WANT YOUR TRAVEL TO COME WITH A SIDE OF SAVING THE PLANET? THESE ARE THE TRIPS FOR YOU

Travel, sadly, hasn’t always had the best reputation when it comes to being environmentally friendly.

Whether it’s the massive carbon outburst caused by flights, wasteful practices in hotels or the ecological impact seen at tourism hotspots, it can be hard to holiday without a sense of guilt.

And with one boat burning as many carbon emissions as 12,000 cars, cruise ships have a bad rep for being toxic.

But, here’s the good news: a number of operators are now cleaning up their act and doing their bit to protect the globe in the hope that travellers can satisfy their wanderlust without sacrificing the environment.

Companies such as AE Expeditions, Majestic, Hurtigruten and MSC Cruises are making inroads to protect the planet with a range of initiatives that have landed them the shortlisted nominations for the Sailawaze Excellence Awards.

MSC Cruises

Last year, MSC Cruises operated the industry’s first net-zero greenhouse gas emissions voyage from Saint-Nazaire, France to Copenhagen, Denmark. And over the past two years, it launched two Liquefied Natural Gas-powered ships, MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia, which emit far lower levels of pollutants and particulates than traditional heavy fuel oil.

In late 2019, MSC transformed an industrial sand excavation site in the Bahamas into an exclusive private island, progressively rebuilding the marine ecosystem. Sounds like a great spot for a holiday.

AE Expeditions

Fancy a guilt-free trip to the South Pole? Carbon-neutral company AE Expeditions aim to help travellers explore the world’s wildest places – Antarctica, the Arctic and beyond – while reducing their climate impact.

The food on board AE ships claims to be sustainably sourced, with not a fish egg or tuna dish on the menu. The company also supports clean-up initiatives, is in the process of removing all single-use plastic from its boats and partners with conservationists like explorer and oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle in a bid to promote sustainable and responsible travel.

The Majestic Line

Scottish cruisers the Majestic Line take recycling to a new level, with its first ships being rescued from the fishing industry and converted into hospitable and comfortable boats thanks to recycled and reused materials.

Setting sail from the Scottish Isles means you won’t need to take a plane to get there and the company has been assessed by Green Tourism to validate its practices.

Whether reducing paper in the company’s offices, purchasing seasonal and locally-produced food for the boats or reusing uniforms and bedding, the Majestic Line aims to protect the planet while you explore it.

Portsmouth International

Port Britain’s biggest municipal port, which handles millions of customers and items of cargo every year, wants to be net zero by 2030 and zero emission by 2050.

To do this, Portsmouth International Port has become home to an enormous solar canopy array, housing more than 2,660 solar panels, and is introducing an ambitious shore power system across the three busiest berths to reduce emissions and improve air quality.

It is also promoting the use of electric/hybrid ferries and has reduced lighting energy usage by 60% with the introduction of LED floodlighting around the port.

Hurtigruten

Scandinavian operator Hurtigruten supports 41 environmental, cultural and social projects across 11 countries, from helping endangered orcas in the Pacific Northwest and protecting Galápagos seabirds.

Hurtigruten has set up shore-power charge points so ships can ‘plug in’ to green electricity while docked and has three hybrid-powered ships equipped with large battery packs and new energy-efficient engines. It is also replacing plastic with biodegradable alternatives across its fleet.

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2024-05-04T10:12:43Z dg43tfdfdgfd