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Carnival’s lng fleet: ushering in a new generation of cruise ships, carnival's lng fleet is leading a new era of cruise ships.

Three years ago, German cruise line AIDA Cruises made international headlines when its pilot project successfully demonstrated that a cruise ship can be powered by liquefied natural gas.

LNG has been steadily growing as a leading source of energy worldwide since the first commercial liquefaction plant was delivered in 1964 in Arzew, Algeria. Particularly over the past three years, it has experienced a dynamic growth, with global trade reaching 258 million tonnes (MT) in 2016 – the third record-breaking year in a row. At present, natural gas is recognised as the cleanest-burning hydrocarbon.

In the shipping sector, LNG is emerging as a low-cost, low-emissions alternative to conventional marine bunker fuels, and now it seems that its potential has finally reached the cruise industry, notoriously one of the worst offenders when it comes to fuel emissions.

Just one year after the initial pilot, AIDAprima became the first cruise ship to routinely use LNG with a dual-fuel powered engine while in port. This marked a drastic move for green operations at the time, since a cruise ship spends an average of 40% of its operating time in port. According to the company, the use of LNG can reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides by up to 80%, while particulate matter and sulphur oxides are almost entirely eliminated and carbon dioxide emissions are cut by 20%.

Now, Carnival Corporation (owner of AIDA Cruises and nine other major cruising brands) is taking this one step further, with the launch of seven fully LNG-powered ships scheduled to be delivered between now and 2022.

Uncompromising on design: matching environmentalism and luxury

The first in the series, AIDAnova is arriving in late 2018, and once it sets sail, it will have the largest passenger capacity in the world. The ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and promises to “combine innovative design with state-of-the-art technology to provide even greater on board comfort,” according to its developers.

A keel-laying ceremony took place in September last year to celebrate the start of AIDAnova’s construction, a ship that Carnival Corporation hopes to prove the company’s “aggressive sustainability goals”.

Fuel for the first two vessels, which will routinely visit popular European ports, will be supplied by Shell, under a framework agreement signed between the two companies. As part of the agreement, the ships will utilise Shell's infrastructure in cruise ports to refuel with LNG throughout their itineraries.

However, its makers aren’t content with just the green credentials; passengers will be welcomed on a state-of-the-art vessel, which aims to provide a luxurious and at times extravagant experience in terms of amenities, entertainment and dining.

According to a company press release, the passengers will have a choice of 2,600 staterooms, including 31 suites, 312 interior cabins, 198 ocean-view cabins and 1,655 balcony cabins. The ship’s staterooms will be available in 21 different categories, including double or family cabins, single cabins, verandas and junior suites with a light-flooded winter garden, as well as premium or penthouse suites with an area of up to 53m².

Once out of their rooms, passengers will be able to visit the on-board brewery featuring a beer garden, the beach club complete with three water slides, a climbing garden and a mini golf course, among others. In a first for the brand, the ship will also don two private outdoor sun islands aimed at couples.

Indoor entertainment will include an escape room for puzzle lovers, a 360-degree theatre, as well as a TV studio at sea. Fitness fans will be able to take advantage of a modern gym, which will feature both indoor and outdoor areas.

These facilities will be topped by a whopping 17 restaurants and 23 bars that promise to offer a “variety of culinary trends from around the world”.

For its debut journey, AIDAnova plans to make a first stop in Hamburg and pay a visit to the Hanseatic City on the Elbe, after which it will begin its usual seven-day trips around the Canary Islands, stopping in top destinations such as Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

Carnival’s statement: will it prove persuasive for the industry?

This year’s vessel is just the beginning: over the next five years, Carnival Corporation will own a fleet of seven clean energy ships, serving some of the world’s top tourist spots.

Costa Smeralda will follow AIDAnova as the second in the fleet, in 2019. Two more will arrive in 2020, for Carnival Cruise Line and P&O Cruises UK, after which Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises will each receive an additional ship in 2021. The last one from this series will belong to Carnival Cruise Line, to be delivered in 2022.

The entire fleet is under construction by German and Finnish shipbuilders Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku.

“One of the keys to establishing LNG as a standard for powering cruise ships is building out an extensive, safe and reliable infrastructure across the globe for this clean burning fossil fuel,” said Tom Strang, senior vice president of maritime affairs for Carnival Corporation. “We are proud to be on the forefront of advancing LNG as a fuel source for the cruise industry.”

The long-term commitment from the world's largest leisure travel company to invest in a brand new generation of LNG-powered ships undoubtedly marks a huge leap away from the traditional bunker fuel – and could set a worthy precedent in the widespread adoption of this clean fuel. When it comes to the shipping industry at large, the current order book analysed by LNG World Shipping reveals that the entire global LNG fleet will reach 600 vessels by summer 2019.

"Carnival’s LNG fleet: ushering in a new generation of cruise ships" was originally created and published by Ship Technology , a GlobalData owned brand.

The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

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Carnival Cruise Ship Takes on 100% Biofuel at Rotterdam

The fuel was supplied by VARO Energy, and the ship will test it during normal operations on upcoming voyages in the Norwegian fjords. Image Credit: AIDA Cruises

A cruise ship owned by Carnival Corporation has taken on a 100% biofuel-based bunker fuel at Rotterdam .

The  AIDA Prima  recently took on the biofuel at Rotterdam, Carnival subsidiary AIDA Cruises said in a LinkedIn post on Monday.

The fuel was supplied by VARO Energy , and the ship will test it during normal operations on upcoming voyages in the Norwegian fjords.

"In our search for the fuel mix of the future, we have been gaining valuable experience with the use of different biofuels since 2022," Felix Eichhorn , president of AIDA Cruises, said in the statement.

"In close cooperation with experts from industry and science, we are developing new approaches to continuously reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"In order to achieve a sustainable impact, we need a growing supply, not only of biofuels, but other alternative fuels at marketable prices that are also available worldwide."

Ship & Bunker News Team To contact the editor responsible for this story email us at [email protected]

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Future fuel: The pros and cons of LNG cruise ships

The cruise industry is growing ever more conscious of its environmental impact and has been turning to alternative, cleaner fuel methods. Liquid natural gas (LNG) is a popular choice due to it being one of the cleanest-burning nonelectric marine fuels. We explore the benefits and setbacks of using LNG and investigates if it is the future fuel of choice for the cruise industry.

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The cruise industry has seen backlash from the media, environmental activists and government bodies following research demonstrating the damage cruise ships cause to the environment . Concern surrounding the environmental impact of cruise ships has led the industry to take steps towards a greener, more environmentally friendly future.

Leading independent German pollution analyst company Axel Friedrich stated that a single large cruise ship emits over five tonnes of NOX emissions per day and emits more sulphur than millions of cars. However, the industry has been pioneering the use of greener fuels such as liquid natural gas.

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Carnival corporation & plc.

LNG is one of the cleanest burning non-electric fuels available for the cruise industry and is being used by many companies worldwide for cleaner cruising, reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.

Carnival Corporation: leading the way

One of the leading companies in the LNG Cruise ship sector is Carnival Corporation – one of the world’s most widely recognised cruise brands.  In 2015, Carnival Corporation made history by developing the world’s first LNG powered cruise ship. Sphinx-class ship AIDAsol, operated by AIDA Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, was powered by an LNG hybrid barge while in port.

Since then, the company has made headway with the development of AIDAprima and AIDAperla, two ships supplied directly with LNG thanks to their dual-fuel powered engines. The ships can be powered by LNG while at ports, drawing the green fuel directly from the trucks alongside the ships.

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Three years later in 2018, the company made history yet again with the launch of AIDAnova, the world’s first cruise ship to be powered by LNG both at sea and while at ports. The following year saw the company launch the second LNG powered cruise ship – Costa Smeralda.

In December 2020, the delivery of Carnival Mardi Gras and P&O Cruises UK’s Iona in late 2020 saw them as the third and fourth LNG powered cruise ships to set sail.

Carnival is currently working towards the delivery of two additional LNG ships late this year – Costa Toscana and AIDAcosma – along with two more LNG ships to be expected in 2022 – Carnival Celebration and P&O UK’s Arvia. Alongside this, an additional seven LNG cruise ships have been ordered for various Carnival Corporation subsidiaries with delivery slated for between 2021 and 2025, representing half of the corporation’s newbuilds on order.

Commenting on the company’s decision to switch to LNG, Tom Strang, senior vice president, maritime affairs, Carnival Corporation, said: “LNG is an important short-term and long-term solution and is currently the most future-proof technology available. It exceeds all requirements currently in place regarding air emissions and goes a significant way to reducing our carbon emissions while facilitating the introduction of alternative fuels, as technology developments allow.”

“The introduction of LNG to power cruise ships is a major development that supports our environmental goals and decarbonization pathway, we are continuing to pioneer the use of LNG and expand on our LNG investment as the marine industry’s most advanced fuel technology to date.”

LNG in development

It’s not only Carnival Corporation cruise ships that are using LNG; MSC Cruises has recently announced the construction of its first LNG powered cruise ship, MSC World Europa.

Scheduled to set sail in 2022, the ship is said to be amongst the most technologically developed cruise ships due to its 50-kilowatt LNG powered solid oxide fuel cell technology which has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% compared with standard LNG engines.

In a press release, MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “MSC World Europa is further proof of our commitment to environmental stewardship as she is set to reduce carbon emissions even further than many other existing cruise ships powered by LNG, which is currently the most environmentally friendly fuel for commercial maritime operations.

