From documenting the world’s largest sailing ship, the Royal Clipper, to walking on mega cruise liners with thousands of passengers, Joe Sills has seen both sides of the ocean travel spectrum. 

In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken sits down with Joe Sills, journalist and photographer, to dig into one of travel’s most controversial industries: cruises. Together, they explore the environmental cost of cruising, the rise of greenwashing in tourism, and whether sailing ships and boutique cruises could offer a better way forward.

What we cover in this episode:

• The difference between mega cruise ships and sailing vessels
• What responsible travel means in 2025
• How small-scale cruises support local economies (and why mega ships can overwhelm them)
• CO₂ emissions of cruise ships vs airplanes and trains
• Why Antarctica should be a no-go for mass cruises
• Greenwashing in the cruise industry and how to spot red flags
• Alternatives: local sailing yachts, small river cruises, boutique ships
• Joe’s Arctic expedition experience, and how climate change cut it short
• Practical tips on how to pick a more sustainable cruise

If you’ve ever wondered “are cruises worse than flying?”, or if sailing ships could really be a sustainable option compared to regular cruises, this episode gives you a deep dive into the truth.

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