Norwegian cruise companies Havila and Hurtigruten lead the Nabu environmental ranking, according to an annual assessment of climate protection efforts by Naturschutzbund Deutschland (Nabu).
The ranking, which was based on voluntary information provided by 15 surveyed cruise lines, shows that even the leading companies are not considered environmentally friendly. The top-ranked companies did not reach half of the possible points in the Nabu assessment.
Even the top-ranked companies are far from an environmentally friendly way of traveling.
— Nabu shipping expert Sönke Diesener
Industry fuel reliance and ranking results
Nabu stated that the cruise industry remains on a fossil fuel course, with many companies continuing to rely on heavy fuel oil and solutions such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Out of the twelve investigated cruise lines, only four completely exclude the use of heavy fuel oil.
Companies must now switch to climate-friendly drives and clean fuels.
— Nabu shipping officer Raija Koch
The ranking placed the French cruise line Ponant, alongside the German providers TUI Cruises with Mein Schiff and Aida Cruises, in a tie for third place. At the bottom of the environmental ranking were Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and the British provider Marella. While Phoenix Reisen, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Nicko Cruises were surveyed, they did not provide answers.
According to Nabu, climate emissions per passenger kilometer are decreasing at most companies due to technical retrofits and new builds.
Global cruise market trends
Updates
Nabu reports that two-thirds of cruise lines continue to use heavy fuel oil and no cruise ships are currently equipped with soot particle filters. While the EU has planned a shore power mandate for 2030, the city of Hamburg intends to mandate shore power starting in 2027. Additionally, the Meyer-Werft shipyard in Germany is planning to build a purely electric ship.
Nabu reports that two-thirds of cruise lines still rely on heavy fuel oil, and no cruise ship currently has soot particle filters, while the top-ranked companies scored less than half the available points in the climate assessment — a finding echoed by Nabu expert Raija Koch; additionally, Meyer-Werft plans a purely electric ship, Hamburg intends to require shore power by 2027 — years ahead of the EU’s 2030 mandate — and Nabu’s Malte Siegert demands that ships without proper exhaust treatment be barred from port to protect air quality.
Nabu reports that two-thirds of cruise lines still rely on heavy fuel oil, and no cruise ship currently has soot particle filters, while the top-ranked companies still fail to achieve half the available climate points — a finding echoed by Nabu expert Raija Koch; additionally, Meyer-Werft plans a purely electric ship, Hamburg intends to enforce shore power by 2027 — years ahead of the EU’s 2030 mandate — and Nabu’s Malte Siegert demands that ships without proper exhaust treatment be barred from port to protect air quality.
Nabu reports that two-thirds of cruise lines still rely on heavy fuel oil, and no cruise ship currently has soot particle filters, while the top-ranked companies scored less than half the available points — a finding echoed by Nabu expert Raija Koch; additionally, Meyer-Werft is developing a purely electric vessel, Hamburg plans to enforce shore power by 2027 — years ahead of the EU’s 2030 mandate — and Nabu’s Malte Siegert demands that ships lacking proper exhaust treatment be barred from port to safeguard air quality.
Nabu reports that two-thirds of cruise lines still rely on heavy fuel oil, and no cruise ship currently has soot particle filters, while the top-ranked companies failed to achieve half the available climate points — a finding echoed by Nabu expert Raija Koch; additionally, Meyer-Werft plans a fully electric ship, Hamburg intends to enforce shore power by 2027 — years ahead of the EU’s 2030 mandate — and Nabu’s Malte Siegert demands that ships lacking proper exhaust treatment be barred from port to protect air quality.
Nabu reveals that two-thirds of cruise lines still rely on heavy fuel oil, with no cruise ship currently equipped with soot particle filters, while only Havila, Hurtigruten, Ponant, and HX Expeditions entirely avoid it; Nabu’s Hamburg head Malte Siegert criticized the continued use of auxiliary engines at docks, noting Hamburg plans to mandate shore power by 2027—years ahead of the EU’s 2030 deadline—and emphasized ships without proper exhaust treatment should be barred from ports.