“With this vessel, we also reconfirm our belief in investing in advanced environmental technology to meet our long-term goal of zero emissions from operations.”

It’s not just cruise companies that are developing LNG powered cruise ships; multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate Disney has also turned to this new green fuel for its ships.

Named Disney Wish, the latest addition to the Disney cruise ship family will be fitted with an LNG powered propulsion system making it the first ship in the Disney fleet to feature an environmentally friendly focused fuel means. The ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and is scheduled to embark on its maiden voyage in June 2022.

In practice: the benefits and setbacks

LNG is the cleanest fossil fuel currently produced, so it is no surprise that various cruise companies have selected it as the power source for their propulsion. The combustion of the gas releases significantly reduced amounts of CO2, NOX and SO2 emissions into the atmosphere, and produces virtually no particulates or ash.

The use of LNG for a cruise ship also provides advantages over other fuels on the market in the shape of less wear and tear on the engine, as well as a lower cost. Engines that have been designed specifically for LNG fuel use will not require a scrubber system to be installed or pay high prices for low sulphur-based fuel.

Discussing the selection of LNG for Carnival Corporation cruise ships compared to other alternative fuels on the market, Strang said: “Many factors influenced our decision to be the world’s first cruise company to use LNG to power our ships, including regulatory, reputation and our sustainability profile, which were the key drivers in our choice. Since the design for our series of next-generation LNG ships started almost a decade ago, we made the decision at that time to transition to LNG because it was the best option based on local air quality issues.”

“While there are alternative fuels that could provide potential solutions in the future and for the next generation of ships, LNG is currently the most environmentally friendly fuel and the only scalable option available that offers significant emissions reductions today.”

Although LNG provides many benefits to the cruise industry there are also some setbacks, the most noticeable being the specific engine requirements that are needed. LNG is unable to be used in an existing gasoline or diesel engine; a cruise ship needs to be designed with a specific engine that will enable it to hold LNG and burn it correctly.

As LNG has a lower fuel density compared that its predecessors gas and diesel, cruise ships switching LNG will need twice as much tank space. Increasing tank space on a cruise ship could result in one or two fewer cabins, reducing the number of paying passengers on each cruise.

Another setback delaying uptake is the current lack of fuelling depots. There are plans for more LNG fuelling depots to be established for LNG cruise ships, but at present, this has deterred companies from purchasing LNG cruise ships.

With companies such as Carnival Corporation, MSC, Disney and many more exploring the use of LGN to set course towards a cleaner future for the cruise industry, cruising could become a cleaner holiday choice in the not-too-distant future.

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Cruise Ship Engine Power, Propulsion, Fuel

These are some of the most interesting cruise ship technology-related data and facts - engines , power , marine propulsion systems , fuel consumption of cruise ships , and something about pollution (in-article navigation links).

In 2020, IMO (International Maritime Organization) implements its global 0,5% sulfur cap on marine fuels. If not using scrubbers (pollution control devices), owners of older vessels must use as ship fuels either MGO (marine gas oil), ECA Category Fuels (low sulfur MGO), new modified fuels and blends, LNG (liquefied natural gas) or electric/battery power . Each fuel option is based on vessel type and age, routes/itineraries and powerplant. Most newbuild passenger ships are LNG-powered . World's largest seaports plus numerous smaller ports already have installed shoreside power capabilities providing shore-to-ship power supply to berthed vessels. In many ports, shorepower is in addition to LNG bunkering capabilities.

Cruise Ship Engine

Without a source of power, these huge cruise vessels would be nothing more than drifting aimlessly hotels. A large number of older ships use diesel reciprocating engines for generating power for propulsion. Cruise ship engine power is supplied through the transmission to the propeller shafts. These transmissions determine the revolutions of propellers. Modern ships use either diesel-electric engines or gas turbines as a source of power for propulsion, and for ship's systems. Some of the larger ships depend on two power sources - one for electrical power and one for propulsion.

Gas turbine engines (being aero-derivative) generate heat which is transformed from mechanical energy into electricity. To achieve this, compressed air is fired in a combustion chamber. Hot exhaust is made over a turbine that spins to drive mechanically a shaft. The power can be used to spin the generators. The same way works diesel-electric engines, yet they use a direct drive system, not a turbine. The output shafts, to produce electrical power, are connected to generators.

Both engine types need a lot of fuel. Cunard QE2 , for example, consumes daily 380 tons of fuel when traveling at 29 knots speed and carries fuel enough to sail for 12 days. Usually, ships fill up at various seaports and use fueling barges as floating gas stations. Vessels use lower-grade diesel which tends not to burn as purely as diesel-powered road-going vehicles.

All ships rely on propellers/screws to be pushed through the water, providing forward and reverse motion. Airplanes, for example, require tremendous propeller speeds to provide the forward motion, but ship propellers don't need to turn so fast and rely on torque power. Therefore, ships travel slowly and rarely top 30 knots (for more info follow our speed-link above).

Cruise ship engine room

The basic detail about the cruise ship engine room is its location. For stability, the ship's heaviest weights are at its lowest possible deck, and usually, engines are mounted above the keel. Ship's lowest decks are almost entirely full of machinery. An area creating enough power for driving such an enormous vessel through water needs to be really big - very often engine rooms occupy at least three decks. Rather than long halls stretching the length of hulls, machinery is almost always divided into smaller compartments - one for the main engines, another for the heating/air-conditioning system. This compartmentalization is for safety reasons. If a penetration to the hull or fire happens, multiple compartments help contain the damage. The next photo shows the engine room of RCI's Oasis-Class vessels.

Rarely, engines are not placed at the ship's bottom. RMS Queen Mary 2's four main diesel engines are above the keel, with two smaller gas turbines on top-deck (aft of the funnel). It was not unusual for older liners to have 2 engine rooms. Gradually, technology allowed the consolidation of these spaces. However, current maritime legislation requires vessels to have equipment duplication and 2 engine rooms.

In May 2015, Wartsila Corporation and Carnival Corporation partnered to optimize cruise ship engine room operations of all 101 ships across the corporation's 9 brands. The deal was signed by Micky Arison (Carnival's Chairman) and Bjorn Rosengren (Wartsila's President and CEO). The plan included installing Wartsila's latest marine solutions, first tested on several Carnival Cruise Line vessels in pilot projects. The new systems and technologies included engine control and monitoring systems, safety and fuel efficiency equipment.

Wartsila's "Asset Performance Optimization Solution" package allows obtaining optimal performance from Wartsila marine diesel engines, recommends how to deal with potential issues, maximizes ship performance, ensures full-capacity systems operations, increases the predictability of fuel management and maintenance needs. Wartsila's fuel engine package was specifically designed to reduce fuel consumption.

Wartsila Marine technologies aim to optimize ship performance, but also allow to locate deviations from normal parameters of equipment and engines. This allows emerging problems and engine fault sources to be fixed before they occur.

Conventional diesel cruise ship engine

Today's direct-drive diesels feature one main advantage - the option to use a shaft generator, which is a device using the circular motion of the propeller shaft in order to generate the electricity needed for hotel services, like cooking and lighting.

Shaft generators can be used only while the ship is moving with a fairly constant cruising speed. This is what the NCL Epic cruise ship engine looks like:

Diesel-electric cruise ship engine

Almost all new ships feature a diesel-electric propulsion form. On these ships, main engines are not connected to propeller shafts, and instead of it they are directly connected to big generators in order to produce electricity, which is sent in turn to electric motors, that then power and help turn the propellers. The main advantage of the diesel-electric cruise ship engine systems is efficiency as they allow main engines to operate near the most efficient speed, no matter if the ship is moving at 5 or 25 knots.

Losing electrical power is devastating to ships. Main engines and generators require electricity and it's needed to keep them going. Pumps that are driven electrically take in cold ocean water to cool the engines and electrical pumps get fuel from fuel tanks and supply it to the engine. Electrical power is vital for many operational functions - without it, ships come to a halt.

Large equipment (propulsion motor, bow thrusters) requires electricity of high voltage. As for smaller machinery (cabin lights, galley equipment), the electricity goes through the transformer and is thus stepped down into lower voltage. Large cables snake through all the ships to distribute electrical power. They carry power from generators to switchboards, through passageways, public rooms, crew and passenger cabins. Cabling can be a weak point in the distribution system. If the electrical cables aren't truly redundant, even ships that feature two engine rooms suffer power failure.

While ships are docked, generators and main engines produce more power than needed. They are turned off in port, and smaller generators supply "hotel" loads (lights, air-conditioning, galley, etc.). Moving through water takes up the vast majority of the ship's power needs - about 85% of all the diesel-electric powerplant production is consumed by the propulsion system. The above photo is of the Vista-class Carnival cruise ship engine room. The engine type is "MAN 2 times; 14V48/60CR" (common-rail diesel injection system):

Cruise ship Emergency Generators

All ships are supplied with emergency generators to maintain vital electrical power. Backup generators are located higher up and also outside engine room spaces to isolate them from damage or fire.

Big ships require much power, so they might have more than one emergency generator. Despite that, they don't have the capacity of main generators and engines, don't produce electricity enough to move the ship, and can't supply all the power needed in ports, because of constraints in space.

