Today’s passenger ships are increasingly being designed and operated with environmental sustainability front and centre. From shore power technology and LNG-powered engines to the elimination of single-use plastics, operators are striving to reduce the impact of their vessels on destinations. But to what extent does this pursuit of environmental sustainability affect the destinations cruise operators sail to?
Concerns have been raised about the ability of many of the world’s most popular cruise ports to sustain the number of visitors they receive during the peak season, with the industry’s growth showing no sign of slowing down. On the other hand, there are also worries about the effect cruise ships may have when visiting more remote destinations, where disruption to a fragile ecosystem could have serious consequences. Today’s itinerary planners now must give serious thought to these concerns when deciding which ports to visit.
“In the past, the relationship was simply between the shipowner and the port,” said Nikos Mertzandidis, vice president of ports and destinations and taxation at Cruise Lines International Association, at Seatrade Cruise Global. “Now, everyone has an opinion, from supranational bodies like the European Union down to the person who lives next door to the port. Everybody has an influence, and we must take those into account. The ship may be technologically advanced, but if the port doesn’t have the necessary facilities, it becomes more difficult for the whole product to be sustainable.”
Therefore, itinerary planners must carefully evaluate each port for its suitability from a sustainability standpoint. One criterion a port must fulfil is having the correct infrastructure and sustainability practices to handle a cruise call.
“We assess each destination for waste management, recycling and shore power availability, prioritising calls at destinations with robust infrastructure” says Felix Hamer, sustainability strategy manager for HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions). “Where facilities fall short, we work with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and local authorities to support upgrades, such as in Ushuaia’s recent adoption of recycling.”
There also needs to be collaboration between cruise lines and ports, not only to allow for a cruise visit, but also to ensure the impact of the industry on the destination is positive and sustainable.
“We’re prioritising social sustainability,” says Metzandidis. “What does the community need? How do they see the ships? How can we bring them all together and have a discussion? At CLIA, we try to establish contact between cruise line officials and the ports in a specific country to facilitate that collaboration. If there’s a board or association, like the Sustainability Cruise Council in Barcelona, Spain, or Cruise Norway in Norway, it’s easier to do that.”
HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) has established collaboration with local communities as part of its itinerary planning process to ensure they participate in, and directly benefit from, a cruise call.
“In regions with indigenous or vulnerable populations, such as the Northwest Passage, we plan voyages in close partnership with local leaders and organisations to ensure visits are welcome and beneficial,” says Hamer. “Just this summer we launched a range of excursions in Arctic Canada co-created with Inuit Elders, local residents and community-born staff. All of the excursion revenue will go directly to individuals and businesses in Nunavut.”
Taiwan International Ports Corporation
Taiwan International Ports Corp is installing onshore power supply at the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal for 2026
Ports are also making their own efforts to build the necessary infrastructure and local support to make cruise calls sustainable. The Port of Seattle in Washington, USA, for example, has invested $44 million to equip all three of its cruise berths with shore power technology. In 2024, 47 per cent of all cruise ships visiting the port connected to shore power, avoiding 3,964 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and 1.1 tonnes of diesel particulate matter. This is expected to rise to 70 per cent in the 2025 season, and by 2027 all ships homeported in Seattle will connect to shore power.
In Wisconsin, Port Milwaukee is acting on major strategies outlined in the City of Milwaukee’s Climate and Equity plan, which aims to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions 45 per cent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The port has signed the Cruise the Great Lakes Sustainability Pledge, which commits it to working with other member ports to promote and implement environmentally friendly and sustainable cruise practices.
Florida’s Port Canaveral, meanwhile, is investing in environmental initiatives to preserve and protect the waterways and surrounding resources. The port was the first in North America to provide LNG fuel and is currently homeporting five LNG-powered vessels, with Carnival Festivale and MSC World Atlantic to become the sixth and seventh in 2027. Additionally, it has received Green Marine recertification for the ninth consecutive year and partnered with the National Stormwater Trust to pilot its smart pond technology, which automatically adjusts water levels during severe weather. Port Canaveral was also recently recognised by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association for its sponsorship of the Canaveral Sand Bypass and Beach Renourishment projects, which promote cleaner air and healthier waterways.
