The cruise industry is growing at a rapid pace and so is the size of its ships. According to a new report by climate group Transport & Environment (T&E), cruise ships have doubled in size since 2000 and that growth isn’t about to stop.
Cruises might not be for everyone but the business is booming. According to T&E, nearly 36 million holidaymakers are expected to take a cruise voyage in 2024. Whereas in 1970, only 21 cruise vessels were at sea, nowadays, there are about 515 ships.
The increase in demand has also drastically changed the outlook of the ships. In 1912, the Titanic, considered as state-of-the-art at the time, could carry 2,500 passengers with a gross tonnage of 46,300. The Icon of the Seas, the biggest cruise vessel in the world introduced in January 2024, transports 7,600 people and has a gross tonnage of 248,700, including 40 restaurants and 7 swimming pools. Following this growth curve, T&E expects those numbers to rise up to 10,500 passengers and a 345,000 gross tonnage by 2050.
“Today’s cruisezillas make the Titanic look like a small fishing boat. How much bigger can these giants get? The cruise business is the fastest growing tourism sector and its emissions are quickly getting out of control”, commented Inesa Ulichina, sustainable shipping officer at T&E.
The fact that cruise ships are becoming so big also means their ecological footprint is becoming evermore important. According to the report, cruise ships were responsible for 17% more carbon dioxide in 2022 than in 2019 and their methane emissions rose by 500%. Over the last few years, liquified natural gas has become a popular alternative to traditional shipping fuels but there is one big downside to it: when burned, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas around 80 times more potent than CO2.
“The only green and scalable solution for decarbonising maritime activities is e-fuels. Cruising is a luxury business and operators must take responsibility for their climate impact. If they want to avoid becoming increasingly unwanted visitors, they must clean up their act”, Ulichina added.
By 2030, those e-fuels should be able to power 4% of European shipping. Because of the EU’s carbon price on ships and the progressively increasing FuelEU Maritime penalties, e-fuels could also rapidly become more cost-friendly than their less-sustainable counterparts.
Moreover, T&E suggests that cruise ships are exempt from fuel duties, corporate taxes and most of the consumer taxes. By adding a 50 euro tax per cruise ticket, 1.6 billion euros a year could be generated globally. If that money were to be invested in the right research, it could make a real change in allowing the cruise travel industry to evolve and become more sustainable.
