Published 11/2/2026
A cruise ship is like a small community. It uses electricity and water, prepares food and generates waste. But how is all this managed when the ship is berthed in the heart of Stockholm? This was the focus of two environmental tours organised by Ports of Stockholm on board the cruise ship AIDAluna in October.
Stefan Scheja, Marketing Manager, Ferries and Cruises at Ports of Stockholm, explained how the ship connects to shore power at the quay. With electricity supplied from land, ships can switch off their generators while berthed in Stockholm. This reduces air emissions and creates a quieter environment. All electricity supplied by Ports of Stockholm comes from renewable sources, and the berths at Masthamnen have a combined shore power capacity of 11 megawatts.
The invited guests had the opportunity to learn more about AIDAluna and how AIDA Cruises addresses environmental issues.
AIDAluna’s crew guided participants around several areas on board. They demonstrated how waste and recyclable materials, such as glass and metal, are handled and sorted, as well as how energy is recovered from food waste. Once compacted and dewatered, the waste looks almost like coffee grounds and takes up a fraction of its original space.
Ports of Stockholm also receives blackwater and greywater from the ship. AIDAluna has its own wastewater treatment plant, which treats the water before it is discharged to the shore reception facilities.
Visiting the engine room while the ship’s engines were switched off and silent, thanks to the shore power connection, was another memorable experience.