Emergency generators are instead used only for essential navigation systems - crucial communication equipment, critical pumps in the engine room, emergency lighting. Should they also fail, vessels are required to have a battery backup. 24 hours of power are at least provided by battery rooms to the smaller emergency equipment list.

Probably you've heard about Carnival cruise ship accidents related to power failures in 2013. At our Carnival Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades link you can learn how CCL battled with this "unmaintained ships" image and implemented revolutionary new technology initiatives fleetwide - including an additional emergency backup generator on each of their vessels.

Cruise Ship Propulsion

The new cruise ship propulsion systems ABB Azipods XO (below photo) are more fuel-efficient than traditional systems, also providing better maneuverability, maximizing speed, reducing bad emissions, which as a whole optimizes ship's performance and enhances passenger safety.

ABB Azipod propulsion systems have a major impact on the vessel's operating efficiency - reducing energy consumption and bad emissions by up to 20%.

In 2019, ABB signed a deal with Oldendorff Carriers (1921-founded, Germany's largest bulk shipping company with a fleet of ~700 ships) for the supply and installation of Azipod propulsion systems on two newbuild carriers. Both self-unloading dry bulk vessels were China-built (by Chengxi Shipyard Co Ltd / subsidiary of CSSC) and scheduled for deliveries in 2021. Each vessel was fitted with two Azipods (power output 1,9 MW per unit) plus various related electric and digital solutions (powerplant, diesel-electric generators, bow thruster motors, transformers, switchboards, power management system, ABB Ability global ABB real-time monitoring).

Azipod cruise ship propulsion system

Azipod cruise ship propulsion system is situated outside the hull in the aft of the ship. Azipod turns in all directions (360 degrees) by a rudder, providing thrust in any directions, not possible for conventional systems.

See at the first photo at right RMS Queen Mary 2 's propulsion system scheme.

QM2's Azipod is actually an electric propulsion system consisting of the following main components:

• Propulsion motor - used to produce or drive thrust. The propeller's rotating is powered by an electric motor.
• Supply transformer - power produced by generators is 6600 KV, which is stepped down to the necessary voltage by supply transformer and is provided to the motor in the pod.
• Frequency controller - used to change the frequency of supplied power so that the rotating motor speed can be controlled.

Azipod marine ship propulsion is a combination of both steering and propulsion systems. Conventional marine propulsion systems use a two-stroke engine connected to a shaft, that passes through a stern tube and shaft tunnel to connect to the propeller outside the hull in the ship's aft/stern. This system's steering is done by a rudder (in the propeller's aft).

The above photo shows Oasis-class ship propulsion Azipods (2 units) before being mounted onto the hull. The next photo shows the Azipods (both units) mounted on the hull.

The 3rd Oasis-class ship - Harmony of the Seas, is currently the most technologically advanced and energy-efficient cruise vessel ever built. It is equipped with a new-generation exhaust gas cleaning system (multi-stream scrubbers) and also features a hull lubrication system allowing the ship to float on air bubbles (created around the hull) thus reducing drag and increasing fuel efficiency.

However, the steering and propulsion systems in Azipod arrangement, are combined into one part and the system consists of a propeller (driven by an electrical motor) turned by a rudder connected to the azipod system. The motor is inside the sealed pod and connected to the propeller.

The following YouTube video is about ABB Azipods installed on the new Genting Hong Kong vessels (Star Cruises' new ships and on Crystal Cruises' polar-class boats).

These ships incorporate a complete ABB propulsion - Azipods, electric power plant, computer automation, and software. Crystal cruise ships are powered by two "Azipod D" units allowing navigation in polar destinations. Each of the Star Cruises "Global-Class" vessels have three "Azipod XO" thrusters. All ships have installed ABB's "Intelligent Maneuvering Interface" and the "OCTOPUS" software optimizing fuel consumption and energy management. All these ships were constructed by the German shipbuilder MV Werften. Currently, almost 2/3 of all large-sized cruise vessels, icebreaking ships, and high ice-class cargo ships are with Azipod propulsion.

Advantages of Azipod propulsion marine systems

• A lot of space is saved by the Azipod cruise ship propulsion system in the engine room - there is no propeller, engine, shafting or other arrangements. This saved space can be used for storing cargo.
• Great maneuverability - the propeller can turn in all directions and enables crash maneuvering stop distance that is better than the conventional systems.
• Azipod cruise ship propulsion system can be placed below the ship's height and provide more efficiency than conventional systems.
• In case the ships have large breadth, two (or more) azipod systems, independent from one another, can be used to provide subtle maneuvering.
• Side thruster's use is eliminated as pods can be used to provide side thrust.
• Low lube oil and fuel consumption.
• Lower vibrations and noise than conventional systems.
• Because emissions are low, it's environment-friendly.

Disadvantages of the Azipod marine propulsion

• It requires great initial cost.
• Many diesel generators are needed for producing power.
• The power produced by the motor is limited - the maximum available power now is 21 MW.
• Azipod cruise ship propulsion systems can't be installed in heavy cargo ships that need large motors and a lot of power.

Royal Caribbean Quantum-class cruise ships propulsion

In April 2012 ABB made a USD 60-million contract to provide the Azipod propulsion systems for the new Royal Caribbean ships of the Quantum-class (Quantum, Anthem, Ovation) and Quantum Plus-class (Pulse, Passion). The former name of this vessel design was "Project Sunshine". Builder is Meyer Werft (Papenburg, Germany).

ABB also supplies the power generation, distribution systems, bow thrusters, and of course, the 2 x 20,500 kW propulsion Azipod XO units (at the photo at right), transformers and drives.

NCL Epic ship pod-propulsion

When entering service in 2004, the Cunard's QM2 was the biggest in the world at 150,000 GR tonnes. Her designer Stephen Payne showed the advantages of pod-propulsion giving vessels increased maneuverability. The propellers (screws) of the QM2 ship are mounted on the pods which rotate 360 degrees and provide advanced maneuverability. He made the choice to put pods - though relatively new and yet untested for big ships. Royal Caribbean vessels of Oasis, Freedom, and Voyager classes have pod-propulsion as many other big ships, which is opposed to the fixed traditional screws which push in one direction only.

An interesting fact about cruise ship propulsion is that Norwegian Epic doesn't have pods, though slightly bigger than Queen Mary 2 (at 153,000 GR tonnes), because of NCL concerns about the new technology. Some of the lines (including Celebrity and Cunard) have suffered vessel breakdowns due to pod-bearing failures. Lots of voyages had to be canceled, extensive dry-docking periods were required for pod bearings to be replaced, and NCL didn't want to take the risk.

Currently, NCL Norwegian Epic has two rudders with conventional non-Azipod screws. But how does she manage to maneuver if they can push in one direction only? One option is to make them bigger and more effective when maneuvering, another is to add additional mini-pods or install full-sized pods. Only time will tell if any of these will actually ever happen.

Rolls-Royce cruise ship propulsion system "Promas Lite"

In November 2013, the manufacturing giant Rolls-Royce upgraded Hurtigruten's ship MS Richard With its new "Promas Lite" propulsion system (integrated propeller-rudder system). This is an older ship, and Promas Lite was the perfect choice as it is a combined "propeller-rudder" system increasing the efficiency of older passenger vessels with lesser tonnage. The upgrade significantly reduced Hurtigruten's operating costs on this vessel. The improved propeller efficiency was estimated to be between 11-14% at a cruising speed of 15 knots (17 mph / 28kph).

Promas propulsion integrates propeller, hubcap, rudder bulb and the rudder into a single unit which can increase propulsion's efficiency by 3-8% (1-screw vessels) and by 2-6% (2-screw vessels). It also improves maneuverability, reduces fuel consumption and bad emissions. The new modular technology allows efficient and cost-effective custom-made systems to be built up from various existing and standard parts - mooring winches, anchor cable lifters, warping heads.

Hurtigruten was compensated with ~80% of its total investment in Promas Lite marine propulsion upgrades as the Norwegian Government has this NOx fund encouraging shipowners and operators to upgrade their vessels and invest in new marine technologies that reduce NOx emissions. The Promas Lite propulsion future clients, besides passenger ships, are marine vessels like fishing and freighter ships.

After Norwegian Spirit (the first ship in NCL fleet with installed Promas Lite in 2011), in May 2014 the Star Cruises ship SuperStar Virgo became Southeast Asia's first passenger liner with RR's Promas Lite propulsion. Fincantieri used Promas Lite propulsion for all Viking Ocean liners.

Cruise Ship Power

The cruise ship engine power is responsible for driving propellers, and the other possibility is producing electricity that is used subsequently to drive propellers. The engine's effectiveness depends not only on the design but also the ship's shape, weight, and size. Power is measured in horsepower traditionally - one horsepower equals 746 watts. The next photo shows the world's largest passenger ships' engine that powers each of the Royal Caribbean Oasis-class vessels.

Marine steam engines

The cruise industry began in 1844, when ships were propelled by steam engines, performing the driving of propellers by using steam as working fluid. The largest passenger steamship (before hitting an iceberg on April 14, 1912) was the Titanic, powered by both reciprocating engines and turbines, able to generate 50,000 horsepower (37 megawatts).

Marine diesel engines

Usually, ships are powered by four or five generator sets (medium-speed, 500 revolutions per minute), fueled by diesel and creating 8-10 MW energy each. The power density of marine diesel medium-speed engine is 80 kilowatts per cubic meter. Ships that use diesel engines are required to carry exhaust-treatment systems and catalytic-reduction equipment to reduce the environmental impact.

