A Guardian article cited that cruise ships have doubled in size since 2020 - known as ‘Cruisezillas’.
Here is some of my research into the industry:
Positives ✅
🍃 Education and Awareness
Some companies such as Hurtigruten Expeditions offer insights into ocean research for their guests. I would certainly be interested in booking and I believe this is great for connecting people to the sea, and creating ocean advocates.
🍃 Innovation
Companies such as MSC cruises are developing alternative fuels such as LNG and ultimately less emissions. Emissions from cruise ships are definitely a problem. But none are using alternative fuels yet to my knowledge.
🍃 Conservation Support
Royal Caribbean have partnered with WWF to provide support for conservation projects. Although this could be considered a more indirect offset and does not answer for the direct impacts, the conservation groups would be thankful for the money.
Now for some negatives ❌
👎🏼 Emissions
A report by T&E found cruise ships pumped out 17% more carbon dioxide in 2022 than they did in 2019, and methane emissions rose 500%. Remember methane has a higher warming potential that carbon dioxide and therefore has a stronger effect on our atmosphere. With alternative fuel sources, could this emission volume be reduced, possibly.
👎🏼 Pollution
A company was fined $20 million for dumping waste from one of their ships. And this happened in 2020! This should be zero tolerance and I support the heavy financial penalties given above - simple as that. I am not sure what reporting systems companies need to follow. For example, with an inventory of the goods and materials onboard, it wouldn’t be too difficult to audit the amount of waste generated and ensure it returns to shore for disposal.
👎🏼 Over-tourism
Venice has about 50,000 residents, and around 20 million annual visitors. Most of which come from cruise ships. To my knowledge large ships have been banned from entering Venice, but I’m not sure if it has been enforced yet. This is a tricky one being a tourist myself. In my home city of Belfast, cruise ships are welcomed for the most part. However it’s not the same for everywhere I understand. Could tourist taxes be used to improve infrastructure or cull tourist numbers - I have no idea.
So what do you think?
Some groups have called for luxury cruise ships to be banned altogether - is this fair? ⚖️
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