Imagine living and working on a cruise ship where the air is clean, the materials are safer, and even the cleaning supplies are chosen with health in mind. That’s exactly what the crew of the ASUKA III can look forward to, thanks to a new certification recognizing their living spaces as allergy-friendly.

Currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Emden, Germany, the ASUKA III has received the Allergy Friendly Building Alliance (AFBA) seal for its crew quarters. That means these areas meet highest standards when it comes to reducing allergens—like harmful vapors or irritating chemicals—that can affect people’s health.

To earn the seal, the ship’s building materials, ventilation systems, and cleaning products all went through detailed testing. The goal? To make life on board as comfortable and healthy as possible for the crew who will spend months at sea.

What makes this even more impressive is that Meyer Werft’s in-house team designed these areas without bringing in outside architects from the cruise line’s parent company, NYK Cruises. They focused on creating a more sustainable, health-conscious space from the ground up.

According to AFBA, the air quality inside buildings and ships is one of the top five health concerns today. So this isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a big step forward for crew well-being.

“This is a major milestone in creating healthier, more sustainable environments at sea,” said representative from Meyer Werft during a ceremony celebrating the achievement.