The global cruise industry has a troubled reputation when it comes to both environmental and social impact. Mega-liners have become symbols of overtourism—unloading thousands of passengers at once into fragile destinations like Dubrovnik and Venice, straining infrastructure, displacing local culture, and contributing minimally to local economies. The environmental toll is equally stark, from air and water pollution to the pressures placed on sensitive marine ecosystems. Many large-ship passengers spend only a few hours ashore, often spending little, while the scale of operations can overwhelm communities and degrade natural habitats.

Micro and adventure cruising operates on a very different scale. These smaller vessels carry fewer passengers, reach destinations beyond the reach of giant liners, and have the potential to integrate more closely with local communities. In sensitive regions such as the Galápagos or the Arctic, regulated small-ship tourism can help fund conservation, support livelihoods, and educate travellers about the places they visit. With intentional design, they can source locally, partner with community-led initiatives, and create more meaningful connections between travellers and the places they explore.

Meanwhile, private superyachts are also facing growing scrutiny around their environmental footprint. With fewer guests carried compared to cruise ships, the emissions intensity of each journey can appear disproportionately high (up to ten times higher than travelling by private jet). Yet as yachting expands into new and remote regions, it also holds unique potential to drive change: through innovation in cleaner technologies, higher sustainability benchmarks, and pioneering ways of reaching and supporting local communities.

Hosted by mentor and former yachting specialist Portia Hart, with guest speakers Akvile Marozaite (CEO, Expedition Cruise Network) and teams from Burgess Yachts and TCTF member, Secret Atlas, this session will explore:

• The Current Landscape: The scale of the industry’s environmental footprint — from carbon emissions to waste water discharge — and the complex socio-economic effects on small destinations.

• Opportunities for Positive Impact: How smaller vessels, slower travel, and intentional itineraries might reduce environmental damage, spread benefits more evenly, and generate meaningful connections with local communities. {Secret Atlas}

• Pathways to Regeneration: The benchmarks, innovations, and partnerships that are being generated by operators to drive change. {Case studies from - Akvile and the ECN, Burgess Sustainability-lead, Simon Heyes for Polar Latitudes)

Through candid discussion and real-world case studies, we’ll examine whether micro/adventure cruising and yachting can help transition the cruise industry from being part of the problem to becoming part of the solution — supporting both local livelihoods and the ecosystems that sustain them.