Marine nuclear power engines

The building of the US first and only merchant nuclear-powered ship was commissioned in the 1950s by President Eisenhower. Of total cost $46.9 million, on the fuel core and nuclear reactor was spent more than $28 million. The ship operated only for five years (1965-1970) but due to the high running costs, its service was terminated.

Marine gas turbines

The first company that fitted cruise vessels with gas turbines, was Royal Caribbean. Gas turbines are greener than diesel engines and allow ships to sail with reduced inventory and smaller maintenance crew. Gas turbines drive generators which in turn provide electricity to propeller motors. They recover heat from gas turbines' exhaust, which then is used to produce the electricity needed for onboard services (air conditioning, water heating).

Rolls Royce is the manufacturer of the world's largest GAS marine turbine "Rolls-Royce MT30". The turbine will provide the immense 109 MW of power for the 2 propellers, all the weaponry, radars, command sys, etc. of the new generation UK aircraft carriers of the Queen Elizabeth class. To this class belong HMS Queen Elizabeth (2017-commissioned) and HMS Prince of Wales (2019-commissioned), each of them with a total power consumption of 80 MW.

Gas-turbine cruise ship power system

The first large vessel to use a new gas-turbine cruise ship propulsion system was Celebrity Millennium . This system will be more frequently used in new cruise ship buildings . It's innovative and, besides new activities available, the economy of scale, marketing, represents an important element of ship design. System's advantages include:

• lower vibrations and noise level, better comfort, lower probability of failure;
• lower exploitation costs because of the easier maintenance;
• nocive emissions reduction, which is partially owed to gas oil instead of fuel (-90% oxide of sulfur, -80% oxide of azote).
• considerable gain of weight and volume, especially when with Azipod marine propulsion system (900 tons, 70 cabins added).

Gas turbines at this time are only interesting in the building of high-speed ships (warships, and especially aircraft carriers, or fast passenger vessels - Millennium max speed is 25kn), because of the better diesel output in lower speeds and higher price of gasoil instead of fuel for diesel engines.

Gas turbine cruise ship propulsion systems are able to avoid pre-heating systems needed for fuel in classic installations (risk of fire!), as they use gasoil, Celebrity's Millenium-class and RCI's Radiance-class use such turbine powerplants. The next photo shows Celebrity's Solstice-class ship propulsion (the 4 aft azipods, and the underwater hull shape).

LNG-powered cruise ships

In June 2015, Carnival Corporation announced the company's contract with Fincantieri to build four LNG-powered vessels with the industry's largest passenger capacity. This was part of the order with Meyer Werft and Fincantieri for a total of 9x units to be built in the period 2019-2022.

The four newbuilds became the industry's first LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) powered vessels using LNG in their hybrid engines. The gas is stored in the ship and used to generate all needed power at sea. The engines are not exclusively LNG, but "dual fuel" (capable of burring both liquid marine fuel and natural gas). This design is for saving onboard space (reducing fuel storage space required).

LNG is natural gas, which consists of 90% methane and 10% ethane. When cooled to -160 C, it passes from gas to liquid, and its volume decreases over 600 times, making it very efficient for distribution. Long-distance LNG transportation is via dual-hull gas carriers. Short-distance LNG transportation is via trucks or smaller vessels (also barges) fitted with high-pressure tanks.

Gas fuel eliminates all the bad emissions - soot and sulfur oxides. In April 2016 MSC Cruises announced its contract with STX France for up to four LNG-powered ships with GT over 200,000 tons each. For comparison, the Oasis of the Seas is 225,000 GT tons. The new MSC ships have 5400 passengers capacity at double occupancy each. The first one is scheduled for delivery in 2022. Its power plant will be based on a new prototype engine.

Using LNG to power large cruise ships is a relatively new (2016) concept. Due to LNG tanks' large sizes, this fuel is used usually on smaller passenger shipping vessels ( ferries ) operating on short crossing itineraries. LNG bunkering facilities available in ports are very few. Compared to other fuels (including MGO / marine gas oil), LNG is purer (no unburned residues, fewer greenhouse gases), more efficient, stable and cheaper (reduces fuel costs). LNG technology also advances due to IMO's future maritime emissions regulations, especially in ports and while operating in environmentally sensitive destinations.

In comparison to pipeline gas, LNG is superior in quality - purer, with more methane and other energy content. Its chemical structure also has a stable composition that doesn't generate unburned residues, soot or any particulates. In addition, because the fuel is so clean, on LNG-powered ships maintenance intervals are doubled (over 25,000 hours / ~10140 days), as opposed to the standard MDO-powered 12,500 hours (520 days).

• All the world's major environmental organizations and the marine shipping industry joined for an explicit prohibition on the carriage of non-compliant fuels when the 0,5% sulfur cap takes effect in 2020.
• In January 2018, IMO announced that starting January 1, 2020, the marine fuels' max allowed sulfur content (outside Emission Control Areas) is reduced from the previous 3,5% to 0,5%. Unless marine vessels are using approved equivalent compliance methods, after Jan 2020 there is no reason for ships to use non-compliant diesel fuels.
• IMO's new sulfur cap's goal is to provide substantial health benefits by reducing marine fuels' sulfur content (SOx gases). At the same time, IMO's lowered cap significantly increases ships' operating costs.

The LNG cruise ship concept was first introduced by Wartsila (Finnish manufacturing company) and is based on drive shaft propulsion instead of azipods. The LNG tanks' location is in the upper deck area (right below the funnels). The Rolls Royce concept is based on azipods.

AIDAprima (2016) is one of the world's most technologically advanced cruise vessels. The ship rides on a cushion of air, thus reducing frictions and fuel consumption, The new technology is called MALS ("Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System"), allowing the liner to glide on an air bubbles carpet.

The ship's 4 main engines are dual-fuel (heavy oil and LNG gas oil) thus reducing fuel consumption. The ship has an advanced filtering system that reduces stack emissions (greenhouse gases). The ship's propulsion features 1 pair of stabilizers and 2x ABB-pod drives (new XO-Pod series, power output per unit: is 3 MW). The total power output is 48 MW. AIDAprima is also the world's first-ever "LNG cruise ship" as it uses LNG fuel supply while berthed in ports.

For its LNG-bunkering operations in Florida (at homeports PortMiami and Port Canaveral ), CCL-Carnival partnered with Royal Dutch Shell plc as fuel supplier for the liners Mardi Gras (2021) and Celebration (2022).

AIDA's LNG-powered cruise ships

The AIDAprima ship's first successful test run for LNG supply was in Hamburg Germany on May 7, 2016. While berthed, the ship was successfully provided with LNG at all the itinerary's ports of call (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Southampton, Zeebrugge).

• The company's statistics show that the AIDA ship spends about 40% of its operating time in ports. Compared to using conventional marine diesel (0,1% sulfur content), by using LNG, the vessel's emissions were considerably reduced even further. Sulfur oxides and soot particles were prevented completely (while in port), nitrogen oxide emission was reduced by up to 80%, CO2 emissions were lowered by 20%.
• AIDA ships (produced by Shipyard Papenburg ) are 100% LNG-powered. AIDA invested in research and testing of LNG cruise ship technologies since 2015. In 2013, AIDA collaborated on LNG hybrid barges with Becker Marine Systems. The innovative and flexible solution is used on ships moored in Port Hamburg.
• Since May 30, 2015, AIDAsol is regularly supplied with low-emission LNG power at Hamburg's Hafencity Cruise Terminal.
• AIDA ships use just 3 liters (0,8 US gallons) of fuel on average per person on board for a 100 km (62 ml) trip. This was confirmed by an independent expert study in 2012. Following the implementation of new technologies and economical handling of resources, the company's statistics for 2016 (over 2012) showed reduced energy consumption (9% per person onboard), reduced water consumption (7,2% pp) and reduced CO2 emissions (7,7% pp).

Hurtigruten ships

In April 2018, the Norwegian cruise and ferry company Hurtigruten announced a USD 150 million fleet renovation project. Almost all vessels will be upgraded with new hybrid powerplants that combine LNG-engines and batteries.

For the project was contracted Rolls-Royce Marine, initially for 6 ships plus optional another 3. The program's completion was scheduled before January 1, 2021. The project also includes all vessels to be upgraded with shore power capabilities.

Dual-engine ferries (LNG-MDO)

The next scheme shows the dual-engine powerplant (Wartsila) and propulsion (Azipod) of the cruise ferry Tallink Megastar . This ship is the biggest "floating superstore" on the Baltic Sea, featuring a 2-deck retail shopping complex and the unique self-service option called "Q-shopping". The RoPax vessel uses LNG as prime fuel and MDO (marine diesel oil) as secondary fuel.

The ship is powered by a total of five Wartsila dual-fuel engines - three 12-cylinder (model 12V50DF, combined output 34,2 MW) plus two 6-cylinder (model 6L50DF, combined output 11,4 MW). Ferryboat's total power output is 45,6 MW. Its propulsion system includes two Wartsila fixed-pitch propellers with twin propeller shafts. Navigation systems are also Wartsila-made, including NACOS Platinum (integrated vessel control system).

The power generated by the main engines/powerplant produces electricity that is used from the propulsion motors, as well as all auxiliary systems and hotel functions. This innovative maritime technology allows the engines to be started and stopped depending on the onboard electricity demand, which additionally improves fuel efficiency.

