By the end of 2014 the New York-quoted cruiseship operator claims savings generated by its Fleet Fuel Conversation Program will amount to approximately $2.5bn.

Over the past seven years the company, which noted bunkers are its largest single expense, pointed out that fuel efficiency improved by roughly 24%.

In a statement Carnival said the initiative combines energy-saving programmes on board existing vessels with new, energy-efficient ship designs to cut consumption while improving fuel efficiency across its fleet of more than 100 cruiseships.

It