The 11 greenest cruise ships for eco-friendly holidays

At a glance

• Expedition ships feature prominently, including vessels from AE Expeditions, Ponant and HX.
• Cruise operators from Norway are frequently at the forefront, including Havila Voyages and Hurtigruten.
• Ultra-luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand, as shown by Scenic and Explora Journeys.
• There are green ships for different types of travellers, with Disney Cruise Line providing family-friendly options while Viking is adults-only

Why trust us?

World of Cruising, along with our sister publication, Cruise Trade News, has one of the UK’s most experienced teams of cruise journalists and contributors. Our experts have racked up hundreds of nights at sea and sailed with most cruise lines. Most weeks, one of our writers will be at sea or on a river. This article is informed by careful research, insights from cruise lines and knowledge gained while at sea.

1. Viking Libra

Scheduled to debut in the autumn of 2026, Viking Libra is set to be the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, with a hybrid propulsion system that utilises hydrogen and fuel cells. As a result, it will be able to access more environmentally sensitive areas with minimal environmental impact.

Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking, said, “From the beginning, our approach to ship design has focused on reducing fuel consumption, and the Viking Libra is our most environmentally friendly vessel yet. Investing in hydrogen was a principled choice for Viking, offering a true zero-emission solution.”

Beyond its eco credentials, the 998-guest ship from the adults-only luxury line will have the same signature Scandi style as the rest of the Viking fleet. Every single stateroom has its own veranda, and you’ll find welcoming amenities such as a comfortable library, a spacious atrium and a Nordic spa.

The inaugural season will visit destinations across the Mediterranean and Baltic. Viking Astrea, which is due to join the fleet in 2027, will be hydrogen-powered and sail Europe, too.

Find cruises on Viking Libra.

2. Sylvia Earle

AE Expeditions was founded in 1991 by the celebrated mountaineer Greg Mortimer and his wife Margaret, both known for their environmentalist work. Today, the small ship cruise line is a certified B Corp, and since 2021, has achieved carbon neutrality.

Sylvia Earle, which joined AE’s fleet in 2022, was christened in honour of the marine biologist, oceanographer and prominent climate advocate, who was named the first “Hero for the Planet” by Time magazine in 1998.

The vessel was purpose-built with Dr Earle’s commitment to sustainability in mind. For example, it has a Ulstein X Bow designed to reduce fuel consumption and a virtual anchor to limit disturbance to marine life.

In 2025, it trialled biofuel hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which is made from waste cooking oil and results in 90 per cent less fuel-related emissions than standard marine fuel. Pilot schemes like this one are crucial for wider adoption in future.

Apart from giving guests a lower-impact way to reach some of the most remote places on the planet, it also operates as a comfortable basecamp for expeditions. It has a well-stocked science centre where you can chat with a naturalist in residence, a state-of-the-art lecture hall and a sauna to unwind, among other amenities.

Find cruises on Sylvia Earle.

3. MS Richard With

Over the past four years, Hurtigruten has invested approximately €100 million into technical upgrades, including ones designed to improve sustainability. For example, it’s equipped ships such as MS Richard With, which was named after Hurtigruten’s founder, with battery packs and new propeller blades to minimise energy use.

In October 2025, the cutting-edge vessel set out on the cruise operator’s first-ever carbon-neutral voyage, travelling 5,000 kilometres using 100 per cent biofuel made from materials such as cooking oil and fat waste.

CEO Hedda Felin said, “This marks a historic moment in Hurtigruten’s more than 130-year legacy along the Norwegian coast. Most importantly, it’s further proof that emission cuts are possible today by using sustainable biodiesel, without the need to invest billions in new ships or infrastructure.”

On board the vessel, which you may have seen Lorraine Kelly’s Norwegian Odyssey on Channel 4, you’ll also notice sustained efforts towards zero food waste. In its galleys, the principles of reducing, reusing and recycling are put into practice, for example, by composting leftovers into fertiliser for a local farm.

