Carnival is now a greener company

Carnival Corporation who own Holland America and Princess cruises have announced that their ships have improved fuel efficiency by 24% in the last 7 years which is a $2.5 billion saving.

This is part of their fuel conservation program with new energy efficient designed ships. So what has changed over the last few years? Improved propulsion of the ships and how they move through the water, looking at the speed and distances between ports creating fuel efficient Itineraries.  So in laymen’s terms it seems like their Itineraries will be the same old and passengers who want new exciting Itineraries may have to look elsewhere!

The new hull coatings prevent any growth of marine organisms which increases the stream line of the ship.  So new paint then! Where does this paint come from? Have Carnival looked at the environmental aspects of producing this paint?

A new air conditioning system.  Did you know that the air conditioning on cruise ships is the second largest consumption of energy after the engines !

New lighting. Carnival are replacing their bulbs with energy efficient bulbs.  Does this mean that it will take the bulbs a few hours to fully light up?  Will passengers be eating in the dark until the new bulbs start to work?  Haven’t energy efficient bulbs been on the market for a few years now and Carnival have only just thought about it?

By the end of 2014 the estimate is a saving of $1 billion  in fuel which is great for the environment, however where is this money going to go? I would like to think that the savings will be passed onto the passengers or even the crew will get a pay rise, but the fact of the matter will be that the fat cat shareholders in Miami who will get a huge divided payout, or is that me being cynical, maybe that’s a talking point over the dinner table whe you sail with Holland America or Princess cruises…once the bulbs are working that is 😉