A.I assisted maneuvering
• Retractable thrusters
• Smart cabins with ventilation and water/energy that can be controlled and monitored by a mobile app

Explora Journeys’ Explora I

Another ultra luxury ship to make this list, Explora I is the first in Explora Journeys’ opulent fleet. LNG powered, it promotes sustainability throughout the vessel by ensuring there are no single-use plastics onboard and by utilising hybrid power generation, alongside catalytic reduction technology- which enables for the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90%. Some of the other onboard sustainable measures onboard include:

• Utilising LED lighting and other high-efficiency appliances
• Employing a Baltic Standard advanced wastewater treatment system, alongside a Ballast water treatment system
• Shore to ship power capabilities
• A state of the art recycling and solid waste management system
• Anti-fouling paint used on the exterior of the ship
• An innovative hull design to optimise hydrodynamics
• Smart heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems

Explora Journeys also supports environmental causes through the MSC Foundation and by striving for sustainable tourism through offering tours that shine a spotlight on local artwork, craftsmanship, gastronomy and culture.

Future Cruise Ships Striving for Sustainability

It’s clear that more and more cruise lines are striving for sustainable cruising, through introducing advanced technologies and by following the mandated requirements laid out by the International Maritime Organization.

Alongside these aforementioned cruise ships, there are a variety of future vessels striving to deliver more environmentally friendly cruising, through both similar methods and futuristic technologies that have yet to be introduced. These include:

• Celebrity Cruises’ next Edge-series ship - it will use advanced alternative fuels, a new engine model, and more eco-friendly storage and delivery systems
• Explora Journeys’ Explora V and Explora VI - these next ships will be hydrogen powered
• Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess - LNG powered, shore power capabilities and better maneuverability to save fuel; Sun Princess is part of the ‘green cruising initiative introduced by Carnival Corporation.

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If you want to visit several destinations in style, there’s no better way to do it than cruising. Aboard a cruise ship, you’ll have all the amenities you require at your fingertips and will be able to discover the world with ease.

And with so many cruise lines promoting sustainability both in their current ships and in their future vessels, there’s no better time than now. Discover Iglu Cruise’s extraordinary cruise deals and find a cruise getaway that’s perfect for you!