Continued from page 64
single market or we don’t, so there are limits on how far the relationship can go. For all the warm words, it’s hard to find a way out.” At the same time, he
added: “The EU is wracked by problems. A lot of Western member states – France, Germany, Spain, Italy – face challenges from populism [and] there are tensions with some East European governments. Two problems which are coming to a head are how much member states are going to spend on defence and negotiations on the [next] seven-year budget.” The EC is due to launch its
new Entry/Exit System (EES) on October 12 and Professor Menon warned: “There is going to be chaos at the borders.” He said: “People entering the EU for the first time under the new system will have their fingerprints taken. It’s going to make travelling more difficult, at least in the short term.” Professor Menon warned
that widespread dissatisfaction with mainstream political leaders would add to the uncertain outlook, noting: “There is a growing cynicism about government. Our first-past-the- post-electoral system, which is meant to guarantee stable, two-party politics, is giving us five-party politics and massive uncertainty [when] governments haven’t delivered meaningful growth in 15-20 years.”
i For full details about The Travel Convention, and to register, visit:
abta.com/events/the-travel-convention
Advertising Standards body upholds four complaints. Ian Taylor reports
ASA raps cruise agencies for eco claims in adverts
A series of Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) rulings on agency cruise advertisements last week highlighted the difficulty of making environmental claims, with all the complaints upheld as in breach of the advertising code. The rulings were doubly
significant in that three of the four complaints were brought before the code was toughened in April in line with the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, with the ads found to be in breach under the old consumer protection regime. Complaints against Cruise Circle, Barrhead Travel and
Cruise.co.uk were brought under the previous code, while the ASA considered a complaint against Sunshine Cruise Holidays under the rules post-April 7 (see below). The ASA noted all four rulings
were “part of a wider piece of work on environmental claims”, making clear it has the sector in its sights. Two of the complaints related to
ads for MSC World Europa, which was launched in 2022 and is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
MSC World Europa
Cruise agent Cruise Circle ran an
online ad in March for MSC Cruises that referred to the line’s “eco-friendly LNG technology” and described LNG as “the world’s cleanest marine fuel”. The ASA ruled both claims misleading and ordered the ad not appear again, noting LNG is “a fossil fuel” that produces “CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions” and emits “unburned methane into the atmosphere”. A Barrhead Travel ad that
described Celebrity Cruises as having “a strong focus on sustainability and eco-friendly practices” was similarly found to be in breach. The ASA noted the ad “would appeal to consumers
who had concerns about the environmental impacts of cruising”, but ruled it misleading because it did not provide the basis for the claims. It pointed out that cruise ships produce “high levels of CO2 and non-CO2 emissions” and have environmental impacts beyond emissions. The third complaint was against
a Seascanner (
Cruise.co.uk) ad promoting MSC World Europa as “one of the most eco-friendly cruise ships afloat” with “cutting-edge environmental technology [and] an advanced LNG-powered engine”. The ASA ruled these claims
misleading and ordered the ad be withdrawn.
Sunshine Cruise Holidays ‘exaggerated’ eco-friendly claims
The ASA issued a ruling against a Sunshine Cruise Holidays advertisement for MSC World Europa under the revised advertising code. The ad described the ship as fitted with “new green
technologies” and “powered by LNG, the world’s cleanest marine fuel”, and suggested: “If you’re keen on cruising but worried about the environmental impact, the MSC World Europa offers a green alternative . . . You can rest easy knowing you’re being powered by cleaner fuel and propelled by blades that mitigate the worst impacts of underwater noise.”
62 11 SEPTEMBER 2025 The ASA ruled this “exaggerated the environmental
credentials of the ship” and gave the impression “consumers would lessen their impact on marine life and the environment” and found it in breach of the code. It noted that evidence for the claims was not
provided whereas the code requires “the basis of environmental claims and comparative claims must be clear, absolute claims must be supported by a high level of substantiation [and] marketing [must] not mislead by exaggerating the capability or performance of a product”. Sunshine Cruise Holidays trades as Cruise1st.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shutterstock/maudanros
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