Vessel's hull is ice-strengthened (class 1A). Rudders are from Becker Marine Systems. When compared to traditional marine engines, in gas mode, the ship's engines produce 1/4 less COx, 2/3 less NOx, zero SOx and no soot particles.

The onboard LNG system consists of 2 bunker stations, 2 horizontal LNG storage tanks by Linde (cryogenic, vacuum-insulated, stainless steel, total gas volume 600 m3), double-walled bunkering lines, pipelines (acid-proof stainless steel), special pipe fittings, gas distribution system, steam boilers. All the ship's electrical equipment is certified "explosion-proof". The LNG is stored at temperatures -160 Celsius (-256 Fahrenheit) and under pressure 4-6 bars.

ABB supplied the vessel's power and electric propulsion systems, as well as the Octopus (smart energy management system). While mechanical propulsion is optimized for a single-speed, electric propulsion is based on rotating speed control resulting in energy efficiency at all speeds. ABB's propulsion also improves passenger comfort as the ship runs much more quietly and smoothly. ABB's Octopus marine technology allows real-time monitoring of the vessel's energy (and fuel) consumption. Based on the collected data, the software suggests optimal performance recommendations.

Spain's first LNG-powered cruiseferry was Hypatia de Alejandria (2019) owned by BALEARIA .

Wind-assisted propulsion

On April 12, 2018, the VIKING LINE -owned ferry Viking Grace became the world's first-ever passenger ship equipped with a rotor sail utilizing wind power. This also made it the world's first hybrid vessel that uses both wind power and dual-fuel (diesel-gas) engines.

"Rotor Sail Solution" is an innovative technology developed by the company Norsepower Ltd (Finland) in 5 years. It reduces fuel consumption and also COx emissions up to 900 tons per year (depending on wind conditions).

The cylindrical rotor sail has a height of 24 m (79 ft) and a diameter of 4 m (13 ft). The technology is based on the "Flettner rotor" (patented by Anton Flettner in 1922) and uses the so-called "Magnus effect" - the spinning rotor (rotating cylinder) drags airflow faster around one side. This creates pressure/speed difference that moves it in the direction of the opposite (lower-pressure) side, creating a force at a right angle to the direction of the wind. This wind-assisted propulsion power drives the ship forward. Unlike traditional cloth sails, the rotor needs no furling (stowing), reefing (reducing sail's area) or line-tending. The rotor sail system is automated and shuts down when unfavorable changes in wind force or direction occur.

Added to the dual-fuel engines, the new technology makes Viking Grace one of the world's most environmentally-friendly passenger ships, operating with very low levels of emissions and noise. Norsepower's wind propulsion system was also installed on VIKING LINE's newest vessel (still unnamed) scheduled for delivery in 2020. The China-built ferryboat is equipped with two Norsepower-produced rotor sails, doubling its wind power potential.

Ship's powerplant includes 4x Wartsila engines (model 8L50DF, total power output 30,4 MW). Propulsion is diesel-electric (2x shafts with fixed-pitch propellers) and wind-assisted (with 1x rotor sail). Engines are dual-fuel (MDO-LNG). As gas tanks are larger than marine fuel tanks. they need 6 times more space. To save hull space, LNG tanks are located on an open deck. LNG tanks are two (type C / vacuum insulated), each with capacity 200 m3 and weight 140 tons (LNG weight 85 tons per tank).

MS Viking Grace is also the world's first ship with the energy recycling system "Ocean Marine" (developed by Climeon AB / Stockholm-based company). The system converts the excess heat (generated by engines and exhausts) into clean (emission-free) electricity with an annual capacity of 700,000 kWh. This electricity is primarily used on cabin decks (including for heating, hot water, lighting). The technology uses heat exchangers that evaporate a carrier fluid circulating in a closed system. This gas (at 2-bar pressure) drives a turbine, then a 100 kW generator produces electricity. After that, the gas is cooled (in a vacuum chamber) and liquefied. Cooling is rapid, as the cold fluid is sprayed out. Then Heat exchangers cool the carrier fluid to temperatures around 20 C / 68 F.

Cruise Ship Fuel Consumption

How much fuel do cruise ships use.

Cruise ship fuel consumption depends on the ship's size. For most vessels, the average consumption is 30-50 miles on a fuel gallon. This will be also determined by other factors using fuel. Ships' gas mileage varies depending on the type and size of ship, the number of passengers on board, and other factors. Larger ships need more fuel to move through the water.

RMS Queen Mary uses 6 tons of marine fuel per hour. Celebrity Eclipse gets 56 feet to the gallon. MS Zuiderdam - .0130 miles per gallon (0.34 tons fuel per mile). This may not seem very good mileage at first glance, however, cruise ships are moving at once thousands of people whereas a car is moving a few.

Nearly all contemporary cruise ships are powered by electricity (motors turn propellers). It powers the air conditioning systems, lights and all other appliances aboard the ship. Most vessels produce the electricity they need by using diesel engines. Some use gas turbine engines. Others use a combination of the two. HFO (heavy fuel oil) is used by diesel engines, while MGO (marine gas oil) is used by gas turbine engines. The MGO is similar to the jet airplanes' fuel.

Speed affects cruise ship fuel consumption because to go faster, vessels must increase the electricity flow to motors. Thus more engines are employed, and it, in turn, increases fuel consumption. For example, Queen Mary 2 consumes 237 tons MGO and 261 tons HFO a day when at full speed. After a certain point, the rate of return decreases from adding engines, because if a ship can manage 17 knots by two engines, it doesn't mean that four engines are going to produce 34 knots.

Cruise companies employ new technologies in order to reduce fuel consumption. Ship's hull, for example, can be applied by silicon coating in order to reduce friction as the ship goes through the water. Friction reduction on Celebrity Eclipse is 5%. Another experiment is LED lighting, using less energy and producing less heat (thus is reduced the demand for electricity and air conditioning). Celebrity Solstice-class vessels have solar panels' field over the AquaSpa pool area. This not only provides shade for the pool area but produced by solar panels electricity is used to decrease the electricity demand from the engines.

RMS Queen Mary 2 is equipped with exhaust gas economizers, using waste heat from engines to produce steam. Then steam is used to heat fuel and QM2 hotel accommodations, laundry, galleys. This reduces the energy amount that has to be produced by ship's engines. The Promas Lite system (mentioned above) generates cruise ship fuel savings in the range of 5-15% depending on the operation type and the actual performance of the ship's existing propeller.

How marine ships fuel consumption increases at higher speeds? Next infographic shows the speed-fuel consumption relation on container ships (their sizes are measured in TEU-containers/20 ft equivalent units), which are similar by speeds and even gross tonnage to cruise passenger ships.

Cruise Ship Pollution

Today cruising is one of the most popular vacations, but there are significant environmental downsides. Mega-ships burn the dirtiest fuel in the world, even if they are sitting in port. Asthma, cancer, respiratory illness, heart disease, are the results of burned in ports nasty bunker fuel.

Shore-to-Ship Power Supply

Those who support the cruise industry point out that cruising has never been more popular. However, more ships generate more pollution. A solution is to have docked vessels plug into the port's shore power grid. Most of the world's largest cruise ports have such dockside electrical hookups, reducing bad emissions by up to 95%.

Aka "cold ironing" and "shore-to-ship power", shore power capability allows berthed cruise ships to shut down their diesel engines (main and auxiliary) and plug into city's electrical grid, using locally-produced electricity for all shipboard equipment and services - including cooling, heating, lighting, emergency, etc. The technology greatly reduces exhaust emissions in seaports. Next video animation reviews this technology.

TUI Cruises Ships Environmental Report

TUI published the company's environmental impact report (first of its kind) including environmental objectives and TUI strategy for a 5-years period. TUI said it planned to issue reports every 2 years. According to it, in 2012 TUI reduced by 3.7% per nautical mile its fuel consumption, and expects further 5% reduction, reducing CO2 emission at the same time by 0.5 kg to 0.55 kg per traveler.

Energy efficiencies are the key to reduce fuel consumption, CO2, and other emissions, and contribute to climate protection. Mein Schiff 3, for example, is expected to feature special energy management systems that help to consume 30% less energy than comparable size ships. TUI is focused on reducing recycling and waste, too. In 2012, TUI reduced the waste amount to 10,7 L (per passenger day), which is 27,8% less (over 2011). In 2012, TUI used 54,463 tons of fuel, including 9,732 tons LSFO (low sulfur fuel oil), 40,880 tons HFO (heavy fuel oil) and 3,851 tons MDO (marine diesel oil). Fuel consumption was 0,367 tons per nautical mile.

All new TUI ships are built to the latest standards with environmentally-friendly marine technologies. These vessels, both as design (hull and superstructure) and implemented technologies, are highly energy-efficient. Each consumes 1/3 less energy compared to most cruise liners. The advanced exhaust cleaning system uses a catalytic and scrubber converter. This technology allows sulfur emissions to be reduced by 99%, and NOx emissions - by 75%.

All-electric passenger ships

In May 2019, the US company "Maid of the Mist" ordered ABB two new all-electric vessels for the company's Niagara Falls tours. Both catamarans are 100% emission-free being powered by high-capacity batteries. Each ship is fitted with two battery packs (combined capacity 316 kWh / 563 HP output). The electricity is provided by 2 fully-independent power systems and split evenly between the 2 hulls.