Le Havre in France is also investing in shore power infrastructure, which will be available from autumn 2025 and extended to all cruise berths by summer 2026. Le Havre Croisieres is in the process of constructing three new terminals, one of which will feature photovoltaic panels on its roof to generate sustainable energy as it accommodates cruise ships with up to 6,000 passengers.
Elsewhere in France, the Ports of Toulon Bay completed its installation of shore power infrastructure in 2025 and now gives priority to ships that can connect when allocating berths. The new system comes alongside its efforts to develop new ‘Green Bay’ environmental standards for passenger terminals and provide the necessary infrastructure to host LNG-powered ships.
Gibraltar has also equipped itself as a fully LNG-capable port and is able to support visiting cruise ships using the fuel. Onshore, it has embarked on refurbishment projects at its attractions to preserve the city’s heritage. The city is also offering alternative tours that direct visitors beyond the Gibraltar Nature Reserve, helping to disperse footfall and protect natural spaces.
Over in Taiwan, the Taiwan International Ports Corp (TIPC) has developed the cruise terminal at the Port of Kaohsiung as a certified green building and is investing in installing onshore power supply at Kaohsiung and the Port of Keelung, coming online by 2026. TIPC also implements the Environmental Ship Index Incentive Program, which rewards cruise lines for exceeding environmental standards.
British Virgin Islands Port Authority
A new birdwatch tower at Josiah’s Bay will help protect the British Virgin island’s most diverse bird habitat
A new birdwatch tower is set to be opened at Josiah’s Bay, Tortola, in time for the 2025-2026 season, overlooking the British Virgin Island’s most diverse bird habitat. The tower will form part of a new complex by the Humane Society of the British Virgin Islands, also featuring a petting zoo, gift shop and adoption centre, all of which can be visited by cruise guests.
The Falkland Islands Tourist Board, meanwhile, is investing in the Falkland Islands Environment Strategy, a plan focused on biodiversity protection, waste management and renewable energy. The strategy includes initiatives like the Green Seal Scheme certification scheme for assessing the sustainability of tourism businesses and a new Environment Trust, which will fund carbon reduction and land recovery products.
Bodrum Cruise Port in Turkey is focusing on the economic sustainability of the cruise industry for the local region. The port is aiming to promote sustainable careers in the maritime industry by partnering with Marella Cruises to offer local students a chance to explore customs areas, pilotage and Marella Discovery 2. The students were able to engage with crew onboard the cruise ship to learn more about maritime careers while gaining hands-on learning about cruise operations.
The efforts of both ports and cruise lines to make their operations sustainable is essential to ensuring that passengers can continue to enjoy outstanding destinations around the world during cruises. Such experiences are irreplaceable – and may even help motivate guests to become more sustainable themselves, suggests Hamer.
“Recent independent research with the University of Tasmania found that participation in our science and education programme fundamentally shifts guests’ attitudes towards Antarctica,” he says. “Before their voyage, guests tended to describe the continent in simple, physical terms, but after their experience, their language became far more diverse and reflective. Many guests reported a heightened sense of responsibility and introspection. The study concluded that the HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) programme not only increases knowledge but also fosters a deeper emotional connection and concern for Antarctica’s protection.”
Supporting sustainability
A number of other stakeholders in the maritime industry are helping cruise lines to sail their itineraries more sustainably. Horizon Air Freight, Delver Agents and Swift Marine provide end-to-end logistics for cruise and expedition operators. Delver – which is the first UN Global Compact signatory on Tierra del Fuego, Argentina – leads Ushuaia’s Maritime Recycling Programme, turning shipboard waste into new resources. Swift developed Navigator, a cloud platform which offers real-time carbon dioxide dashboards and optimised routing for the three companies. Horizon supports reforestation through Trees for the Future, while Swift supports the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association’s beach clean-up projects and Sailors’ Society crew welfare initiatives.
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