21 connect with shore power wherever it is available. “We take our role as a steward of the waters we sail and the destinations we visit very seriously,” says Bodensteiner. “We achieved our 2030 greenhouse gas emissions goal – which was to cut carbon intensity by 20 per cent from 2019 levels – in early 2025, five years ahead of schedule. This marked a win for both the planet and our bottom line.” As part of its emissions reduction plan, Holland America Line is trialling new fuels – in 2024 and 2025, it successfully executed two long-term biofuel tests onboard Rotterdam. “We leveraged 100 per cent low-carbonintensity biofuel while sailing in parts of Norway,” says Bodensteiner. “The results from the respective testing periods suggest this fuel could help us achieve an average lifecycle emissions reduction of 86 per cent.” While these results are encouraging, Bodensteiner says the cruise industry and wider maritime sector is still a long way from being able to fully decarbonise operations. “There isn’t a clear path to net zero for the maritime industry yet because we don’t have low- and zeroemission fuels in the quantities we need to get there,” she explains. “Currently, the fastest way to cut greenhouse gas emissions is to use less fuel.” Consequently, Holland America Line is “maximising every energy saving” to cut the amount of fuel it uses. “We’ve continued investing to make our existing ships more efficient throughout their lifecycle by installing energysaving onboard equipment, running onboard systems on shoreside electric power, developing more fuel-efficient itineraries, fine-tuning hydrodynamics, capitalising on ocean currents, and much more,” says Bodensteiner. “In the past five years alone, Carnival Corporation brands have cut fuel use by almost 11 per cent while increasing fleet capacity by 30 per cent, and we aim to find more fuel savings well into the next decade.” While energy-efficiency solutions are a vital part of the decarbonisation solution, they will not help cruise lines reach net zero if they are implemented in isolation, says Bodensteiner. “Addressing climate change requires energy sources and technologies that don’t yet exist for many industries, including the maritime sector,” she says. “That’s why Carnival Corporation has joined forces with companies, universities, research bodies, nongovernmental organisation and other stakeholders – both within and outside of the cruise industry – to create solutions designed to help safeguard the planet for future generations.” With cruise lines increasingly capitalising on collaboration opportunities to improve everything from environmental sustainability to guest experiences, Bodensteiner is confident the sector will continue to grow and thrive well into the future. “One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is a guest desire for authentic, genuine vacation experiences – cruise can deliver on that more than other travel industries,” she explains. “For us, the mantra ‘experiences too good to hurry through’ is more than just a tagline; it’s the lens through which we design itineraries, invest in onboard and land experiences, and deliver service at a level that is consistently exceptional. As the industry evolves, that discipline is what will keep Holland America Line relevant and differentiated.” AK Westerdam_Hubbard Glacier 211_23 ship closer Alaska - Denali Lodge w river KEYNOTE Ethan Stowell is one of several renowned chefs the brand works with to develop menus and hands-on cooking classes
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