Apparently the ships are becoming more and more environmentally friendly. However, how operators count emissions varies greatly. This makes it difficult for consumers to understand – and easier for providers to hide dirt.
The ship stands out white from the port of Hamburg. It’s 1 p.m., still five hours until departure. The collection point for luggage is getting full, colorful hard-shell suitcases are standing next to each other, a luggage shuttle is taking them the 300 meters there Aidamar. The owners have 43 days of cruising ahead of them. The tour is called “Big Caribbean Winter Break”. Up to 2,194 guests travel via Spain and Tenerife to Curaçao and the Dominican Republic, with a stop in Portugal on the return journey.