Cruise sustainability: ‘We need technology to catch up’
Industry heavyweights took part in a panel discussion on the future of cruise at the ABTA Travel Convention on Tuesday (7 October) – and touched on the challenges of net zero
Eithne Williamson of Princess Cruises, Giles Hawke from Celebrity Cruises and Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Paul Beale discussed the opportunities and challenges of making cruising more sustainable.
Hawke said, “We’re equipping our ships to work on different types of propulsion, clean propulsion, but we need technology to advance again. We’ve got a net zero target as Royal Caribbean International, I’m sure the other groups have as well.”
Praising the European Union for mandating ports to provide shore power by 2030, Hawke added: “We’re all making sure we’re shore power ready.
“But all these things take time, and so in the meantime, we work to say, how can we be as fuel efficient as possible? How can we emit the lowest emissions possible?
“We’re trying to do the right thing. We want to get there. We need technology to catch up.”
Beale elaborated on the topic. “It isn’t necessarily the ports that are stopping [the provision of shore power]; it’s getting the power to the ports. So, it’s actually more on the governments’ side.”
Beale also touched on the efforts done behind the scenes in many other areas of cruising. “We have desalination units. […] Likewise with the food utilisation, there’s a program behind that to reduce wastage.
“Likewise with recycling, likewise with the heat pumps. Any heat that comes off the engine, we capture that and use it as energy.”
Moving the conversation beyond sustainability and into overtourism, Williamson praised the industry for its ability to think ahead.
She said, “The cruise industry is hugely well planned. We are going on sale a good two years out, so we’re working with the ports and cities in the years prior to that.
“There’s a benefit also with the cruise industry of the flexibility. Certain destinations like Santorini end up being very busy. And sometimes the experience for our guests isn’t brilliant.
“One of the things we do is go to some of the other islands that are maybe a little bit less well known and ensure that there’s a touch on that.
“There’s that point of thinking about what we can do in some of the other islands to support them and support our guests being able to have a better experience.”
