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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Karen McVeigh

Can you take a clean cruise holiday and which vessels are the worst emitters?

CGI image of a cruise ship sailing between icebergs
A CGI image of a new 230ft cruise ship by Selar that will run on solar and wind power and could be cruising the Arctic by 2026. Illustration: Selar

Toxic, filthy and cheap, the sludge-like substance known as heavy fuel oil has powered the shipping industry since the 1960s. What is perhaps less well known is that this same substance is still used to power more than half of cruise ships today, making what many choose as an alternative to flying one of the most environmentally damaging ways to travel.

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