From energy efficient cabins and abolishing single-use plastics to revamped carbon emission policies, the movement to make cruising more eco-friendly is stronger than ever.
From economic initiatives to environmental action, a number of sustainable travel practices have been implemented across Silversea’s fleet to minimize their ecological impact and to boost communities around the world. With a true passion for the beauty of our planet and with a commitment to safeguarding the environment for future generations, Silversea endeavors to promote awareness for sustainability and eco-friendliness among guests and locals alike. From educating guests on the history and culture of over 900 destinations around the world to co-sponsoring educational camps for local children in the Galapagos Islands and other conservation projects, our aim is to preserve natural environments and encourage sustainable travel. The cruise line has invested in a number of innovative product solutions to reduce its impact on the environment. Silversea became the first luxury cruise line to produce water on board, thus reducing associated plastic waste, and are actively working towards plastic-free cruising.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is going “plastic bottle-free” and will serve guests Vero Still and Sparkling water fleetwide, resulting in the approximate elimination of two million plastic bottles annually and a substantial decline in its carbon emissions. Vero Still and Sparkling Water’s on-board purification and filling process will enable the cruise line to purify, chill and serve in Vero luxury glass bottles still and sparkling water on all its ships.
In an effort to minimize its generation of wastewater, Holland America Cruises installed blackwater treatment systems that utilize start-of-the-art reverse osmosis and bioreactor technology. These systems employ a series of filters and disinfecting steps to treat the blackwater before being discharged to the sea, resulting in the mass-generation of clean water.
To reduce plastic waste and minimize its carbon footprint, Disney Cruise Line will eliminate all single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all owned and operated locations across the globe, amounting to a reduction of more than 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers annually. In addition to its plastic-free initiatives, Disney Cruise Line also plans to reduce its number of plastic shopping bags and polystyrene cups.
Princess Cruises’ two newest ships slated for delivery in 2023 and 2025 will be dual-fuel powered primarily by Liquefied Natural Gas, the marine industry’s most environmentally friendly advanced fuel technology and the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel, which will significantly reduce air emissions and marine gasoil.
As part of its fleetwide waste management initiative, Carnival Cruise Line incinerates a wide variety of its waste in an effort to harness energy that is later used to generate electricity. Instead of being sent to landfills, items unable to be incinerated (blankets, towels, etc.) are donated to charities across the United States.
