Carnival Brands Close Alaska Season with Environmental Contributions – Cruise Industry News

Carnival Corporation’s brands have made significant environmental contributions to its land and sea operations in Alaska, the company announced in a press release.

Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line have made strides in promoting sustainability and reducing their environmental footprint across the destination, Carnival said.

“Our commitment to environmental stewardship is unwavering,” said Bonnie Westlund, the community relations director for Holland America Line – Princess for Alaska and the Yukon.

“We are dedicated to implementing sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the communities we serve,” she added.

Carnival Corporation has almost 300 full-time, year-round employees living in Alaska and more than 3,500 seasonal team members from spring through late summer.

Highlights of the company’s environmental efforts in the region include a donation to the Alaska Carbon Reduction Fund.

Carnival Cruise Line donated $50,000 to the initiative, which installs heat pumps in low-income family homes to reduce their heating costs and environmental impacts, helping its expansion into Ketchikan.

In an effort to reduce emissions and congestion in Juneau, Carnival Corporation’s tour company replaced eight regular-sized buses with four double-deckers.

Comparing June – August 2023 and 2024, the division made 400 fewer trips thanks to the successful program.

Both Princess and Holland America’s Alaska hotels also successfully diverted more than 760,000 pounds of materials from Alaskan landfills through recycling, two food biodigesters, glass crushers and composting.

Other diversions included furniture and linens, which will be used throughout local communities.

Carnival Corporation established five partnerships with pig farmers from Skagway to Fairbanks in communities with company-owned hotels and resorts.

Food waste collected from guest plates, employee dining rooms and prep kitchens was donated to the farmers to use as feed for the animals.

Over 83,000 pounds of food waste were sent to pig farmers and kept out of landfills in 2024, the company said.

Reducing fuel emissions in maintenance shops during the winter, Carnival installed the sixth used-oil furnace to burn used motor and vegetable oils.

Furnaces were installed at company resorts and lodges along with motorcoach shops and have a lower environmental impact and improved employee comfort as benefits.

“Carnival Corporation, along with Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line remain committed to fostering sustainable practices and supporting the communities where we work and live,” said Westlund.

“We look forward to continuing these efforts in 2025 and beyond, ensuring that their presence in Alaska brings joy to guests and leaves a positive, lasting impact on the environment and local communities.”