A new report has found that cruise ships have doubled in size over the past 24 years, warning that at the current rate of growth, the biggest vessels could become eight times larger than the Titanic by 2050. The study by the European clean energy advocacy group, Transport and Environment, found that the largest cruise ships are twice as big as they were in 2000. The number of ships has also increased more than twenty-fold from only 21 ships in 1970 to 515 vessels today, according to the report.
Passenger fell to death off world's largest cruise ship 'after fight with wife' Nail-biting moment Carnival Cruise ships crash into each as onlookers scream “Today’s cruisezillas make the Titanic look like a small fishing boat,” Transport and Environment spokesperson Inesa Ulichina said. Around 36 million holidaymakers are expected to take a cruise this year. The report warned of the environmental impact of the “rapid growth” in the global cruise industry.
“As a result of such rapid growth, these floating cities emit more greenhouse gases and pollutants than ever before,” the report said. The study found that between 2019 and 2022, carbon emissions from cruise ships in Europe grew by 17 percent, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, methane emissions surged by 500 percent.
The report said that cruise ships are currently exempt from fuel duties as well as most corporate and consumer taxes, noting that a possible 50 euros tax on a “typical cruise journey ticket” could potentially bring in 1.6 billion euros globally. Carnival Cruise passengers having meltdown over ice cream policy Carnival Cruises explain reason for balcony ban after guest told to remove item Carnival Cruises' new adults-only beach getaway has swim-up bar and cabanas “Despite the economic and ecological advantages of a gradual shift to e-fuels, the cruise sector lacks the ambition to decarbonise,” the report said.
The report recommended EU policymakers incentivise cruise ships to decarbonize and accelerate the adoption of e-fuels by implementing “more stringent requirements for the cruise industry compared to other shipping segments.” The group also suggested the introduction of a tax on cruise tickets to “raise additional climate finance.”.