Find cruises on MS Richard With.

4. Disney Wish

The Walt Disney Company has outlined an ambitious aim: to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions for direct operations by 2030. As a subsidiary of the company, Disney Cruise Line has a key role to play, and Disney Wish is part of that.

The fifth cruise ship in Disney’s fleet is estimated to be nearly 30 per cent more fuel efficient and to emit approximately 20 per cent less greenhouse gas when compared to a ship of the same size that uses traditional marine fuel.

These cuts were achieved using liquified natural gas (LNG) and an optimised ship design. For example, its hydrodynamic hull, optimised heating and cooling systems and best-in-class wastewater purification all contributed to efforts.

The result? Families can enjoy a Frozen-themed dining experience or watch a splashy musical like The Little Mermaid, while behind the scenes, the cruise line is taking action to protect the oceans for future generations.

Disney has more sustainability initiatives in the pipeline, too. New ships will be compatible with fuels such as HVO and renewable methanol as well as LNG, and built to be adaptable, so they can incorporate eco-friendly solutions as they emerge.

Find cruises on Disney Wish.

5. Havila Polaris

While Havila Voyages is the ‘new kid on the block’, launching in 2021, the family-owned operator has made waves far beyond the Norwegian coast where it sails. Much of that attention comes down to sustainability-led design decisions.

For example, each ship carries a large-scale battery pack, which is charged with clean hydropower. This allows them to cruise for up to four hours with zero emissions. As a bonus, they do so in near-silence, limiting disruption to local wildlife. This innovative technology is used in conjunction with LNG and biogas to achieve Havila’s ambitious sustainability goals.

In December, Havila Polaris sailed the line’s first fully climate-neutral voyage. The 12-day journey along the coastal route required a total of 350 cubic metres of biogas – a volume that reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more than 90 per cent.

CEO Bent Martini said, “We have a responsibility to the people and communities along our unique coastline. And we know that biogas is already an effective solution for sailing the coastal route with very low emissions.”

Havila Polaris also encourages sustainable living on board. For example, it takes measures to limit the average food waste per passenger to 75 grams per day.

Find cruises on Havila Polaris.

6. MS Roald Amundsen

HX won the 2025 Wave Award for best sustainability initiative, but its commitment to greener travel goes back considerably further. For example, in 2018, it became the first expedition cruise line to ban non-essential single-use plastic throughout its entire operation.

MS Roald Amundsen, which sailed its maiden voyage in 2019, is also a testament to the line’s dedication to eco-friendly cruising. Along with sister ship MS Fridtjof Nansen, the Roald is hybrid-powered, incorporating battery packs.

Additional measures, such as a heat recovery system and cutting-edge hull design, are also in place. Taken together, these factors mean it produces 20 per cent less carbon emissions than similarly sized ships.

On cruises aboard MS Roald Amundsen, the ethos of sustainability is evident. In sensitive, wildlife-rich destinations, a ‘leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures’ policy is in place, and the expedition team frequently provides insights into the impact of climate change and ocean plastic on the environment through which you sail.

At the time of writing, the ship is scheduled to sail routes to Alaska, Greenland, Canada’s Arctic and Antarctica.

Find cruises on MS Roald Amundsen.

7. Explora III

This ultra-luxury vessel, set to debut in summer 2026, is the first LNG-powered ship in the Explora Journey’s fleet and marks a milestone in its efforts to decarbonise its operations. This technological innovation will help the ship reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 per cent.

The vessel will also have an advanced recycling system, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions and low underwater noise levels to avoid disruption to marine ecosystems. Single-use plastics will not be used on board and will be avoided during shore excursions.

The 463-suite vessel will pair its sustainability-led approach with a high standard of service. Notably, it has a 1.25:1 crew to guest ratio, original dining venues and enhanced amenities for families.

Its first-ever season will feature the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, before it sails to the Americas and Caribbean.

