CMP wins global sustainability award for cruise terminals in Copenhagen

Copenhagen has been voted winner of the award as World's Best Cruise Terminal for Sustainability 2025 by World Cruise Awards.

At the fifth World Cruise Awards ceremony on December 6, 2025, Copenhagen was named World's Best Cruise Terminal for Sustainability 2025. The award is a recognition of CMP’s sustainability agenda, which focuses on several aspects including environmental, social, and economic dimensions.

Over the last years, CMP has eliminated fossil fuels from terminal equipment and reduced emissions in its own operations by 76% during 2020–2024. Since this year, all berths at Langelinie and Oceankaj feature direct connections for wastewater, removing the need for barges and tanker trucks. One of Europe’s largest shore power facilities was inaugurated in June 2025 in Copenhagen, enabling ships to eliminate emissions when at berth. This would not have been possible without the cruise lines’ ambitious commitment to investing in shore power technology and willingness to connect. CMP’s terminals at Nordre Toldbod and Langelinie are located close to the city center, limiting transport needs for guests, and the terminals at Oceankaj will be even better integrated into Copenhagen’s public transport system with the planned extension of the Metro.

The cruise industry leaves a positive economic mark on Copenhagen’s economy, both through guests’ direct spending and through port fees, which in turn contribute positively to CMP’s and its public owners. Turnaround calls (where ships change passengers) make up around one third of all calls and an increase in ships that stay overnight, mean that guests contribute more to the local economy due to longer time spent in the city.

A significant increase in calls outside the main season—up 37% since last year—ensures less congestion and contributes to more balanced tourism in Copenhagen. The diversity in ship and guest types that Copenhagen receives across the terminals at Nordre Toldbod, Langelinie, and Oceankaj—from mass-market to expedition and luxury—enables a broad group of guests of various nationalities and spending powers to visit the Danish capital. Strong local partnerships, including Cruise Denmark - Copenhagen and Beyond, are a prerequisite for the continuous work on responsible and more sustainable cruise tourism.

“We are truly honored to receive this prestigious sustainability award. It is a powerful recognition of the dedication and hard work of our CMP team and partners in driving the green transition for the port and cruise industry. From reducing CMP’s own emissions by 76% since 2020 to inaugurating Copenhagen’s cruise shore power facility in 2025, enabling cruise ships to connect with renewable electricity while at berth, which results in reduced emissions and improved local air quality. Every milestone reflects our shared commitment to a more sustainable future,” says Jonatan Stoltz, Environmental Manager, Copenhagen Malmö Port.

World Cruise Awards serves to recognize, reward, and celebrate excellence in the global cruise sector. Awards are based on public as well as cruise industry votes.

For more information, please contact:
Ulrika Prytz Rugfelt, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer, Copenhagen Malmö Port
E-mail: ulrika.prytz@cmport.com, Phone: +46 (0)70 252 00 98.

Luis De Carvalho, Commercial Cruise Director, Copenhagen Malmö Port
E-mail: luis.decarvalho@cmport.com, Phone: +45 22 21 01 31.