Kimberley Lovato
July 17, 2025
Conscious cruise lines such as Hurtigruten can benefit the economy, the environment, and the global community.Kristian Dale
Book these sustainable sailings from Norway to Indonesia.
The cruise-industry tide is turning, as top lines take a hard look at their environmental impact and dive headfirst into alternative fuels, advanced water filtration, and more initiatives that promote a healthy planet. Many cruise companies are also committing to smaller ships, net-zero emissions, and partnerships with conservation organizations that improve the lives of locals in port communities. This overall greener mindset steers the industry toward a long-term sustainable future exploring the world’s waterways. Here, cruise innovations that are making a splash in 2025 and beyond.
Hurtigruten
Working closely with local communities since 1893, Hurtigruten was the first cruise line to ban heavy fuel oil (in 2009) and the first to ban single-use plastics (in 2018). The Norway-based company also brought the world’s first battery-hybrid-powered ship to the high seas in 2019 as part of a $116 million retrofit that reduced emissions in all seven of its Coastal Express vessels, which sail the Norwegian coastline from Bergen to Kirkenes. By 2030, the pioneering cruise line is aiming for another industry first: to sail a zero-emission ship. Meanwhile, last year a zero-food-waste initiative introduced smaller meal portions, composting of leftovers, and scrap-based fertilizer production for Hurtigruten’s restaurant-supplying gardens. “Creating a circular economy is something we hope, like other firsts, will be copied by our competitors to improve the industry overall,” says Carly Biggart of Hurtigruten Americas.
Book: The 650-passenger Polarlys sails for six nights along the fjord-speckled Norwegian coastline, from Bergen in the south past the Arctic Circle, stopping at coastal communities including Trondheim, Tromsø, and Honningsvåg – mainland Norway’s northernmost city. Try dishes made with seasonal ingredients at one of three onboard restaurants, and book an excursion led by resident tour guides in each port of call. Departures: Multiple dates, July 31, 2025, through March 31, 2027.
Aqua Expeditions
With its fleet of five small, elegant vessels operating in biodiverse hot spots such as Raja Ampat, Komodo National Park, and the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua Expeditions doubles down on conservation efforts from ship to shore. In 2024, the brand partnered with 4ocean and committed to remove at least 25,000 pounds of plastic annually from the coastlines it travels. Aqua’s partnership with Bali Sustainable Seafood empowers Indonesian fishers to abandon trawling and other harmful practices, and angle more sustainably. Its 178-passenger Aqua Mekong is constructed from eco-friendly Resysta – a material resembling hardwood made from recycled rice husks, salt, and mineral oil – and onboard filtration systems remove toxins from water before returning it to rivers and oceans.
Book: For snorkelers and swimmers, a seven-night expedition aboard the 30-passenger Aqua Blu sails between Bali and Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, with stops at Moyo Island, Saleh Bay, Rinca Island’s Horseshoe Bay and Pink Beach, and the iconic Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Departures: Multiple dates, August 2, 2025, through September 18, 2027.
Take in views of far-flung destinations from Silversea’s observation lounge. Silversea
Silversea Cruises
While Silversea’s all-suite ships ply some of the planet’s most pristine waters around all seven continents, the brand notably became the first cruise line to gain environmental-management certification in the Galápagos Islands, diverting waste from San Cristóbal’s landfill by transporting it to the mainland to be recycled or processed. With the aim of safeguarding the archipelago for future generations, in 2019 the line launched the Silversea Fund for the Galápagos to support regional education and conservation projects. Vanguard tech brings that commitment to sustainability on board: For example, instead of an anchor, the 100-passenger Silver Origin features a dynamic positioning system that prevents damage to the seafloor. “We also work closely with independent farms and suppliers to source locally, which means there’s no risk of pests from other countries that can disrupt the fragile ecosystem,” says Gabriela Naranjo, vice president and general manager of Silversea Cruises Ecuador.
Book: Journey round-trip from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Ecuador, on a seven-night, 15-stop cruise around the Galápagos Islands aboard the Silver Origin. Spot giant tortoises, fur seals and sea lions, blue-footed boobies, land iguanas, and more in one of the world’s most diverse ocean habitats. Departures: Multiple dates, August 2, 2025, through March 27, 2027.
Virgin’s Test Kitchen and other onboard restaurants serve individual meals as opposed to bottomless buffets. Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages
With its fleet of four adults-only, 2,770-passenger ships – the first, Scarlet Lady, launched in 2021, and the latest, Brilliant Lady, sets sail this September – newcomer Virgin Voyages has banished both plastic and wasteful food buffets (replaced by more than 20 onboard eateries). By the end of 2025, all Virgin ships will have shore-power connectivity, enabling them to turn off their engines in port, thus eliminating noise and emissions. “With our industry partners, we’re also committed to transitioning to more sustainable fuels, such as using advanced waste-based biofuels on our existing diesel engines,” says Jill Stoneberg, Virgin’s senior director of sustainability and social impact.
Book: Brilliant Lady embarks on its inaugural season with iconic ports of call, including Philipsburg on Sint Maarten, the British Virgin Islands’ Tortola, and Virgin’s own Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas, on its eight-night voyage round-trip from Miami. Bring your reef-safe sunscreen (or buy it in the onboard boutique) for exploring the Caribbean’s biodiversity. Departure: October 17.
The AmaCello cruises quietly through Avignon, France.AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways
While travelers watch Europe’s medieval castles and storybook villages glide by, behind the scenes, there are serious innovations at work. In 2020, the 158-passenger AmaKristina became the first river-cruise ship to receive prestigious Green Award certification from the Green Award Foundation, an independent, Netherlands-based nonprofit that evaluates maritime companies for safety, operational excellence, and environmental performance. Nineteen more ships in AmaWaterways’ 29-vessel fleet quickly followed suit. In 2023, solar panels over staterooms on the 196-passenger AmaMagna started producing energy equivalent to charging 20 Teslas per hour.
Book: Set out on low-environmental-impact excursions such as biking, walking, and cultural touring during a seven-night Rhône River cruise through Provence between Lyon and Arles, France, and celebrate the holiday season with Christmas markets, food, and wine from Tournon to Avignon. Departures: December 4 and 18.
Ponant Explorations
In Ponant, Hurtigruten has some serious competition in its quest to become the first zero-emission cruise ship. The French brand’s intimate, 64-passenger Ponant, the first Relais & Châteaux sailing yacht, uses wind power when possible and docks in less-traveled ports of call, easing pressure on overtourism. Ponant’s sustainability ethos extends to the rest of its fleet, including four sister ships in the Boréal series, six Ponant Explorers, and the 245-passenger Commandant Charcot, the first hybrid-electric, luxury polar-exploration ship powered by liquified natural gas. Science leads the way on board: Two labs host researchers in oceanography, marine biology, Arctic ecosystems, and more. Passengers enjoy their afternoon lectures on a range of subjects, including history, ocean mammals, and environmental work.
Book: Leaving from Nice, Le Ponant explores Corsica’s west coast for seven nights, pulling into small ports and villages (Ajaccio, Saint-Florent, Bonifacio, and Calvi among them), while enjoying the serenity of traveling under full sail to enjoy quiet coastal panoramas far from the crowds. Departures: Multiple dates, May 30 through September 19, 2026.
