With a reputation for excess, the multibillion- dollar cruising industry pushes the limits. Each year brings bigger, more extravagant ships, and as ships continue to grow, so do bookings. According to a 2024 Cruise Lines International Association report, passenger volume in 2023 reached 32 million, a 7 percent increase from 2019. It anticipates a 10 percent increase over the next four years.

These numbers bring closer scrutiny to the environmental impact of cruising, affecting everything from food waste and carbon emissions to air quality, marine ecosystems and communities they frequent. CLIA launched new standards in line with the Paris Agreement to meet net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Cruise lines responded with sustainability measures such as using more energy-efficient fuels, reducing waste and leaving a smaller footprint on destinations.

Holland America Line intends to achieve the benchmark with energy-efficient fuels, sustainable interior designs and innovative technologies. It is the first Carnival brand to run a long-term 100 percent biofuel test, currently underway with Rotterdam, expected to yield an estimated 86 percent reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. To address excessive food waste, the entire fleet employs 68 biodigesters and seven food dehydrators. A commitment to sourcing food locally helps the line support communities and leave a smaller carbon footprint.

CLIA reports expedition cruising experienced a 71 percent increase between 2019 and 2023, making it the fastest-growing segment of the industry. Aurora Expeditions, known for visiting remote locations like Antarctica and Svalbard, positioned itself as an industry leader in sustainability, with a key focus on education and transparency.

“Through our journey,” said David Tanguay, global head of sales, Aurora, “we have learned that sustainability is much more than our environmental impacts, and we continue to strive for a higher level of accountability and transparency in all our operations while minimizing our impact on the planet. We’ve taken steps towards this by becoming a B Corp and a 100 percent carbon neutral company, and implemented programs dedicated to educating our passengers on the importance of taking care of our planet while expanding their knowledge and understanding of the places we travel to.”

Aurora lets passengers participate in scientific research and data collection, taking sustainability far beyond behind-the-scenes practices, and educates passengers on environmental issues at local, regional and global levels.

Windstar Cruises, offering small-ship, luxury, yacht-style cruising, addresses sustainability through every aspect of operations, directly involving passengers. By partnering with Coral Gardeners in Moorea, French Polynesia, which works to preserve and revitalize dying coral reefs, passengers sailing to Tahiti learn first-hand about the impact of climate change on the world’s reefs. By adopting a coral, passengers help Coral Gardeners plant a heat-resilient species to help the delicate local ecosystem sustain life despite climate change.