Carnival
Flagged · AvoidThe world's largest cruise company, with brands including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess, Holland America, and Cunard, and a criminal record for deliberately dumping waste at sea.
Last updated June 16, 2026
↓ Skip to 6 ethical alternativesReasons to avoid
Issues span:EnvironmentConsumerLabor
- Carnival's cruise ships emitted 43% more sulfur oxides around Europe in 2022 than all of the continent's roughly 291 million cars combined, according to analysis by the campaign group Transport and Environment. These pollutants contribute to acid rain and to the respiratory problems faced by residents of the port cities where Carnival ships dock.
- Carnival's Princess subsidiary was criminally convicted in 2016 for deliberately dumping oily waste at sea and falsifying records to conceal it, then agreed to pay an additional $20 million in 2019 for violating the terms of its probation. Court filings showed Carnival ships kept discharging plastic and grey water and that staff cleaned vessels just before inspections to avoid detection.
- An Australian Federal Court ruled in 2023 that Carnival was negligent for allowing the Ruby Princess to sail from Sydney in March 2020 despite knowing the heightened COVID-19 risk on board. The outbreak from that single voyage infected hundreds of passengers and was linked to 28 deaths.
- In early 2026 Australian authorities opened an investigation into Carnival after the Maritime Union of Australia reported crew on its Sydney and Brisbane based ships working up to 300 hours a month for as little as $2.50 an hour. The union also described cramped cabins and poor drinking water on ships that exploit a loophole exempting them from Australian minimum wage law.
Ethical alternatives
Small-Group Adventures
Slow & Flight-Free Holidays
Byway
Plans entire holidays by train and boat with no flights, so the slow journey becomes part of the trip.
✅ B-Corp
Visit →Responsible Small-Ship Voyages
UnCruise Adventures
US-flagged small ships carrying 22 to 86 guests on conservation-minded voyages, paying US wages and taxes instead of using flags of convenience.
Visit →Ethically Vetted Holidays & Resorts
Common Questions
- Is Carnival ethical?
- Carnival has a criminal record for deliberately dumping waste at sea and falsifying records, and it agreed to pay an extra $20 million in 2019 for violating its probation. Its ships also emitted 43% more sulfur oxides around Europe in 2022 than all of the continent's cars combined, and an Australian court found the company negligent over a 2020 COVID-19 outbreak linked to 28 deaths.
- Why are people boycotting Carnival?
- People avoid Carnival over its long pollution record, including the ocean dumping it was criminally convicted for and the air pollution its ships create around port cities. More recently, a 2026 union investigation alleged that crew on its Australian ships worked up to 300 hours a month for as little as $2.50 an hour.
- What are the best ethical alternatives to Carnival?
- Strong alternatives include Intrepid Travel and G Adventures for multi-day small-group trips, and Byway for flight-free rail and boat holidays. If you want to stay on the water, UnCruise Adventures runs small US-flagged ships that pay US wages, and Responsible Travel books vetted ethical holidays in one place.