Find cruises on Explora III.

8. Star Flyer

Star Clippers' magnificent, masted fleet of tall ships are recreations of the sleek vessels that were famed for their speed in the 19th century. Today, they give modern travellers a glimpse of life on the high seas in centuries past, complete with billowing sails, teak decks and a sky-high crow’s nest. As an added advantage, they provide a more environmentally conscious way of sailing. After all, harnessing the wind is 100 per cent emission-free.

In the Caribbean, where the wind is relatively predictable, for example, Star Clippers can operate using wind propulsion approximately 70 per cent of the time. When they do have to rely on alternative sources of energy, a low-sulphur, less-polluting grade of fuel is used.

This approach earned the line ‘Pura Vida Pledge Approved’ status, awarded by the Costa Rican Tourism Board to recognise Star Clippers’ role in promoting responsible travel.

Find cruises on Star Flyer.

9. Le Commandant Charcot

This elegant icebreaker is part of the Ponant fleet and designed to take adventurous travellers to the polar regions in ultra-luxury fashion. While it has plenty to recommend it, including top-notch French gastronomy and comprehensive wellness amenities, what really sets it apart in the expedition ship market is that it is a hybrid vessel, with a dual LNG-electric propulsion system.

That’s in addition to eco-friendly adoptions such as an advanced wastewater treatment system and LED lighting. Taken together, these steps earned it ‘Clean Ship’ certification by the Paris-based Bureau Veritas agency.

Plus, Ponant has plans to take its eco-friendly ambitions further with its Swap2Zero project. Its aim? To create a carbon-neutral sailing ship designed to act as a catalyst for new energy solutions, due to launch by 2030.

Find cruises on Le Commandant Charcot.

10. Scenic Eclipse

This small sailing yacht caters to just 228 passengers, but punches above its weight in terms of amenities. From butler service in all suites to a fleet of onboard Zodiacs, it’s well-kitted to deliver ultra-luxury, even at the ends of the earth.

It also has seriously impressive eco credentials. For example, it utilises an advanced wastewater treatment operation, as well as an Azipod propulsion system that’s designed to minimise noise and vibrations in order to reduce disturbance to marine life, while also reducing fuel consumption. Meanwhile, dynamic positioning allows the ship to maintain position without using an anchor, which prevents damage to the sea floor.

Last but not least, it uses the lightest grade of marine fuel, reducing sulphur emissions by up to 95 per cent.

Find cruises on Scenic Eclipse.

11. Atlas Adventurer

This vessel marks the advent of a new class of yacht and, although it won’t launch until 2028, it’s already one to watch. Ultra-luxury, all-inclusive operator Atlas Ocean Voyages will debut the 690-foot, all-suite ship, which is set to be the world’s first luxury expedition sailing yacht.

Sustainability is built into the design, with dual-fuel engines, electric-hybrid propulsion supported by a large marine battery system and three precision-engineered carbon fibre sails. It points to a future where greener cruising is not defined by a single breakthrough, but by a combination of technologies working in tandem.

Beyond the engineering, guests can expect luxury accommodation, seven distinct fine dining venues and a marine platform with an ocean pool, with itineraries spanning the Coral Triangle, Seychelles, Tanzania and Japan.

Find cruises on Atlas Adventurer.

Honourable mentions:

• Silver Nova: Uses LNG as its principal fuel source and has a hull redesigned for energy efficiency.
• Star Princess: Fuelled by LNG and utilises Azipod technology that reduces noise and vibrations that impact ecosystems.
• Ultramarine: Has a Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS) that converts waste into energy at the site where it’s generated.
• MSC Euribia: Has dual-fuel engines that can use LNG, reducing emissions.
• A-Rosa Sena: Has a hybrid propulsion system with diesel and electric engines.
• AmaMagna: Incorporates energy technologies such as solar heating systems, LED lighting and special insulation.
• Brilliant Lady: Reduces single-use plastics and increases energy-efficient systems.