Shoreside battery charging takes just 7 min (per ship). The powerplant is controlled by ABB's PEMS (Power and Energy Management System), which also optimizes the onboard energy use. Ships' batteries are charged using hydropower (water-generated electricity), which as of 2019 accounts for ~7% of the USA's total electricity production. In addition to the shoreside charging connection, ABB supplied the newbuilds with switchboards, motors, integrated control systems and ABB Ability's Marine Remote Diagnostic System (24-hour equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance).

Battery power is used during turnaround navigation in ports when the onboard diesel-electric generators are switched off. For ferry batteries (fabrication, delivery, and installation) is often contracted the Canadian company Corvus Energy (Richmond BC) - one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of energy storage solutions (ESS) for the maritime industry. The company provides ESS to hybrid and all-electric ferries. As of 2019, Corvus Energy delivered its innovative product line "Orca ESS" to 200+ vessel conversion/upgrade projects, totaling 200+ MWh.

At the following tag-link can be found listed all CruiseMapper's news related to propulsion-power accidents .

This cruise vessel technology-related survey is integrated with our articles on passenger ships building and safety , and the statistical ones about registry/flag-states , cost to build , speed , passenger capacity . All ship links redirect to the vessel's "itinerary-schedule-current position" page.

The Hague bans ads for petrol cars and cruise ships that boost ‘the Godfathers of climate chaos’

Cities have banned plastics and coffee pods to protect the environment. But The Hague will make history as the first to ban all fossil fuel-related advertising. 

The Dutch city, home to top international bodies such as the United Nations’s International Criminal Court, decided last week to ban any ads from the fossil fuel industry, whether for petrol cars, cruise ships, or air travel. 

It’s an uncommon step for countries to take, given the clout that fossil fuel companies have in the world. Some countries have taken similar measures, such as France, which introduced a law banning advertising on fossil fuel products except methane gas. Edinburgh’s council prohibited promoting fossil fuel-powered products in city spaces, and Amsterdam made similar efforts to restrict ads in subway stations and city centers. Still, none of those measures are as sweeping as the The Hague’s. 

The administration’s move comes just months after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for countries to bring such a ban to effect as fossil fuel companies were “ the Godfathers of climate chaos .” He wanted cities to take a hard-line stance in advertising for such products, akin to tobacco industry products. 

The Hague’s law could potentially be more complicated to overturn than actions taken by other European cities. It could also bring the city of 500,000 residents closer to its goal of becoming carbon dioxide neutral by 2030. 

“We believe that adopting binding laws to ban fossil-fuel advertising through local legislation is a world-first,” Leonie Gerritsen, a councilor for the Party for Animals (PvdD) that proposed the ban, told AFP . 

“We hope that this law will also signal other cities to do the same to fight climate change.”

The move will come into effect at the start of next year. 

PvdD also spoke out about the European Union spending tens of millions of euros on promoting the meat industry, calling it “unfathomable” earlier this year .

Edinburgh’s council banned ads for fossil fuel-heavy industries, such as cruises and car manufacturers, stating that such promotions went against its 2030 net-zero objectives and wouldn’t be the best use of council-owned spaces like billboards or bus stops.

“It’s a way of saying fossil fuel companies and arms manufacturers are not welcome in our city,” Ben Parker, the city councilor of Edinburgh who led the efforts on its ad ban, told the Washington Post in June. 

Fossil fuel companies are among the world’s top-ranking companies, as seen in the Fortune 500 Europe list. So, a few cities cracking down on advertising may not do much to hurt their business or have a far-reaching effect on carbon emissions. 

However, The Hague’s steps set a precedent for other European cities to adopt a stronger stance on fossil fuel promotions.

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The rumour mill: Is Norway banning cruise ships after 2025?

Author: Calum Brown

Published on: 13 September 2024

Updated on: 16 September 2024

There’s been heavy miscommunication regarding Norway’s attitude towards fuel-powered cruise ships. So, let’s get this straight – is Norway banning cruise ships from 2026? The answer is both yes and no. Here’s the lowdown

Norway is more than the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. There’s more to the Norwegian mantra than a functional social democratic system. It’s not all Vikings, Teslas and brown cheese. Norway also happens to have the greatest landscapes known to man, and it’s causing a problem. The country’s imposing fjords, soaring mountains and dramatic coastal landscapes aren’t just home to people, but also to vibrant marine ecosystems – not to mention the seemingly-permanent presence of cruise ships. You don’t need to be Sylvia Earle to understand that the latter don’t really mix. That’s why the Norwegian authorities have taken significant steps to tighten regulations. Some headlines incorrectly state that Norway is banning cruise ships altogether, but the reality is less extreme. When 2026 rolls on round, access will become tightly controlled, rather than dishing out immediate bans. Ships that don’t meet stringent emission regulations will be prohibited from the glacial waters that envelop Norway’s celebrated fjords, but there are plenty of cruise ships that will remain unaffected.

You can hardly blame the Norwegian authorities for taking such measures. It’s in their interest to protect the country’s natural treasures. While Norway’s grand status as a bucket-list destination draws millions of cruisegoers each year, the surging cruise traffic has brought environmental challenges that threaten those landscapes that make Norway so attractive. Yet, it’s a balancing act. Cruise tourism remains a big part of the economy , and banishing all cruise itineraries firmly into the history books would devastate local areas. The strict regulations set for 2026 onwards will, therefore, not evict all cruise ships from these ports. However - it will severely limit the number of recreational vessels permitted into Norwegian waters. If your ship doesn’t adhere to the new emissions policy, then you’ll likely be escorted by scary military types until you reach international waters. Chances are, you’ll be lucky to escape with only light bruising. Besides reducing the environmental impact, this action will preserve the delicate ecosystems, and promote sustainable tourism practices. Let’s not forget, the fjords are UNESCO-registered. And you wouldn’t drive a fleet of Range Rovers across Skara Brae , or use the Acropolis of Athens as an airport runway. So, what’s the deal? Does all this mean that the big cruise companies will cease to visit come January 1, 2026? Not exactly. It's time to dig deep and establish exactly what is going on.

Why Norway has environmental concerns

Norway’s fjords are not just scenic wonders. The fjords are sensitive ecosystems that support a rich variety of marine life; from fish and seabirds, to whales and seals. The influx of large cruise ships has raised a plethora of environmental concerns, primarily due to air and water pollution, noise disturbances, and physical impacts on the marine environment.

One of the main issues is air pollution caused by the emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) , nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter from the heavy-fuel oils used by many large cruise ships. These pollutants contribute to poor air quality, which affects both the health of local communities and the natural environment. In fact, cruise ships account for almost 3% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Another critical issue is the discharge of waste, including sewage, foodstuffs, and ballast water, which can introduce harmful substances and invasive species into the fjords. The noise generated by cruise ships also disrupts marine life, particularly whales and other sea mammals, which rely on sound for communication and navigation.

To address these problems, Norway is enacting some of the world’s toughest environmental standards for cruise ships, especially those operating in its World Heritage fjords. The first set of regulatory changes will arrive in January 2026, with a complete ban on fuel-powered cruise ships expected in 2032 .

New regulations for 2026

The new regulations aim to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of cruise tourism in Norway. Key measures include the introduction of stringent NOx emission standards, limitations on the size and number of cruise ships allowed into certain fjords, and a cap on the number of passengers that can disembark in specific ports. It may sound untoward, but Amsterdam has already taken similar steps.

Perhaps the most ambitious regulation is Norway’s plan to ban all non-zero-emission ships from entering its World Heritage fjords by 2032 . This means that only ships that run on cleaner technologies, such as electric or hybrid propulsion, will be permitted to operate in these sensitive areas. The original all-out cruise ship ban was to start in 2026, but the proscription has been delayed by six years to allow development of new vessels for the affected cruise lines. The ruling will still apply to tourist ships and ferries under 10,000 tonnes come January 1, 2026.

These measures are part of Norway’s broader commitment to becoming a world leader in sustainable tourism. The country is pushing for innovations in green technology, encouraging cruise lines to invest in cleaner fuels, advanced emission control systems and other environmentally friendly solutions.

By setting these high standards, Norwegian authorities hope to inspire global shipping and tourism industries to adopt more sustainable practices.

Ambassador Cruise Line: Leading the way

Amid these stringent regulations, Ambassador Cruise Line stands out as a company that has adapted to Norway’s environmental demands, allowing it to continue operating in these stunning waters.

Ambassador is relatively new to the cruise industry but has quickly made a name for itself by prioritising sustainability and environmental stewardship. The line operates smaller, more efficient ships designed to minimise their impact on the environment, making them ideal for navigating Norway’s fjords.

The cruise line’s commitment to eco-friendly travel has been showcased by the technology used on MS Ambience and MS Ambition . The fleet is equipped with advanced emission control systems that meet Norway’s NOx requirements, reducing harmful air pollutants significantly compared to traditional cruise ships.

Ambience and Ambition also feature energy-efficient designs to reduce fuel consumption, and systems that manage waste more sustainably. These innovations enable Ambassador to comply with Norway’s current and upcoming environmental standards, positioning it as a leader in sustainable cruising.

2026: Cruise lines till sailing to Norway

While Ambassador Cruise Line is a prominent example of a company successfully meeting Norway’s environmental standards, it is not the only one. Other cruise lines that have adapted to the new regulations in Norway include Hurtigruten and Havila Voyages, both of which have been pioneers in sustainable cruising.

