Looking for a more eco-friendly cruising experience? Here are the greenest river and expedition cruise ships to choose from.
The rise in sustainable technology and policies among expedition cruise lines reflects a growing commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible tourism among the cruise lines that travel to some of the world’s most environmentally sensitive destinations.
As awareness of the fragility of the world’s most remote and pristine locales increases, cruise operators are investing in cutting-edge technologies and implementing stringent sustainability measures to minimise their ecological footprint. Here are some of greenest cruise ships you can travel on.
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Antarctica21 – Magellan Discoverer
Antarctica21’s latest vessel Magellan Discoverer will join its fleet for the 2026-27 Antarctic season. The ship will have a cutting-edge hybrid-electric propulsion system, boasting two powerful MAN main engines, ABB’s innovative Azipod propulsion units and an energy storage system with a battery bank from Corvus.
With Antarctica21, travellers skip the notoriously rough seas of the Drake Passage to join their ship directly at the White Continent. Sharing the yacht style of its sister ship, Magellan Explorer, the new vessel, will feature larger guest cabins, all with private balconies and a wraparound walking deck offering 360-degree views of the polar landscapes.
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With space for up to 76 guests on each cruise, Magellan Discoverer features a spacious dining area, meeting rooms, an observation lounge and bar, a gym, a wet science lab to support Antarctic research programmes and a sauna with wide panoramic windows.
Ponant – Le Commandant Charcot
A hybrid-electric vessel propelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG), Le Commandant Charcot is certified by the Bureau Veritas, meaning it fulfils precise criteria regarding emissions levels, waste processing and wastewater. The ship’s 123 suites and staterooms not only host passengers but also researchers collecting information on the poles. Itineraries include a 15-day cruise around Northern Greenland and a 21-day Transarctic Expedition to reach the Magnetic and Geographic North Poles.
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Le Commandant Charcot not only boasts green credentials but is also luxurious: the culinary team undertook training at Alain Ducasse’s Hôtel de Paris in Monaco, while the spa features a snow room and sauna. Activities offered include snowshoeing, dog sledding, ice fishing, hovercraft outings plus lectures from glaciologists, biologists, geographers and anthropologists.
Aurora Expeditions – Sylvia Earle
Named after the renowned marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer and conservationist Dr. Sylvia Earle, this Antarctic expedition ship features the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW, an inverted bow designed for smoother and faster ocean crossings that helps reduce fuel consumption. Designed to accommodate 132 passengers, the ship offers stylish and comfortable staterooms and suites, most with private balconies.
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Public spaces include multiple restaurants and bars, an outdoor heated swimming pool and Jacuzzis, a gym, spa and sauna, a library lounge, lecture theatre and decks offering panoramic views of wilderness and wildlife as well as a Science Centre for participative, educational programmes. Passengers can take part in activities including Zodiac cruises, sea kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling, skiing, photography and birdwatching.
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic – National Geographic Explorer
In partnership with Lindblad Expeditions, National Geographic Expeditions offers a cruise service focused on wildlife, culture and conservation. Aboard flagship vessel National Geographic Explorer, there’s a range of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technology, including heat recovery of cooling water from engines, LED lights and a self-cleaning solution that eliminates the need for plastic bottles of detergent.
Travelling from pole to pole each year, National Geographic Explorer spends winters in Antarctica and summers in the Arctic and recently launched two new itineraries to the White Continent. Beginning in 2025, options include an eight-day itinerary that flies round-trip across the Drake Passage and a 10-day itinerary that crosses the famous Drake Passage by ship.
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The eight-day Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage flies across the Drake Passage to King George Island, home to Weddell and elephant seals, Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins. On the 10-day Antarctica Direct: Sail and Fly the Drake Passage, guests will embark in Ushuaia, Argentina, and spend two days crossing the legendary Drake Passage. On both trips, some of the world’s most renowned scientists, birders, archaeologists and mountaineers will educate guests as they journey through Antarctica.
HX – Sea Zero
Norwegian expedition cruise line HX, formerly known as Hurtigruten, operates several eco-friendly expedition ships, and to further its commitment to the green cause, it’s currently developing a fully zero-emission ship Sea Zero, which will feature retractable wind and solar sails, hydrodynamic retractable thrusters and smart cabins with real-time energy monitoring.
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Its other ships, including MS Fridtjof Nansen, are powered by hybrid propulsion systems that utilise battery power, reducing fuel consumption and emissions, particularly in sensitive polar regions. New voyages for 2025 include two new itineraries in Iceland, four new Arctic Canada sailings and a West Africa voyage that sails the archipelagos of Cape Verde and the Bissagos Islands. With Nuuk’s new airport opening this year, it will debut four new itineraries, including three Grand Greenland voyages that start and end in the country’s capital.
Amadeus River Cruises – Amadeus Nova
Cruising the Rhine and Danube since spring 2024, Amadeus’s new river ship has a hybrid diesel-electric drive with batteries for extra power while a heat-recovery system and solar panels boost efficiency. Other green features include main engines with high-performance filters and catalytic converters that help eliminate emissions of air pollutants.
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The vessel holds 158 passengers and has a heated pool on the sun deck, while every suite has floor-to-ceiling windows with a private balcony. Other amenities include a spa and fitness areas, and there are three restaurants onboard. Itineraries for 2024 and 2025 include a 10-day, 1,930-kilometre cruise along the Danube and an eight-day classical Rhine cruise.
andBeyond – Galapagos Explorer
Conservation-led luxury travel company andBeyond has debuted an extension of its South America portfolio with the andBeyond Galapagos Explorer, which will set sail this June following an extensive refurbishment of its interiors. The 38-metre yacht is set to operate on two seven-night routes in the east and west of the Galapagos. Highlights of the eastern itinerary include sightings of the critically endangered waved albatross in Gardner Bay on Española Island, while the western Itinerary offers close encounters with the rare Santa Fe land iguana.
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Boasting just six suites and cabins with room for up to 12 guests, the elevated guest-to-staff ratio makes the Galapagos Explorer the most exclusive yacht operating on the islands, and there will be two expert guides on each departure.
Uniworld, SS Victoria and SS Elisabeth
River cruising giant Uniworld takes green issues seriously: it was the first river cruise line to publish an impact report to detail the progress it’s made in support of the people, planet and wildlife, and has set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Its latest additions to the fleet are identical sister ships, the S.S. Victoria (above) and S.S. Elisabeth. The former will offer an eight-day Holland and Belgium at Tulip Time voyage this year, while the latter will debut two eight-day itineraries, Castles Along the Rhine and Rhine Holiday Markets, in 2025.
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Each ship has 55 suites and staterooms, while select suite categories feature walk-in closets and fireplaces, and up to 759 sqft of space for the two-bedroom accommodation with adjoining suites. Other highlights include a massage room, gym, rooftop bar and grill. Like all Uniworld cruises, dining venues will showcase farm-to-table cuisine utilising fresh local ingredients gathered daily by the chef.
