Eco-friendly Cruising

Globe hopping 32 / Eco-Friendly Cruising

Fuelling the future

Havilia’s NortHerN ligHts cruise

The pressure is on for the cruise industry to become more ecoefficient – and it is responding with initiatives such as batterypowered ships and greener excursions, says Jeannine Williamson

Walking out onto the top deck of Havila Castor I breathe in the crisp Norwegian air and look out over the equally breath-taking views of the snow-capped Norwegian Fjords glistening in the morning sunlight. The thing that immediately strikes me is the sound of silence.

I’m aboard the second ship to be launched by all-new Havila Voyages, which has two more identical vessels on the way. The line won the contract to operate alongside Hurtigruten on the Bergen to Kirkenes coastal, which calls at 34 ports and provides a ferry and freight service for locals and a spectacular scenic voyage for passengers in its 179 cabins.

I go back inside and sit in one of the cosy lounges next to a ‘crackling’ faux fire before heading to lunch in the restaurant showcasing local specialities.

That afternoon I embark on a thrilling husky sled expedition. It’s one of the sustainable shore excursions, which also include e-bike and e-bus tours, on this eco-friendly line boasting the largest battery capacity of any cruise ship.

Havila Castor’s battery weights 86 tons and is equivalent to 600 Teslas. The ship can sail silently under battery power for up to four hours and is leading the way for the Norwegian government’s requirement that all sailings in the UNESCO-listed fjords must be emission-free by 2026. It certainly makes sense in this pristine natural environment.

Green and clean

Sustainable travel was on the agenda at this year’s CLIA UK & Ireland conferences and the Seatrade Cruise Global event held in Miami. Data from Google has also shown that 70% of people questioned were interested in travelling more sustainably.

Ocean and river lines have risen to the challenge with a raft of initiatives. This year A-ROSA broke the mould with the launch of the first-ever hybrid river vessel, A-ROSA SENA, which can sail in and out

arosa’s New Hybrid river vessel, a-rosa seNa

avaloN’s active aNd discovery programme oN tHe rHoNe

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wildlife watcHiNg witH silversea

of ports under battery power. The line is also retro-fitting its other ships to have a fully hybrid-powered fleet by 2030.

“Whilst most customers may not be making holiday decisions based on sustainability yet, agents know that it won’t be long before they simply expect companies to be doing the right thing,” said Lucia Rowe, Managing Director at A-ROSA River Cruises UK & Ireland.

“We are seeing that agents are becoming more and more engaged on the topic of sustainability and our new ship A-ROSA SENA gives us something really incredible to talk about. We have a responsibility to protect the rivers and destinations we sail through for future generations, and we want to deliver genuine change.”

For clients that want to reduce their carbon footprint, agents can suggest no-fly cruises out of UK ports or train travel.

Tim Fleming, Sales and Business Development Manager, Arena River Cruises, said: “All of our four-star European river cruises come with a choice of joining options, allowing passengers to make the selection that best fits their schedule, budget and, in many cases now, environmental concerns. We offer options to join both by coach and by rail.

Of these, according to carbon footprint comparison site ecopassenger.org, it is travel by rail that most significantly reduces a passenger’s individual Co2 emissions.

What’s new

LNG ships: Heralded as the cleanest marine fuel, the next generation of cruise ships are being powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras was the first LNG ship in North America and will be joined in November by Carnival Celebration. MSC’s new flagship, the 6,774-passenger MSC World Europa, is set to become the world’s largest LNG ship when it launches in October. The line has also set a target to be emissions free by 2050. Setting sail in 2023, Icon of the Seas is the first of Royal Caribbean’s new Icon Class vessels and the line’s first LNG-powered ship. Also debuting next year is hybridpowered Silver Nova, Silversea’s first Nova Class ship, which will be the first lowemissions luxury cruise ship.

Green initiatives: On the river front, Avalon Waterways has partnered with Trees4Travel and is offsetting the carbon

“Agents are becoming more and more engaged on the topic of sustainability and our new ship A-ROSA SENA gives us something really incredible to talk about”

lucia rowe, arosa

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silversea Has iNtroduced a low emissioN luXury cruise sHip rescued turtle returNed to tHe wild

footprint of every passenger’s cruise in 2022 by donating tens of thousands of trees. Its parent company Globus has unveiled the Lighthouse Project spotlighting nearly 50 causes including The Ocean Cleanup, which includes buying sunglasses made from recycled plastic.

Ambassador has partnered with marine conservation charity, ORCA as well as the launch of the fi rst ever cruise line “Anti-Whaling campaign”. This campaign will see that two Ocean Conservationists are aboard the fl agship, Ambience, in 2022 and 2023, for 11 sailings to collect important scientifi c data from key areas.

Amadeus River Cruises has partnered with climate protection organisation atmosfair, becoming Europe’s fi rst river cruise operator to off er guests an opportunity to off set their Co2 consumption with a donation. Both Amadeus and AmaWaterways have received Green Award certifi cation which recognises high environmental standards. CroisiEurope has initiated a partnership with UNESCO in order to promote sustainable development projects for African river ports.

