Research by the campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that the largest cruise ships (Cruisezilla) have doubled in size since the year 2000. The world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024 by Royal Caribbean. At 365 meters long, the vessel has a gross tonnage of almost 250,000 with the capability to carry nearly 10,000 passengers.
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Modern cruise ships are now twice as large as they were in 2000. The current largest cruise ship is Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas with a gross tonnage of 248,663, which is a leap from the 137,276 gross tonnage of the biggest cruise ship in 1999, Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas.
The Icon of the Seas has seven swimming pools, 40 restaurants and a capacity of 7,600 passengers.
The Titanic, once the largest passenger ship in 1912 had a gross tonnage of 46,328 and measured 269 meters (883 feet) in length.
Today’s ships dwarf the Titanic with projections indicating that by 2050, cruise ships could be eight times larger than the Titanic, carrying nearly 11,000 passengers.
In 1970, there were just 21 cruise ships today, there are 515 vessels, a 20-fold increase over the decades.
Cruisezilla are huge contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions with nearly 3% of global emissions attributed to maritime vessels, as per the International Maritime Organization.
T&E reports that CO2 emissions from Cruisezilla in Europe were almost 20% higher in 2022 than in 2019.
The environmental footprint of cruise ships extends beyond CO2 emissions. The industry also contributes to air and water pollution with waste management posing a challenge.
Despite some ships transitioning from heavy fuel oil to liquefied natural gas (LNG), the use of fossil fuels continues to exacerbate climate change.
CLIA, the world’s largest cruise industry trade association disputes some claims made by T&E particularly regarding ship size and emissions data.
According to CLIA, 60% of cruise ships today are small to mid-size and there has been a 16% reduction in emissions per ship on average over the past five years.
CLIA addresses that the cruise industry is investing heavily in energy-efficient technologies and sustainable practices with a commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Implementing a €50 (£43) tax on cruise tickets could potentially generate €1.6 billion (£1.38 billion) globally.
T&E’s research predicts that by 2050, Cruisezilla could be eight times larger than the Titanic in terms of tonnage, which was once the largest ship afloat.
From just 21 vessels in 1970 to 515 today, the number of cruise ships has skyrocketed, a 20-fold increase over the past decades.
About 35 million passengers are expected to cruise in 2024, a 6% increase from pre-pandemic levels.
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While cruises have traditionally been seen as a luxury, they are becoming a mainstream holiday option in developed countries.
The T&E report highlights a 17% increase in carbon dioxide emissions from cruise ships in 2022 compared to 2019. Methane emissions have surged by a 500% during the same period.
Many Cruisezilla operators are switching to liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative to traditional heavy fuel oil.
LNG emits less carbon dioxide, but methane slips from LNG engines, making it over 80 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.
Although LNG is a cleaner-burning fuel, its use is controversial due to the methane emissions associated with it.
The influx of Cruisezilla in European ports has led to complaints from residents about pollution and overtourism.
Cities like Barcelona and Amsterdam are responding by taxing cruise visitors and closing central cruise terminals.
Venice has banned large cruise ships from entering its lagoon, citing damage to its fragile ecosystem.
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reports a 16% reduction in average emissions per ship over the past five years. However this improvement is overshadowed by the overall increase in cruise traffic.
In its roadmap for achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the International Energy Agency (IEA) identifies e-fuels like ammonia, hydrogen and biofuels as an alternatives to fossil fuels for shipping.
T&E advocates for a global cruise ticket tax to fund climate finance initiatives suggesting a €50 tax could generate €1.6 billion annually.
The cruise industry remains a popular choice for holidaymakers especially from the UK and Ireland with 2.3 million cruise holidays taken last year, up from 1.7 million in 2022.
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