ROUNDTABLE Alice Chambers asks four senior executives from expedition cruise lines about their materiality priorities and the plans they have implemented to meet environmental goals in 2023 and beyond Sustainable visions Expedition cruising gives guests a unique opportunity to get up close to the natural wonders of the world, explore remote destinations and see everything from majestic Emperor penguins and playful orcas in Antarctica, to prehistoric iguanas and giant tortoises in the volcanic landscapes of the Galápagos Islands. But as the effects of climate change continue to unfold rapidly, many of these places and species of animals are at risk of partial or total destruction, jeopardising the long-term future of the expedition sector. Conscious of this threat, the expedition cruise sector aims to act fast to protect the future of both the planet and their business. Here, a selection of senior cruise executives from four expedition cruise brands give an insight into how they are upgrading their ships, itineraries, and social, economic and environmental initiatives to reach their sustainability goals. What key sustainability goals have you put in place to improve the social, economic and environmental performance of your expedition cruise brand? DB: Ensuring that guests appreciate the culture, people and wildlife of the destinations that we take them to has become a core value in Lindblad Expeditions’ itinerary planning. Sustainability is a cornerstone of our brand. We will continue to be carbon neutral, free of single-use plastic, and use the cleanest fuel available. We are also continuing to invest in local businesses, organisations and individuals DOLF BERLE CEO, Lindblad Expeditions WASSIM DAOUD Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Ponant HAYLEY PEACOCK GOWER Chief Marketing Officer, AE Expeditions (part of Aurora Expeditions) ANDREA ZITO CEO, Swan Hellenic The panel: 60 Expedition cruise brands such as AE Expeditions are carrying out conservation projects to protect the wildlife living in the destinations it visits Photo: AE Expeditions
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