Seven partners.
Zero compromises.

Hurtigruten isn't just the best cruise line for the environment — it's the only one Friends of the Earth will give a passing grade. Their 2024 Report Card score of B+ is the highest any cruise line has ever received. The rest of the industry averages a D-.

This isn't marketing. They've invested over EUR 100 million in environmental upgrades, converting four ships to battery-hybrid propulsion. Since 2018, they've cut CO2 emissions by 30% and NOx by nearly 70%. Their Sea Zero project is targeting a fully zero-emission vessel by 2030.

They were also the first expedition company to ban single-use plastics fleet-wide and the first to stop using heavy fuel oil (back in 2008, when nobody was paying attention).

PONANT is the only cruise line in the world to hold Green Globe, Green Marine, and Bureau Veritas Clean Ship certifications simultaneously. That's not a marketing sentence — that's three independent auditing bodies all saying the same thing.

Their fleet is 100% carbon offset (they're transparent that offsets are a bridge, not a solution), they've eliminated single-use plastics entirely, and their recycling rate is three times the global average. Le Commandant Charcot, their polar exploration ship, runs on LNG + battery hybrid — currently the only way to explore true polar ice under reduced emissions.

Their Swap2Zero project, targeting a near-zero-emission transoceanic vessel by 2030, will use 1,000 square meters of solar panels, hydrogen fuel cells, and wind-assisted propulsion. If it works, it changes the industry.

Carbon neutral since 2019. Plastic-free since 2018. Every voyage carries a certified naturalist and a National Geographic–certified photo instructor. This is expedition travel where the education is the luxury.

Their carbon offset program, run through South Pole, funds six projects spanning renewable energy, reforestation, and community development across Mexico, Peru, and Vietnam. They also maintain a sustainable seafood program and local organic sourcing across the fleet.

The Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic Fund goes beyond offsets, directly investing in conservation research and community programs in every region they visit.

Intrepid is the world's largest travel B Corp, and in 2025, they did something almost nobody in the industry has done: they publicly admitted their approach to carbon wasn't working.

They abandoned carbon offsets and Science Based Targets, openly stating their 2030 goals were unreachable. Instead, they committed to actual operational emission reductions — 8% reduction in carbon intensity per trip, 21% cut in operational emissions — and backed it with a AUD 2 million Climate Impact Fund.

That kind of honesty doesn't make headlines the way "carbon neutral" pledges do. But it's exactly the kind of integrity we look for.

G Adventures has been doing community-first tourism since before it had a name. Their Planeterra Foundation — running since 2003 — manages over 50 social enterprises across all seven continents, creating direct economic benefit for the communities travelers visit.

Their Trees for Days program has planted 3.8 million trees (one per traveler-day), and they commit 1% of revenue to community tourism projects. The economic impact is documented through their Ripple Score, which shows exactly how much of your trip spend stays in the local economy.

Sixty years ago, A&K pioneered the luxury safari. Their philanthropy arm, founded in 1982, has since launched 55 projects across 24 countries — and here's the part that matters: 100% of charitable contributions go directly to projects. A&K covers all administrative costs from their operating budget.

Their Climate Change Challenge funds the reforestation of wildlife corridors in India. Their Friends of Conservation program has been protecting the Maasai Mara since the 1980s. Community education and empowerment run through every project.

In January 2025, Six Senses became GSTC certified across all 26 properties — audited by Control Union, a GSTC-accredited third-party auditor. GSTC (the Global Sustainable Tourism Council) is the gold standard: sustainability planning, environmental impact, cultural heritage, and community benefit, all independently verified on a 3-year certification cycle.

Multiple properties hold LEED Platinum certification. Every location hires locally, sources locally, and maintains partnerships with regional NGOs, schools, and hospitals. The Six Senses Operating Guidelines are themselves a GSTC-Recognized Standard.