28 July 2026
CAN THE INDUSTRY SAIL TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY?
By Publisher Ray Carmen
Cruising carries millions of passengers through some of the world’s most beautiful and environmentally sensitive waters.
That creates an unavoidable responsibility.
The industry must reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, protect marine ecosystems, manage waste responsibly and ensure that ports and island communities receive meaningful benefits from tourism.
The expression “green cruising” should be used carefully. No large ocean voyage is without environmental impact. The more accurate question is whether cruising can become substantially cleaner, more efficient and more responsible.
The Global Net-Zero Challenge
The International Maritime Organization’s 2023 greenhouse-gas strategy calls for international shipping to reach net-zero emissions by or around 2050.
It also sets checkpoints to reduce total annual greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 20%, while striving for 30%, by 2030 compared with 2008. The strategy seeks at least 5%, striving for 10%, of shipping energy to come from zero or near-zero-emission technologies and fuels by 2030.
A proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework would combine a global marine-fuel standard with a pricing mechanism for greenhouse-gas emissions. Formal adoption was not completed in October 2025, and negotiations are scheduled to resume in December 2026, subject to confirmation at the preceding IMO meeting.
That distinction matters: the framework is under negotiation, not yet a settled global rule.
Shore Power
One of the most visible improvements is shore power.
A compatible ship can connect to the local electricity network while berthed, allowing its engines to be switched off. The environmental benefit depends on how the electricity is generated, but local air pollution and noise can be reduced substantially.
CLIA reported in September 2025 that 166 member-line ships could connect to shore power, representing 58% of the fleet and 65% of passenger capacity. It also said that fewer than 3% of cruise ports worldwide then had a cruise berth equipped with this facility.
Ships and ports must therefore advance together. A vessel cannot plug into infrastructure that does not exist.
New Fuels—And Difficult Questions
Cruise companies are investing in fuel-flexible engines capable of using different energy sources as cleaner fuels become commercially available.
CLIA reported that 19 ships were already operating with multi-fuel engines in 2025 and projected more methanol- and LNG-capable vessels through 2036.
However, a fuel should not be judged only by what leaves the ship’s funnel.
The IMO emphasises “well-to-wake” measurement, considering emissions from fuel production through to its final use aboard the vessel. This is essential because an apparently cleaner fuel can still carry significant upstream emissions.
Efficiency Matters
The cleanest unit of energy is often the one a ship does not need to use.
Modern vessels can reduce consumption through improved hull design, air-lubrication systems, efficient propellers, route planning, waste-heat recovery and smarter hotel operations.
These improvements may appear less dramatic than a new fuel, but combined across an entire fleet they can make a meaningful difference.
Water, Waste and the Ocean
Environmental responsibility extends beyond carbon.
Cruise ships must manage sewage, food waste, plastics and hazardous materials while operating far from land. Advanced wastewater treatment and better port-reception facilities are therefore vital.
In May 2026, the IMO adopted an updated strategy and action plan that reaffirmed its goal of zero plastic-waste discharges from ships by 2030.
The Caribbean Must Be Included
Small island states can be highly vulnerable to climate change while also depending economically on tourism.
A responsible transition must therefore support Caribbean ports with shore-power investment, waste-management infrastructure, training and access to cleaner fuels. Environmental rules should not simply shift costs onto destinations least able to absorb them.
The Passenger’s Role
Travellers can choose ships with newer technology, avoid unnecessary single-use plastics, respect wildlife, conserve water and support local businesses ashore.
No individual passenger can decarbonise an industry, but consumer expectations influence corporate decisions.
The future of cruising will not be secured by attractive environmental slogans. It will depend on measurable reductions, transparent reporting, credible regulation and sustained investment.
THE SEA IS THE INDUSTRY’S GREATEST ASSET—AND PROTECTING IT MUST BECOME ITS GREATEST DUTY.
