Best and Worst Cruise Lines Based on Pollution Levels (New Ranking)

Is clean cruising possible? This is the opening question of the new annual report released by Friends of the Earth.

As you might already know, cruise ships, like any form of transportation, have an environmental impact.

The goal of this study is to understand which cruise lines pollute the least and are the most environmentally conscious and which cruise lines pollute the most.

So, let’s look at the updated ranking, starting with the worst and ending with the best.

The ranking considers several aspects: sewage treatment, air pollution reduction, scrubber use (which can convert air pollution emissions into toxic wastewater pollution), and transparency in communicating their environmental practices.

21. Costa Cruises

Let’s start from the last place with Costa Cruises. Unfortunately, the Italian cruise line is among the most polluting, with failing grades in sewage treatment, water quality, and transparency.

• Sewage treatment: F
• Air pollution reduction: D
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: F
• 2024 Final Grade: F

20. P&O Cruises

P&O is a classic British cruise line with a long history, but unfortunately, it seems that its attention to the environment is not adapted to modern times.

Its environmental performance is poor across all metrics, including air pollution, water quality, and transparency. Just like Costa Cruises, 3 Fails and a single D.

• Sewage treatment: D
• Air pollution reduction: F
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: F
• 2024 Final Grade: F

19. Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival is one of the largest and most popular cruise lines (especially in the US) and is known for affordable, fun-filled vacations.

Despite its massive fleet, it struggles significantly in environmental sustainability, receiving failing or passing marks in all categories.

• Sewage treatment: D-
• Air pollution reduction: D
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: F
• 2024 Final Grade: F

18. Cunard

Renowned for its luxurious transatlantic voyages, Cunard likes to focus on elegance.
However, its environmental grades reveal poor performance in pollution reduction, water quality, and transparency.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: F
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: F
• 2024 Final Grade: F

17. Seabourn Cruises

Seabourn is an ultra-luxury cruise line that offers intimate experiences and a very attentive service.

Despite the exclusivity, Seabourn received an overall failing marks in environmental responsibility, with water quality and transparency as weak points.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: F
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: F
• 2024 Final Grade: F

16. Silversea

Silversea also specializes in luxury cruises but usually to more remote destinations and exclusive itineraries.

While this cruise line offers exceptional onboard experiences, it struggles environmentally, scoring poorly in air pollution and transparency. However, it’s the first cruise line in the ranking to receive a total grade higher than F; in fact, it gets a D-.

• Sewage treatment: C-
• Air pollution reduction: F
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: D
• 2024 Final Grade: D-

15. Royal Caribbean

Well, you certainly don’t need me to introduce you to Royal Caribbean.
Everyone knows this American cruise line that loves to build the world’s largest cruise ships.

Its environmental performance shows moderate improvement; some of you may remember that in the previous report, it got an F, but water quality and air pollution reduction remain problematic.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: D-
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: D
• 2024 Final Grade: D-

14. AIDA Cruises

I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of AIDA. It’s a German cruise line popular in Europe that targets a younger audience with casual vibes.

It performs slightly better in air pollution reduction, but water quality efforts are still insufficient.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: C
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: F
• 2024 Final Grade: D-

13. Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises offers cruises that are considered premium but with a good dose of adventure.

Its environmental efforts see some improvement, but overall performance remains below expectations.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: C
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: F
• 2024 Final Grade: D-

12. Holland America

Famed for its sophisticated atmosphere, Holland America edges ahead with better air pollution and sewage treatment efforts but falters in other categories.

His overall assessment? Unfortunately, still D-.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: C+
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: F
• 2024 Final Grade: D-

11. Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises is synonymous with modern luxury and innovative design. While sewage treatment and transparency show moderate improvement, its water quality efforts fall short.

Let me specify that all cruise lines that use scrubbers are given an F. They are special devices that clean the air but contaminate the sea.

The alternative? Switched to cleaner fuels, but of course, it’s a much more expensive operation.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: D+
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: D
• 2024 Final Grade: D

10. MSC Cruises

Born in Italy, MSC has become very successful in the American market in recent years.

It scores well in transparency but needs to improve its sewage treatment and pollution reduction initiatives.

• Sewage treatment: D
• Air pollution reduction: D+
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: A
• 2024 Final Grade: D+

9. Norwegian

With freestyle cruising at its core, Norwegian offers flexibility and entertainment for passengers who are seeking freedom.

Transparency grades are high, but significant gaps remain in pollution reduction and water quality.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: D
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: A
• 2024 Final Grade: D+

8. Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages is quite a new player in the cruise industry. It usually targets a younger, eco-conscious audience, but despite its efforts at transparency, some areas still need substantial improvement.

Virgin Voyages is the first cruise line in this ranking to receive a C, although with a minus.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: D+
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: A
• 2024 Final Grade: C-

7. Oceania Cruises

Oceania is known for gourmet dining and immersive destinations.

Its commitment to environmental efforts is evident in transparency and moderate pollution control.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: C-
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: A
• 2024 Final Grade: C-

6. P&O Australia

As you can deduct from the name, P&O Australia is popular in the South Pacific.

It scores well in transparency and air pollution reduction but lags in water quality.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: C-
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: A
• 2024 Final Grade: C-

5. Viking Cruises

A leader in river and ocean cruises, Viking is renowned also for its expedition cruises.

It performs well in transparency and pollution control but has room for improvement in all the categories.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: C+
• Water quality: F
• Transparency: A
• 2024 Final Grade: C

4. Regent Seven Seas

Regent Seven Seas is an ultra-luxury line that focuses on personalized service and exclusive itineraries.

Transparency is strong, though environmental challenges persist in air pollution reduction.

Note that this is the first cruise line we see that doesn’t use scrubbers, so it gets an N/A and not an F in the water quality category.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: D+
• Water quality: N/A
• Transparency: A
• 2024 Final Grade: C+

3. Disney Cruises Line

A family-friendly favorite, Disney Cruise Line. We have to give Disney credit for being the only major cruise line to be in the top part of the rankings.

It stands out with relatively high environmental grades, especially in pollution reduction and transparency. Their final grade is B.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: C+
• Water quality: N/A
• Transparency: A
• 2024 Final Grade: B

2. Hurtigruten Expeditions

Hurtigruten Expeditions is known for its Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. It could be considered a niche cruise line, perfect for people looking for remote and challenging destinations.

Hurtigruten emphasizes eco-friendly travel, and its air pollution reduction efforts set it apart as an industry leader.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: A
• Water quality: N/A
• Transparency: A
• 2024 Final Grade: B+

1. Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten is well known in northern Europe for its cruises to the Norwegian fjords. It can also be described as a pioneer in green cruising since it combines sustainability with exploration.

Its high grades in air pollution reduction and transparency make it the top performer.
The only area for improvement is sewage treatment, but overall, it obtained a good B+.

• Sewage treatment: C
• Air pollution reduction: A
• Water quality: N/A
• Transparency: A
• 2024 Final Grade: B+

Cruise Lines Pollution Chart