Cruise boom 2025: 37.7 million passengers and criticism of the climate!

Cruise boom 2025: 37.7 million passengers and criticism of the climate!

The international cruise association Clia has forecast a record number of 37.7 million passengers for 2025, an increase of around 9% compared to the previous year. This development is encouraged by the use of larger ships by shipping companies. In 2023, global passenger numbers increased by 9.3% to 34.6 million, with particularly high interest in travel to the Caribbean, which is the top destination with almost 15 million guests, followed by the Mediterranean with around 5.8 million passengers. 20.5 million passengers came from North America and 8.4 million from Europe. The most popular shipping companies include Aida Cruises, Tui Cruises and MSC Cruises, all of which are members of Clia, the world's largest association of cruise companies.

Particularly noteworthy is the cruise ship “Disney Adventure”, which was undocked in Wismar in April 2023. It is the largest cruise ship ever built in Germany and can accommodate 6,700 travelers. Another notable ship is the Utopia of the Seas, which can accommodate up to 5,668 passengers. Clia Germany boss Georg Ehrmann emphasizes that these new ships will also open up new target groups.

Environmental concerns and criticism

However, the cruise industry also faces increased challenges with regard to climate and environmental protection. Environmentalists are increasingly criticizing the negative effects of cruises. The nature conservation association Nabu describes this as “unsustainable for the climate, environment and health”. Professor Volker Quaschning from the University of Technology and Economics in Berlin has calculated that a 14-day Caribbean cruise causes climate damage of around six tons of carbon dioxide.

Of particular concern is the use of fossil fuels, which continue to produce significant greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2 and methane. Pollutants such as sulfur and nitrogen oxides also damage the health of residents in coastal regions. According to the NABU cruise ranking 2024, some shipping companies are showing progress in terms of fuel savings and environmentally friendly technologies, but the goal of climate neutrality remains a long way off for many companies. A eight participating companies are only aiming for climate neutrality by 2050, which falls short of the national climate goals in Germany, which have set greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045.

Innovations and future prospects

The cruise industry is showing some promising approaches to improving its environmental footprint. TUI Cruises is planning to build “Mein Schiff 7” with methanol, while the use of shore power in port cities such as Hamburg, Kiel and Rostock could reduce exhaust gases during berths. The use of batteries, energy-saving design and slow driving are measures that offer over 50% savings potential.

However, the industry must continue to work on its dependence on heavy oil and fossil fuels. Nabu reports that the challenges in the area of ​​climate and environmental protection are anything but overcome and that the switch to renewable fuels, such as green hydrogen, is urgently needed to make cruise shipping sustainable. This becomes even more important as the number of travelers continues to increase and demand for cruises remains unabated.

The cruise industry is at a crossroads where it must both meet the demands of its customers and act in an environmentally conscious manner. It remains to be seen how quickly shipping companies will adapt and what innovations will characterize the industry in the coming years. For more information on cruise tourism trends, read reports from Picture and NABU.