TRAVEL THE WORLD. PRESERVE NATURE.

Our driving force – a cruise is the most exciting way of experiencing the earth and its beauty. Protecting the environment is of the highest priority for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, in order to preserve this beauty for a long time to come. Exploring new shores also means assuming responsibility. When it comes to environmental friendliness, there is rarely one all-encompassing solution. This goes for our ships, too. We combine a variety of smaller- and larger-scale measures to continuously improve our environmental performance. These range from design modifications that help reduce consumption to technical solutions that decrease air emissions as well as various measures within our daily operations.

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY ON BOARD

• SCR catalysts | Special SCR catalysts clean the exhaust gases produced and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by almost 95 %. Our new expedition ships and the EUROPA 2 are fitted with these devices.
• Optimised rudder | A PROMAS rudder with special propeller improves the efficiency of the drive in our new ships – helping us to consume less fuel and reduce emissions.
• Optimised hull | The optimised hull – installed in the EUROPA 2 and the HANSEATIC class while they were still in the shipyard – allows us to use up to 18 % less fuel and reduce emissions.
• Paint | The underwater paint used on our ships is free from tributyltin compounds (TBT), which can disrupt the hormone balance in various marine organisms.
• Energy management | We are also optimising energy consumption beyond the ships’ engines through smart management and LED lighting, for example.
• Cold ironing | With the exception of the EUROPA, our ships are equipped for cold ironing and make use of this technology where possible.
• Marine gas oil | Since 2020, our entire fleet has exclusively been running on low-pollutant marine gas oil instead of heavy fuel oil. We have been using this fuel in sensitive regions such as the Antarctic, Arctic and Kamchatka for some time now, going beyond the legal requirements.
• Conscious route planning | Prudent route and sensible ship speed management enables us to reduce our fuel consumption by more than 30 %.
• Ballast water | Our ships are equipped with a ballast water treatment system. This stops flora and fauna in the ballast water tanks from being introduced to foreign ecosystems.
• Sustainable lubricants | Our bow thrusters and stabilisers use sustainable ecological oil.
• Water management | Freshwater is a precious resource wherever you go, but particularly at sea, which is why we use a special osmosis system to convert seawater into freshwater. Removing the salt from the seawater allows it to be used for these and many other purposes. Biological sewage treatment plants clean the waste water produced on board. Only clear water is pumped back into the ocean; any sewage sludge is appropriately disposed of on shore.

ECO-EFFICIENCY, EFFICIENT ROUTE PLANNING & FUELS

• Avoiding top speeds | The less fuel we consume, the fewer emissions enter the air. The ideal ton of fuel is one that goes unused. Luckily, there is a simple formula we have been using for some time: by avoiding top speeds, we save an above-average amount of fuel. Four knots can save no less than 40 %. And guests can relax a little more as they enjoy the wonders along the route.
• Efficient route planning | Careful route planning also helps to optimise fuel consumption. Wherever possible, we choose the shortest route between two destinations. Of course, we don’t want our guests to miss out on any highlights: our routes set standards and offer unique experiences and will continue to do so in future.
• Foregoing heavy fuel oil | Beautifully untouched, the most remote corners of our world deserve particular protection. When cruising in the Arctic, Antarctic, Kamchatka, Greenland, Alaska and Hawaii, we therefore use low-pollutant marine gas oil and have been consistently foregoing heavy fuel oil in some cruising areas for more than 26 years – despite considerable additional costs and – in some areas - no legal requirements. A responsible attitude to the environment is one of our highest priorities, and so now we are going one step further: since July 2020, our entire fleet runs solely on low-sulphur marine gas oil with a sulphur content of 0.1 % in all cruising areas and for every single nautical mile.
• In line with IMO | The International Maritime Organization (IMO) does not focus solely on protecting the oceans – it also aims to ensure a significant reduction in air pollution: by 2050 global CO₂ emissions by ships are to be reduced by at least 50 %. Strict limits are already in place in Emission Control Areas (ECAs) – a form of environmental zone – for the sulphur content of fuel and the emission of nitrogen oxides, for example. Since 2020, ship emissions both within and outside ECAs may have a maximum sulphur content of 0.5 %. This is significantly lower than the average of 3.5 % in conventional heavy fuel oil. In addition to this requirement, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises uses low-sulfur marine gas oil with a sulfur content of 0.1 percent for the entire ship fleet.

