What is the environmental impact of cruise ships?

Page date: Published 8 Nov 2024; updated 25 Mar 2026. 3 min read.

The article describes cruise-ship impacts from greenhouse-gas emissions, air pollutants (CO2, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides), sewage, grey water and ballast water. It cites comparisons estimating that a medium-sized cruise ship can emit as much greenhouse gas as 12,000 cars, and that European cruise ships emitted as much sulphur oxide in 2022 as one billion cars. It also quotes an 11.5% annual cruise-market growth forecast for 2023–2030. These comparisons and projections depend on their cited sources and are not current measurements.

The article says Norwegian cruise ships account for nearly 3% of Norway’s greenhouse-gas emissions and refers to a Norwegian requirement for zero emissions from ferries and cruise ships in World Heritage fjords from 2032. This is an article-era regulatory summary, not legal guidance. Proposed or described responses include Ulstein’s ULSTEIN ZED power system with batteries, energy recovery, specialized heating and ventilation, and solar panels; BluEco shore power for ships at berth; and Havila Voyages’ LNG-battery hybrid ships, which the article claims could reduce CO2 emissions by 25% and operate emission-free for periods. Product status and emissions claims reflect the article and are not independently verified. Related link: Maritime.