On the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) website, visitors are invited to explore the cruise industry's environmental stewardship efforts, with the theme #SailingSustainably. The association touts that cruise lines are “sailing toward a better future” by seeking fuel flexibility and reducing harmful carbon dioxide emissions while docked and at sea.
CLIA promotes that the cruise industry's sustainability efforts have led to a 16% reduction in average CO2 emissions per cruise since 2018 by ships sailing in Europe. Cites EU monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) data as source.
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While progress is being made towards more sustainable cruise travel, the environmental footprint of this booming industry is enormous. A new study conducted in Europe using the same EU MRV data reminds us that the cruise industry still has a long way to go to address its climate problems.
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Ranking of the most polluting cruise lines in Europe
According to a emissions study Conducted by the UK consumer advocacy organization Which?, Europe's most polluting cruise ship emitted as much carbon dioxide as a small town of 20,000 inhabitants in 2023.
Which? used 2023 EU Tracking, Reporting and Verification data to rank cruise lines sailing in Europe based on their average carbon dioxide emissions.
Instead of focusing on total emissions, the researchers analyzed emissions by distance traveled. This allowed Which? to identify the cruise lines with the most polluting ships, rather than simply showing the cruise lines that made the most voyages.
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Using this methodology, the study determined that Disney Cruise Line was the biggest polluter, even though it only had one ship sailing in Europe in 2023. The Disney Dream emitted an average of 1,481 kg of carbon dioxide per nautical mile.
The study found that three of the most polluting cruise ships belonged to Norwegian Cruise Line.
Norwegian Cruise Line ships, ranked behind Disney Cruise Line as the second worst polluter, generated an average of 1,413 kg of carbon dioxide emissions per nautical mile. The largest ship in its fleet, the Norwegian Epic, with capacity for 4,100 passengers, was the one that emitted the most CO2, two tons per nautical mile.
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The following is the full ranking from Which? of the 10 most polluting cruise lines in Europe according to their average CO2 emissions per nautical mile.
- Disney Cruise Line – 1,481 kg
- Norwegian Cruise Line: 1,413 kg
- Princess Cruises – 1,253 kg
- Royal Caribbean – 1,248 kg
- MSC Cruises – 1,229 kg
- Virgin trips – 1,229 kg
- Celebrity cruises: 1,228 kg
- Cunard – 1,207 kg
- P&O Cruises – 1,108 kg
- Costa Cruises – 1,051 kg
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How did cruise lines respond to the ranking of the most polluting cruise lines?
Which? requested comments from the cruise lines included in its ranking. Respondents questioned the research methodology and said the analysis did not accurately reflect the environmental performance of cruise ships.
Disney released the following comment:
“Disney Cruise Line meets all air and water quality standards. While sailing around Europe, the Disney Dream used a combination of hydrotreated vegetable oil along with ultra-low sulfur marine diesel, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions beyond the requirements of the International Maritime Organization.”
Norwegian said which one? whereas EU MRV data can provide valuable information, but does not take into account time spent in port, where emissions are naturally lower and where ships spend a large amount of time, nor the number of passengers carried on the ship , which he believes should be considered to reflect the efficiency of the boat per person.
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Carnival Corporation (owner of P&O, Princess, Cunard, Costa and Carnival) added:
“Our fleet produces 10+% less total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions today than in our peak year (2011), despite increasing capacity by approximately 30%. Greenhouse gas emissions based on distance traveled are not a good measure of the environmental performance of most cruise ships, which often sail shorter distances and spend a lot of time in port. Instead, we recommend considering indicators that drive reductions in total emissions, such as emissions from reduced docking capacity. “In fact, we are on track to have reduced our GHG emissions from lower berthing capacity (called carbon intensity) by more than 40% by 2026 (compared to 2008 levels).”
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