GETTING INVOLVED, RESPONSIBILITY FOR DESTINATIONS

• Protecting flora and fauna | Our ships use ballast water tanks to help maintain an optimal position in the water at all times - regardless of our fuel levels, the number of guests on board or how many provisions we are carrying. These tanks can be used to take on and get rid of seawater to adjust the weight as necessary. Naturally, the water brought on board will contain smaller organisms such as algae and jellyfish. These would normally travel in the tanks for many nautical miles and then be released in another location the next time the ballast water is exchanged. This runs the risk of introducing them to foreign ecosystems where they could disturb the sensitive balance of flora and fauna. To reliably prevent this from happening, all our ships have a ballast water treatment system, which plays an important role in protecting ecologically sensitive regions. Binding legal standards are expected to be introduced in 2021 - requirements that we are already meeting voluntarily and on principle.
• Codes of conduct in protected regions | We plan shore excursions to ensure the protection of local flora and fauna. At the same time, our scientists on board educate guests to adopt a responsible approach to nature. Rules have been established for shore excursions in the polar regions. The German Federal Environment Agency has issued two sets of guidelines for cruises to the Antarctic on particular aspects to be noted; these include avoiding unnecessary noise, maintaining a minimum distance from animals and heeding conservation areas.
• CleanUp Svalbard | Whenever we visit Spitsbergen, we get involved in the "Clean Up Svalbard" initiative, joining our guests to collect the rubbish - mainly plastic - that washes up on the coast of Spitsbergen. This allows us to make a direct, personal contribution to preserving the region's unique nature.

MORE SUSTAINABILITY, LESS PLASTIC

The oceans must be protected, not least because they provide us with 70 % of our oxygen – far more than forests, for example. Oxygen is produced by plankton, microbes and above all by algae. Plastic waste is collected separately on board our ships and sent for recycling on land. And yet there is more we can do: we are reducing the unnecessary use of plastic on all cruises, foregoing plastic bags, straws and cocktail stirrers and using alternatives made from wood.

We are using sustainable alternatives to plastic in other areas, too: the kayaks on board our new expedition ships are made from HTP, a particularly high-quality and long-lasting polyethylene. No waste is created when the boat hulls are manufactured – and the manufacturer takes them back free of charge for recycling.

OUR COMMITMENT, TO PEOPLE AND TO NATURE

• TUI Care Foundation | We want the regions that we and our guests visit to benefit from tourism. To make the greatest possible impact, we bundle all our commitments into the TUI Care Foundation.* This initiates and supports projects that offer new prospects to young people around the world, protect nature and the environment, and promote the sustainable development of holiday destinations. The foundation focuses on the potential of the tourism sector to drive social development, education and prosperity.

*For an overview of all projects supported by the TUI Care Foundation, visit www.tuicarefoundation.com

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, CREATING AWARENESS ON BOARD

By taking guests and crew on tours of the engine room, captains and senior officers increase awareness of the environmental protection measures on board. In addition, scientists and experts include recommendations for environmentally conscious behaviour in their presentations, particularly for visits to fragile ecosystems.

Many guests return from their cruise to the Arctic or Antarctic determined to help preserve this unique wilderness – evolving from tourists into environmental ambassadors.

Our code of conduct for suppliers

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is committed to sustainable, ethical business practices in compliance with applicable laws, conventions and regulations, and therefore adheres to internal principles of conduct, guidelines and procedures that provide direction to its own daily activities and actions.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises supports efforts to protect human rights, developing appropriate, eco-efficient and socially sustainable responsibility chains and response mechanisms within its own sphere of influence.

For this reason, the TUI Cruises code of conduct for suppliers, which also applies to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, sets specific minimum standards that Hapag-Lloyd Cruises expects from its suppliers, their employees, subcontractors, agents and subsidiaries. This ensures sustainable practices are specifically called for in the supply chain and made verifiable.

The club at a glance

Every Hapag-Lloyd Cruises customer can become a member of the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Club. For a one-off sign-up fee of € 170 per person and an annual club fee of just € 70 per person, with effect from the second calendar year of membership, you will receive exclusive advantages. As soon as you become a member, you can access all services offered by the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Club.

If you become a club member at any time up to four weeks after the end of your cruise, we will still credit the bonus miles for that cruise to your account with retrospective effect.

Your advantages on board

• Club cocktail on board
• Attractive bonus miles programme (for beverage credit, laundry services, Internet, SPA treatments, sessions with the personal trainer and golf pro*)
• Exclusive Club Cruises

Your advantages ashore

• Attractive premium offers on selected cruises
• Waitlist priority for your cruise reservation
• Individual bonus-mile offers for your cruise reservation
• Clubzeit (members’ magazine - in German)

How do I become a club member?

On board

You can apply for club membership directly on board our ships and have the admission fee debited from your on-board account. Naturally, you will also receive the relevant bonus miles for the cruise on which you become a club member.  

Ashore

Simply complete the application form and return it to us.