Tall ship line Star Clippers is the fi rst line to be certifi ed as Pura Vida Pledge Approved by the Costa Rican Tourism Board for its sustainable and eco-friendly itineraries. It has been recognised as part of an initiative to promote the country as the ultimate natural escape.

Small ship line Variety Cruises was the fi rst line to sign the Tourism Declares Climate Emergency initiative promoting sustainability at sea and visits off -the-beaten-track islands, supporting local communities. Technology: Windstar’s Star Plus Initiative upgrade saw new environmentallyfriendly engines fi tted to its three Star Class ships, which sail under wind power.

“Our European river cruises come with joining options. It is travel by rail that most significantly reduces individual Co2 emission”

tim fleming, arena river cruises

Havila uses local produce oNboard

Top experiences

Step out: Explore on foot on CroisiEurope’s Cruise & Hike river sailings along the Rhine, Danube, Douro and Italy’s Bianco Canal. Guides accompany gentle walks which take in unspoilt areas such as vineyards and nature parks. A full itinerary with alternative excursions is provided for non-walkers. Plant life: Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ new Eco-connect excursions connect clients to nature. From Hue, Vietnam, they can hike through Bach Ma National Park with a naturalist pointing out the diverse fl ora and fauna, including one fi fth of all Vietnam’s plant species. Slow down with sloths: Meet the world’s slowest-moving animals on one of Oceania’s all-new Go Green excursions. The sanctuary in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, is home to sloths that have been orphaned, injured or lost their habitat.

Deforestation is one of the biggest threats to sloths and clients also plant a tree. Have a heart: With Royal Caribbean clients can volunteer at the Open Heart Charitable Commission in Falmouth, Jamaica, and plant trees and vegetables that will eventually feed locals. They can also prepare and serve a hot meal for families facing tough times and interact with the community by reading and playing games. Experience eco-projects: See conservation work fi rst-hand on the all-new Great Lakes Explorer itinerary on Viking’s fi rst expedition ship, Viking Octanis.

These include wildfl ower restoration projects in the fragile Great Lakes and Georgian Bay ecosystem. If the timing coincides, guests can see rescued turtle eggs being incubated before the turtles are returned to the wild. Cheers: Sip cocktails and wines that taste good, and do good, on Norwegian Prima, the fi rst of Norwegian’s Prima Class ships. The Metropolitan Bar is the line’s fi rst Sail & Sustain bar featuring zero waste cocktails made with surplus ingredients (such as banana skins), fully sustainable spirits and organic wines.

Where to book it

HAVILA VOYAGES – 03455 280026

The six-night northbound voyage on Havila Castor from Bergen to Kirkenes starts from £763pp, departing December 5 2022, cruise only. havilavoyages.com •

Foodie experiences in Gran Canaria

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Born out of the island’s origins as a significant Atlantic port, Gran Canaria is home to a diverse gastronomy scene and a melting pot of flavours. Here are six of the best foodie experiences to consider

Farmers fancy

For the very freshest and best morsels, follow the locals to the farmers markets. Gustave Eiffel created the modernist Mercado del Puerto in 1891, which was the first fresh food market in the Canary Islands to sell ready-to-eat options. Cheap yet delicious homemade dishes are crafted with natural local ingredients. In the evenings, the young and trendy flock to Mercado del Puerto in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with its popular terrace.

Tantalising tavernas

Tavernas are dotted around the island, usually found on the garden terrace of a family farmhouse. As you move inland, seafood dishes emblematic of the coast make way to the island’s famous meat recipes, including papas arrugadas with mojo sauce, gofio escaldado, and potaje stew. Sample them in the unique subterranean atmosphere of La Vega Cave restaurant, at the head of the Guayadeque ravine.

Michelin munchies

Gran Canaria is part of the Tasting Spain network, inspiring young talented chefs to create dishes using local ingredients and traditional recipes. Gran Canaria has three Michelin-starred restaurants: La Aquarela in Patalavaca, Los Guayres at the Cordial Mogan Playa hotel and Poemas by Padron Brothers in the five-star GL Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel by Barceló in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Foodie fincas

The fertile fincas (or plantations) of Gran Canaria have been tended by local families for many generations. The island’s unique climate and rich volcanic soil offer up mouth-watering produce and rich coffee beans which are exported around the globe. Bananas, tropical fruits and potatoes are harvested at Finca La Laja in Agaete, produced alongside its distinctive wine. Or sample signature Gran Canarian honey from the farmsteads.

Wine-ding routes

Gran Canaria has been awarded the first and only wine route certification in the Canary Islands and outside of mainland Spain. The Gran Canaria Wine Route takes travellers on a tour across 52 wineries, restaurants, wine cellars, estates, cheese factories and traditional family-owned ‘bochinches’. The island is home to nearly 40 different grape varieties, bringing to life a huge diversity of different flavours and blends.

Rum revelation

Gran Canaria has won acclaim for its rum. At Arehucas distillery guests take a 45-minute guided tour to discover the production process and one of the oldest rum cellars in Europe. A behind-the-scenes look at the mill, fermentation and distillation rooms is followed by a tasting of the distillery’s wide selection of rums and liqueurs. Leave space in your luggage to take home some local spirit as a range of rums are available to purchase.