Royal Caribbean’s lengthy nine-month cruise has been making headlines due to its unique nature, with various oddities expected on such an extraordinary voyage. However, despite its allure, commercial cruises aren’t exactly eco-friendly.
Even shorter cruises can result in significant carbon emissions, prompting the cruise industry to face pressure to implement major changes. Yet, progress has been slow as the industry continues to expand rapidly in the post-pandemic travel recovery phase.
According to a 2022 report by the International Council for Clean Transportation, commercial cruising has a larger environmental impact than flying. Bryan Comer, the author of the report, noted that cruise ships generate pollution like food waste and sewage, in addition to emitting harmful CO2.
Calculating the environmental impact of the Ultimate World Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas mega-ship involves considering factors such as the number of passengers, the distance traveled, and average carbon emissions. With a passenger capacity of 2,476, the ship reportedly emits 540 grams of CO2 per passenger per nautical mile.
Estimating the total distance of 40,526 nautical miles for the cruise’s round-the-globe journey, the emissions are projected to reach 54,185 metric tons of CO2. This amount is equivalent to the emissions from about 12,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for a year.
Despite efforts to reduce pollution, the Serenade of the Seas lacks advanced technology to significantly offset its environmental impact. Older ships like this still emit pollutants into the ocean, raising questions about the responsibility of companies offering such travel experiences amidst the climate crisis.
With passengers paying substantial amounts for these cruises, there is a call for more environmentally friendly ships running on green hydrogen and fuel cells rather than fossil fuels. As climate change concerns grow, the focus on reducing carbon emissions in the travel industry becomes increasingly crucial.
