Tui Cruises and other providers like to emphasize that cruises are becoming more climate-friendly. German Environmental Aid is now suing against their climate promises. The question is whether this can change the industry.
A woman sits in front of a cocktail with the sea in the background. According to a list next to the photo, she can still eat à la carte, go to the sauna, exercise or drink another cocktail today. And all of this in the middle of the sea. The all-round offer on cruise ships, as advertised by Tui Cruises on its website, is apparently convincing more and more people. For the tourism year 2023/2024, the market research institute Travel Data Analytics sees an increase in sales of 49 percent compared to the previous year. “Cruises are fully profitable again,” said Tui boss Sebastian Ebel happily when he presented the quarterly figures last Tuesday. What he didn’t say: Cruises are one of the most climate-damaging forms of travel. On the same day, Ebel instead emphasized: “Sustainability is our heart.” And later: “Tui should and wants to become a climate pioneer in our industry.”