Hurtigruten is widely recognized for its innovative approach to reducing the environmental impact of its fleet. The company operates hybrid-powered ships that use a combination of traditional marine gas-oil and battery packs to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Hurtigruten has also made significant investments in cutting-edge technologies like LNG (liquefied natural gas) and shore power connections, further minimising the environmental impact of its operations in Norwegian waters.

P&O, Princess, Fred Olsen, Scenic, Cunard and Atlas Ocean Voyages are also permitted to cruise the area, to name only a few. For almost all the larger cruise providers, it's very much business as normal for now.

The future of cruise tourism in Norway

As Norway continues to enforce stricter regulations on cruise ships, the landscape of cruise tourism in the country is evolving. The emphasis on sustainability is reshaping the industry, pushing cruise lines to innovate and adopt greener technologies.

This shift presents an opportunity to lead the way in eco-friendly cruising, offering travelers the chance to experience Norway’s natural beauty without contributing to its degradation. By prioritising sustainability, Norway is not only preserving its own landscapes, but also influencing the future of cruising worldwide.

As for the all-out ban proposed for 2032? Well, between now and then, expect to see a new era of alternative-energy cruise ships being announced. Cruising to Norway will never cease, but the way we currently go about it will.

About Calum Brown

Calum holds a deep interest in all things heritage and remains one of Britain’s most enthusiastic historians. As a seasoned journalist, he has spent considerable time abroad and relishes all forms of transport. Shipping is in the blood, with a family connection to Stena Line embedded in his DNA. He also refuses to admit that 21st Century music exists.

Calum has developed a skill for bringing history alive, and always insists on making heritage accessible for everyone.

Caribbean: Harvest Caye, Cozumel & Roatan

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Carnival Adjusts Itineraries for Two More Ships

• September 14, 2024

After adjusting the itineraries of 12 cruises onboard three different ships , Carnival Cruise Line revealed it is rerouting nine sailings on two additional vessels, the Carnival Vista and the Carnival Sunrise.

According to a statement sent to booked guests, the affected cruises are scheduled to take place between January 2025 and February 2026.

Four cruises onboard the Carnival Vista have been adjusted, including the Jan. 5, 2025 departure, which replaced Half Moon Cay with a visit to Nassau. Port times and days for all destinations were also adjusted, Carnival explained.

The sailings scheduled for Feb. 16, 2025, Mar. 30, 2025 and Feb, 1, 2026 saw Half Moon Cay replaced with a visit to Princess Cays.

Offering cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, the Carnival Vista sails from Port Canaveral on a year-round basis.

Five cruises onboard the Carnival Sunrise had their itineraries changed, including the Feb. 8, 2025 departure.

The cruise is now set to visit Freeport instead of Nassau, while days and port times were changed for all destinations.

A similar change was made to the Sep. 1, 2025 sailing, which is now scheduled to visit Half Moon Cay instead of Princess Cays and also had its port times and days changed for all destinations.

The Sep. 29, 2025 cruise is now scheduled to visit ports of call in a reserved order, with times in port also changing.

In 2026, the Jan. 15 sailing had the day for its visit to Half Moon Cay changed and port times also adjusted.

The Jan. 24 sailing will now visit Princess Cays instead of Half Moon Cay, while times in port have also been modified.

The Carnival Sunrise offers a year-round schedule of four- and five-night cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas departing from PortMiami.

Carnival also stated that shore excursions purchased through the company will be automatically adjusted based on these changes.

For cancelled ports, the excursions will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment, the company added.

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Carnival Vista cruise canceled: What to know about the ship's repairs, when it will sail

Passengers who sailed on a Carnival Vista ship last month and are waiting to get a refund because the sailing itinerary changed – stop waiting.

There’s no refund coming.

Once guests were on board the Carnival Vista on Aug. 10 , they were informed the ship’s cruising speed was limited due to a technical issue. Crew members informed passengers if they disembarked before the ship left port, they would get a full refund.

“The vast majority did (stay onboard),” said Matt Lupoli, Carnival's senior manager of public relations.

What options were Carnival Vista passengers given?

The ship was originally schedule for an 8-night southern Caribbean cruise with stops in places like Aruba, Curacao and Turks and Cacaos.

Instead, it headed to the Bahamas visiting Nassau, Princess Cays and Freeport.

Passengers were given two options:

Option 1: Disembark and get a full refund

Options 2: Remain on the cruise and get an undisclosed amount of onboard credit as well as credit for a future cruise.

Some passengers who remained on the cruise are saying they deserve a refund to make up for the difference in the cost of the cruise they purchased and the cruise the got. Carnival officials said that’s what the credits are for.

The guests were given an option to either sale with the credits or get a refund. Those who sailed with the credits are not eligible for a refund.

When will Carnival Vista sail again from Port Canaveral?

Engineers continue working on the ship and it’s expected to be repaired in time for a sailing scheduled to leave Sunday.

The Sept. 15 itinerary includes Half Moon Cay, Bahamas as well as Grand Turk and Amber Cove before returning to Port Canaveral on Sept. 21.

An eight-night southern Caribbean cruise that was supposed to leave Port Canaveral on Sept. 7 was canceled. The thousands of affected passengers received a refund, plus a future cruise credit.

The Carnival Vista has a double-occupancy capacity of 3,934 passengers; a full capacity of 4,977 passengers; and a crew of 1,450. It began sailing in 2016.

How common is it for Carnaval cruise ships to have technical issues with cruising speed?

Although this is not a common issue, it has happened before.

The last time was on the California-based Carnival Panorama in November 2023. That ship was out of commission for multiple sailings.

Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Carnival Vista docked at Port Canaveral for repairs. Here are details

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Press Releases

Norwegian cruise line® announces the first-ever show at sea celebrating the global icon 'prince' to premiere aboard the all-new norwegian aqua™ in 2025.

- The Company is Making Waves with Two Headlining Productions, 'Revolution: A Celebration of Prince' and 'Elements: The World Expanded,' Along with Other New and Returning Entertainment Venues and Shows –

- Reinforcing NCL as a Leader in Entertainment at Sea, the New Offerings Expand Its Collection of Original In-House Productions Developed at the Company's Creative Studios by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings -

MIAMI , Sept. 16, 2024 /CNW/ --  Norwegian Cruise Line ®  (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, today revealed " Revolution: A Celebration of Prince " and " Elements: The World Expanded " as the two new exclusive entertainment offerings set to debut aboard the Company's next-generation vessel, Norwegian Aqua™ , in April 2025.

With more variety of entertainment options including only-on-NCL productions and returning guest favorites, there will be something for everyone to enjoy on board. The brand-new and immersive Prince tribute show, " Revolution: A Celebration of Prince, " developed in partnership with Prince Legacy, LLC and Primary Wave Music, will honor and celebrate the Oscar ®  winning, seven-time Grammy ®  Award-winning and 38-time Grammy ® nominated artist during a concert-like experience featuring the music icon's chart-topping hits, including "Let's Go Crazy," "Little Red Corvette," "Delirious," "Purple Rain," and more.

NCL is also taking its highest guest-rated show in its history, "Elements," and enhancing it with new surprises in "Elements: The World Expanded." Blending acrobatics, magic and intrigue, this show draws inspiration from the four elements – earth, wind, water and fire – for an astonishing display of unexpected delights. 

Both productions were developed by NCL's in-house production team at the Creative Studios by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in Tampa, Fla., in partnership with Patricia Wilcox, an award-winning Broadway choreographer, director and long-time NCL partner. From original costumes to one-of-a-kind entertainment, the Creative Studios has produced in-house shows since 2008.

"For decades, NCL has set the standard in entertainment at sea, with worldclass productions and talent that rivals those found in major cities like Las Vegas, New York City and London," said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "For Norwegian Aqua, we are thrilled to build on our legacy of excellence in entertainment to offer our guests more options across the ship, including exclusive original productions that cannot be seen anywhere else on land or at sea."

Other new and returning entertainment venues and shows include The Aqua Theater & Club, "The Improv at Sea" comedy club, " The Price is Right LIVE on NCL" game show and " Syd Norman's Presents: Rumours " – a Fleetwood Mac tribute experience that will be offered in the Aqua Theater & Club to accommodate more guests for this always jam-packed show.

Revolution: A Celebration of Prince

The hour-long show aboard Norwegian Aqua will be an in-house NCL production and concert experience celebrating Prince's music, energy, and life. At its core, the show will embrace the global icon's rise to popularity, as one of the leaders of soul, rock and pop music. Set in the Aqua Theater & Club, the show will feature performances both on stage and off for a fully immersive experience. Guests will also have the option to enjoy the show on the dance floor with the cast or watch from traditional theater seating.

"I've always been inspired by Prince and the idea came to me, nearly seven years ago, to create a theatrical concert that would joyfully celebrate his music and exceptional artistry," shared Patricia Wilcox, conceiver, director and choreographer of " Revolution: A Celebration of Prince ." "After loving my past collaborations with the team at Norwegian Cruise Line, and seeing the beautiful, multi-purpose theater aboard Norwegian Aqua, I knew we would be wonderful partners for this collaboration, and I'm honored to bring this show to life alongside the NCL team, Prince Legacy, LLC and Primary Wave Music."

