The annual State of the Cruise Industry report by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), shows 31.7 million passengers took a cruise in 2023. The forecast for 2024 is estimated to hit 35.7 million travelers. In addition, 63% of those who have taken a cruise say that they returned to a destination that they first visited via cruise ship for a longer stay, extending the economic impact.
The cruise industry continues to demonstrate its commitment to responsible tourism and environmental sustainability as more people book cruises than any other time in history. Several cruise lines have developed innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint and address the concerns of a growing number of eco-minded travelers.
“Cruise continues to be one of the fastest-growing and most resilient sectors of tourism — rebounding faster than international tourist arrivals — and a strong contributor to local and national economies,” says Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA.
“Cruise lines are continuing to reduce their emissions at sea and at berth in pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050,” she adds.
“This year’s environmental technologies report demonstrates their progress, with the industry investing in engine technologies with conversion capabilities that will allow ships to use more renewable energy sources as they become available and making important incremental steps to employ a range of other environmental technologies and practices to advance the industry’s wider sustainability initiatives.”
Cruise lines now invest in propulsion technologies with conversion capabilities for future alternative fuels and utilize a range of technologies and innovations to advance their sustainability initiatives.
2024 Cruise Trends
The following trends are shaping the cruise industry this year:
First-time cruise takers are increasing: 27% of cruisers over the past two years are new to cruise, an increase of 12% over the past year.Cruises are a top choice for multigenerational travel: More than 30% of families traveling by cruise do so with at least two generations, and 28% of cruise travelers travel with three to five generations.Expedition and exploration are the fastest-growing sectors of cruise tourism: Passengers traveling on expedition itineraries increased 71% from 2019 to 2023.Accessible tour excursions are on the rise: 45% of cruise passengers booked an accessible tour for their most recent cruise.Travel advisors continue to impact vacation decisions: 73% of cruise travelers say that travel advisors have a meaningful influence on their decision to cruise.
Royal Caribbean Group Continues Its Decarbonization Journey
With a global fleet of 65 ships traveling to approximately 1,000 destinations, Royal Caribbean is one of the leading cruise companies in the world. The company released its annual Seastainability Report, outlining milestones the Royal Caribbean Group reached on its mission to deliver the best vacation experiences responsibly.
According to the report, Royal Caribbean made significant progress toward its net-zero vision, including achieving more than half of the company’s carbon-intensity-reduction target, completing successful biofuel trials across Europe, and introducing the maritime industry’s first waste-to-energy system on board a ship.
Highlights from the Seastainability Report include:
A 6.8% reduction in carbon intensity, reaching more than half of its double-digit carbon intensity reduction targetAn expanded energy portfolio following successful biofuel trials, which confirmed that “drop in” percentages of the alternative fuel can be used without needing to modify engines or impact onboard technical systemsIncreased local sourcing globally, reducing miles traveled by 37%Helped protect marine species through Shellbank, an innovative genetic technology program that matches DNA for critically endangered sea turtles to known locations in order to determine priority conservation sites and prevent illegal harvestingIntroduced the first at-sea waste-to-energy systems, which debuted on Silver Nova and Icon of the SeasBegan construction on first tri-fuel, methanol-capable ship, Celebrity Xcel
“Marking the halfway point to our carbon-intensity target is a key milestone that builds on our history of innovation and collaboration as we continue driving forward solutions that advance the industry’s net-zero future,” says Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.
Royal Caribbean began their sustainability journey more than 30 years ago. Highlights include the industry-leading recycling program, Save the Waves, and the first environmental officer on board a cruise ship. Today the company continues to innovate and connect people to the world’s most beautiful travel destinations in a way that respects and protects the ocean and communities it visits.
Princess Cruises Installs Innovative Biodigester on Flagship
Power Knot Ocean, the market leader for onsite organic-waste-management solutions in the marine environment, announced the deployment of 26 of its machines aboard Princess Cruises’ latest luxury cruise ship, the Sun Princess. The integration of Power Knot’s LFC biodigesters and WEP effluent pumps on board Sun Princess marks a significant stride toward sustainable waste-management practices within the cruise industry.
The LFC biodigester uses natural aerobic digestion to break down food waste into water, mitigating the need for traditional disposal methods and contributing to a substantial reduction in both cost and environmental impact.
The biodigester units are strategically placed in key areas of the ship, such as a galley or garbage room, where food waste is processed or handled. Nine different sizes of LFC biodigesters are available, with the largest one capable of processing 13,200 pounds of food waste per day.
Alongside each LFC biodigester is a WEP effluent pump. These are used to move the effluent to a convenient location so that it can easily be sent to the ship’s onboard treatment facility.
“The installation of our LFC biodigesters and WEP effluent pumps on the Sun Princess exemplifies our dedication to sustainable waste-management solutions,” says Iain Milnes, president of Power Knot. “By seamlessly integrating our advanced technology into the ship’s operations, we are contributing to a cleaner, greener future for the cruise industry.”
