The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) gained valuable insights into sustainable cruise operations during a visit on board AIDAbella in Barbados, as AIDA Cruises’ Caribbean season comes to a close. 

AIDA Cruises, a Carnival Corporation & plc brand, welcomed CDEMA officials aboard to demonstrate the ship’s advanced environmental management and waste reduction systems. 
 
AIDAbella’s Environmental Officer, Sebastian Treue, provided a comprehensive briefing of liquefied natural gas (LNG) power systems on some of AIDA’s ships, highlighting that the cruise line was the first in the industry to introduce a fully LNG-powered cruise ship in 2018 and has continued this standard with newer, much larger vessels such as AIDAcosma.
 
“This engagement with CDEMA represents an important opportunity for knowledge sharing between the cruise industry and regional experts,” said Sebastian Treue, Environmental Officer from AIDAbella. “As we operate throughout the Caribbean, maintaining strong relationships with organisations like CDEMA is essential to our commitment to responsible tourism and regional cooperation.”
 
The visit also showcased AIDA’s significant reduction of single-use plastics by over 77% since 2018, advanced wastewater treatment systems and a sophisticated waste management program designed to minimise environmental impact with proper processing and disposal. AIDA’s waste reduction actions also include using a colour-coded system that sorts waste into 21 categories for environmentally responsible handling. 
 
CDEMA, headquartered in Barbados, serves as the regional intergovernmental agency for disaster management in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The agency coordinates emergency response and relief efforts across 20 participating states, 15 of which are destinations for Carnival Corporation’s cruise lines.
 
By offering a firsthand look at environmental systems to regional agencies like CDEMA, Carnival Corporation reinforces its commitment to building strong relationships throughout the Caribbean, where its cruise lines, including AIDA Cruises, operate as responsible tourism partners.