Charles F. Spicer Jr., managing partner for Prince Legacy, LLC said "Collaborating with NCL to present a new show featuring the music of global icon Prince is an exhilarating journey into a world of timeless rhythm and electric energy. Our shared passion for his legendary sound transforms every performance into a celebration of his extraordinary legacy. We look forward to the launch of Norwegian Aqua featuring this thrilling show, and we have no doubt that this musical showcase will have everyone talking and wanting to see the show over and over again."

Jeffrey Straughn, Chief Branding Officer at Primary Wave Music adds, "We've been working with NCL over the years with our artists on various themed cruises and the passion, excitement, and energy from them continues to be undeniable. As partner in the Prince world, Primary Wave is thrilled to be part of this celebration of his life and music with the development of this concert and immersive experience aboard NCL's newest ship, Norwegian Aqua. This will truly be a one-of-a-kind event for both fans old and new."

Elements: The World Expanded

Fifteen years after its inception aboard Norwegian Spirit ® , Patricia Wilcox's "Elements," has become one of NCL's highest-rated guest shows of all time and is featured across four of the Company's ships. Now, it will be revamped and reimagined with the debut of Norwegian Aqua. The all-new " Elements: The World Expanded" will be a more immersive version of the already dazzling production that revels in the four elements of earth, air, water, and fire, while featuring mesmerizing magic, visual acts of aerial acrobatics along with music and dance to captivate guests' attention from the moment the show opens.

The Aqua Theater & Club

The Aqua Theater & Club, similar to the Theater & Club aboard Norwegian Prima ® and Norwegian Viva ® , will transform from a three-story theater to a three-story Vegas-style nightclub featuring an expansive dance floor, enhanced and interactive chandelier, state-of-the-art lighting, and more. Boasting two different bars, the Aqua Theater & Club will showcase all nightclub programming through three different themed experiences: " 90s Party, " where guests can relive the top hits and outfits of the decade; " Livin' La Vida Loca ," featuring the latest Latin jams for a night of non-stop dancing; and " Pop Life ," a Prince influenced club experience where guests can dance the night away to the music icon's top-charting songs and music influenced by his unique style. The entertainment programming also includes a brand-new in-house production for NCL, "The Welcome Aboard Show " where vocalists, dancers, and onboard crew provide guests a tantalizing preview of all the offerings to come throughout their sailing. Immediately following this new show, guests can continue the fun at the popular " Ocean Music Fest ," an immersive concert and the ultimate jam session at sea, where multiple musicians merge their talents on stage for one world class concert experience.

Returning & Enhanced Guest Favorites

Norwegian Aqua, set to be the 20 th ship in the NCL fleet, will also feature returning guest-favorite venues and shows, including the expanded "Improv at Sea" comedy club with more seating, and " The Price is Right LIVE on NCL " where guests will "come on down," for the opportunity to spin the wheel and win big in the "Showcase Showdown". The ever popular "Syd Norman's Pour House" also returns to feature rock-and-roll tributes to Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, and other legendary artists of the Classic Rock genre. Additionally, the highly sought-after Fleetwood Mac tribute experience, " Syd Norman's Presents: Rumours ," which is a staple of the intimate dive-bar venue and always performs to a packed house, will now be offered in the main theater, accommodating over 700 guests in each show, making it the ultimate concert experience.

"From vibrant production shows to parties, musical performances, game shows, comedy and more, we have struck just the right balance of offering something for everyone to enjoy on board Norwegian Aqua," added NCL's Vice President of Entertainment Production, Bryan Anthony White. "Our talented performers and the staff behind-the-scenes who bring our original productions to life are one-of-a-kind, and their dedication, passion and effort truly shines through when watching these exceptional shows. Our team is already working to bring these new entertainment offerings to life on board Norwegian Aqua and we look forward to wowing our guests when it sets sail next year."

Beginning April 2025, Norwegian Aqua will sail seven-day Caribbean itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Fla., featuring calls to the tropical island destinations of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island in the Bahamas. Following the ship's Caribbean season, Norwegian Aqua will offer five and seven-day voyages to   Bermuda from New York City from August 2025 through October 2025 and then cruise five and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, the "Cruise Capital of the World," beginning October 2025 through April 2026.

For more information about the Company's award-winning fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit  www.ncl.com .

For additional images of Norwegian Aqua, visit the press kit here .

About Norwegian Cruise Line

As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 57 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionized the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 19 contemporary ships sail to 450 of the world's most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company's private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveler staterooms, club balcony suites, and The Haven by Norwegian ® , the company's ship-within-a-ship concept. For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit   www.ncl.com . For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the NCL Newsroom and follow Norwegian Cruise Line on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter @CruiseNorwegian.

Norwegian Cruise Line is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH). To learn more, visit   www.nclhltd.com .

About Patricia Wilcox

Patricia Wilcox is an award-winning choreographer/director. She choreographed the Broadway and West End smash hits "Motown the Musical" for which she won the Astaire Award and the NAACP Award for Best Choreography, and the Tony ®  nominated "A Night with Janis Joplin". Off-Broadway/ National credits include the critically acclaimed "Annie" at Madison Square Garden starring Whoopi Goldberg, "Little Shop of Horrors" at Encores! Off Center starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ellen Greene, "An Officer and a Gentleman," "Children's Letters to God," "Bowfire" (also a PBS Television Special), "Blues in the Night" (NAACP Nomination), and "Seussical." Selected regional theatre: The Kennedy Center, The Muny, Goodspeed Opera House, Denver Theatre Center, and the Old Globe. Ms. Wilcox created original works for Norwegian Cruise Line (Elements, Paradis and Illusionarium), Regent Seven Seas, Houston Symphony, Minnesota Pops, Phoenix Symphony, Lyrics and Lyricists, Broadway Under the Stars, and ice-skating gold medalists for the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Winter Olympics. For more information visit Pattiwilcox.com .

View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/norwegian-cruise-line-announces-the-first-ever-show-at-sea-celebrating-the-global-icon-prince-to-premiere-aboard-the-all-new-norwegian-aqua-in-2025-302249243.html

SOURCE Norwegian Cruise Line

Released September 16, 2024

September 15, 2024

Carnival Cruise Ship Has ‘Titanic Moment’ After Colliding With An Iceberg In Alaska

Despite this, guests still enjoyed a seven-day cruise.

A Carnival Cruise reportedly had a full-on “Titanic moment” after striking an iceberg while sailing in Alaska on Sept. 12.

The cruise ship company confirmed that the Carnival Spirit departed from Seattle on Sept. 11 and struck “an errant piece of drifting ice” in Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord, Fox 13 Seattle reports. However, no Titanic-like damage was caused, with Carnival verifying that the cruise ship was assessed and no damage to the hull was discovered.

The Carnival Spirit still went as planned, with guests enjoying a seven-day cruise that arrived back in Seattle on Tuesday. While the crew confirmed the iceberg collision did not impact operations, guests shared the incident on social media, calling it a “Titanic moment.”

One person captioned a TikTok video of the collision: “9/5/24 Carnival Spirit hit an iceberg. It didn’t do any damage that caused us to use any emergency procedures. The crew did an amazing job at accessing the damage and keep all of its crew and passengers safe and informed!”

@cass_goskie 9/5/24 Carnival Spirit hit an iceberg. It didnt do any damage that caused us to use any emergency procedures. The crew did an amazing job at accessing the damage and keep all of its crew and passengers safe and informed! #greenscreenvideo #alaskacruise #carnivalcruise #iceberg #fyp #icebergincident #cruiseaccident #titanic #carnivalspirit ♬ original sound – Cassandra Goskie

Viewers noted how small the iceberg was compared to the one colliding with the Titanic ship in 1912.

“That’s a eight the size of the berg that sank the titanic,” one TikTok user wrote.

“Titanic Moment ? Lol 😂 not very big,” added someone else.

On Twitter, Meteorologist James Spann shared a testimonial from one cruise ship guest who shared photos from the accident.

“From April Futrell “Good evening James! We are on the carnival spirit and hit an iceberg just outside of Sitka and Tracy arm fjord!” he tweeted. “Here’s some pictures! We are safe and after assessing for damage we are back on track headed to Skagway!”

From April Futrell “Good evening James! We are on the carnival spirit and hit an iceberg just outside of Sitka and Tracy arm fjord! Here’s some pictures! We are safe and after assessing for damage we are back on track headed to Skagway!” pic.twitter.com/KIUkrlLtx9 — James Spann (@spann) September 6, 2024

One person who witnessed the collision claimed people were being “over dramatic” about the small run-in.

“Over dramatic! I just got back from the same area we were surrounded by them. We also hit a few no need to panic everyone it happens all the time,” they tweeted.

The Carnival Cruise iceberg collision comes two years after the Norwegian Sun from Norwegian Cruise Line struck an iceberg while sailing in Alaska, causing damage to its starboard bow. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Alaska is a popular cruise destination, but in recent years, locals have reportedly raised concerns about overcrowded waterways in the region.

“That ice is hard and can damage the hull or propellers,” Captain John Herring said in 2022. “Strong winds and currents make navigating icy waters even harder.”

However, cruise expert Chris Gray Faust, executive editor of Cruise Critic, claims, “We very rarely—if ever—see any issues related to sailings in icy waters.”

“Today’s cruise ships are specifically built to sail a number of different waters,” Gray Faust said. “Those that sail in Alaska are not only able to withstand icy waters, they have experienced captains who are familiar with the landscape, which is why the incident being reported caused no issue to the ship or the sailing.”

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