This is incredibly disturbing. The fact that you have basically no rights when you’re at sea is equally scary. Thanks for your reporting here, we need more of this and more accountability on behalf of the cruise lines
My first time on one was… bad. I was throwing up every single day for all seven days at sea. Safe to say, I do not have sea legs.
I did brave the seas again a few years later for a very short trip—for personal reasons I mentioned in a previous post—but I’m not going all in on cruising just yet. I’m more open to it now than before… just haven’t taken that next step.
What’s interesting is that at work, as a travel publisher, we push a lot of cruise packages… and they keep selling.
I’m always a little surprised by how many people are willing to drop $3k, $10k, even $20k per person on a cruise.
Which makes me think: this isn’t going anywhere.
If anything, cruising is only going to become more widespread.
I just hope it can evolve to become more sustainable—because if this is the direction travel is heading, the planet is going to need it to.
Yikes! Seasickness is no fun (or so I’ve heard, I have a strong stomach at sea.) It’s great that you’re open to giving it another try.
I really appreciate you sharing your insider travel knowledge. Yes, cruising is so popular — with all ages and I can see that it is going to continue to expand. As you say, hopefully the industry will evolve their sustainability policies to keep up.
The good news: as cruisers we have a voice in supporting those lines / ships that are protecting - instead of poluting - our beautiful planet.
Indeed. I haven't had to make the choice between cruising, touring, or doing DIY trip as I'm grounded. But it'll be interesting to see what my choice would be for our next holiday.
You make an important point to note that all these cruise lines, on some metric or another, are a bit lacking. Floating around with thousands of people on the ocean cannot fail to cause problems. Not being a person who goes on cruises, from my perspective, they cause issues outside this study. Such as sudden congestion when they show up in a tiny port (two examples come to mind that I remember: Kotor, Montenegro and Roseau, Dominica). Also, the issues with these large ships pushing through the canals in Venice, causing accelerated deterioration of the docks due to wave pressure. And the tendency of cruise passengers to just walk around and not contribute to the local economy, because they are already paying for meals on the boat.
I'm sure I sound really negative about cruises. I don't really mean to, they are great ways for people who don't want to deal with planning to go on vacation. My mom goes on them occasionally. But it seems like the industry just keeps getting bigger, with bigger boats.
No, you pointed out all valid points. Unfortunately, I think cruising will be the only way mom and I can continue to travel together internationally. So I'm looking at the options much more carefully now.
I think there are new cruisers (let’s say they started 10-15 years ago) who love the new bigger and bigger ships and there are the “oldies” who plan to the smallest detail and travel on the smaller ships. The latter group is being squeezed out. This is only from the UK perspective though. All my 25+ cruises have been from the UK. We used to live two miles from the UK’s main cruise port and could see many of the ships from our loft. Now we have an arduous 40 minute journey!
Hi Sharon - Wow! 25+ cruises. 🤯 It's true the cruising industry continues to evolve -- which is great -- now it can evolve into a more sustainable venture!
The cruise companies certainly need to look at the environmental impact - rather than just pay lip service to it - and passenger safety. It's going to sound snobby but we've given up sailing on ships where passengers get into fights (that would be P & O in the UK, part of Carnival).
Well, this is all disconcerting. I mean, it’s not surprising, but it is a little scary. And important to consider, I now realize, whether we’re “travelers” or not. I’ve never really thought about the safety, health, and ethics of cruises. I’ll be continuing my own research as well. Thanks for researching and writing this! (Erin--I previously posted before finishing my comment and then deleted it, but you must have seen it and replied before it deleted! 🤷♀️)
It's great you point this out, Erin, so one can be aware of possible perils and not let their guards down. In holiday settings or on vacation, it's important to remember to be aware.
As a sailor who has from time to time been in port cities that are frequented by cruise ships, I can attest to the airborne pollutants they spew out 24/7. We've been downwind from them on occasion and our boat gets coated in greasy black soot - the deck, the rig, everything. And to top it off, the exhaust smells like a deisel fuel + soup base + french fry cocktail. And then of course there is the discharge below the waterline, that you can't see.... 😬
We try hard to avoid ports where the big ships go.
And yes, Carnival Cruise ships are especially nasty.
Thanks for your first-person perspective, Linda. There are so many improvements to be made. Hopefully, building awareness of the extent of the problem and identifying the worst culprits are a start at redress.
There is much room for improvement. Agreed that raising awareness is a key first step.
Some places in Europe, as well as many Pacific islands, have banned the larger ships. When 3 - 5,000 people descend on a small island all at once it puts a tremendous strain on the island resources.
I also wonder about what must be a stupendous level of onboard waste from the food. Buffet style dining creates mass overage. And I kind of doubt that they are composting. 🤔
Cruise ships manage food waste primarily through on-board, industrial-strength processing rather than disposal at sea. Techniques include using bio-digesters to create liquid slurry, dehydration, incineration (using Micro Auto Gasification Systems), or offloading in port for land-based processing.
This is incredibly disturbing. The fact that you have basically no rights when you’re at sea is equally scary. Thanks for your reporting here, we need more of this and more accountability on behalf of the cruise lines
Thanks for your comment, Michelle. The good news is that as passengers, we can be the ones driving that accountability.
I’ve never been a cruise person.
My first time on one was… bad. I was throwing up every single day for all seven days at sea. Safe to say, I do not have sea legs.
I did brave the seas again a few years later for a very short trip—for personal reasons I mentioned in a previous post—but I’m not going all in on cruising just yet. I’m more open to it now than before… just haven’t taken that next step.
What’s interesting is that at work, as a travel publisher, we push a lot of cruise packages… and they keep selling.
I’m always a little surprised by how many people are willing to drop $3k, $10k, even $20k per person on a cruise.
Which makes me think: this isn’t going anywhere.
If anything, cruising is only going to become more widespread.
I just hope it can evolve to become more sustainable—because if this is the direction travel is heading, the planet is going to need it to.
Yikes! Seasickness is no fun (or so I’ve heard, I have a strong stomach at sea.) It’s great that you’re open to giving it another try.
I really appreciate you sharing your insider travel knowledge. Yes, cruising is so popular — with all ages and I can see that it is going to continue to expand. As you say, hopefully the industry will evolve their sustainability policies to keep up.
The good news: as cruisers we have a voice in supporting those lines / ships that are protecting - instead of poluting - our beautiful planet.
Indeed. I haven't had to make the choice between cruising, touring, or doing DIY trip as I'm grounded. But it'll be interesting to see what my choice would be for our next holiday.
You make an important point to note that all these cruise lines, on some metric or another, are a bit lacking. Floating around with thousands of people on the ocean cannot fail to cause problems. Not being a person who goes on cruises, from my perspective, they cause issues outside this study. Such as sudden congestion when they show up in a tiny port (two examples come to mind that I remember: Kotor, Montenegro and Roseau, Dominica). Also, the issues with these large ships pushing through the canals in Venice, causing accelerated deterioration of the docks due to wave pressure. And the tendency of cruise passengers to just walk around and not contribute to the local economy, because they are already paying for meals on the boat.
Thanks for reading, Brad, and pointing out additional issues with cruising. The industry has a long way to go to be considered sustainable.
I'm sure I sound really negative about cruises. I don't really mean to, they are great ways for people who don't want to deal with planning to go on vacation. My mom goes on them occasionally. But it seems like the industry just keeps getting bigger, with bigger boats.
No, you pointed out all valid points. Unfortunately, I think cruising will be the only way mom and I can continue to travel together internationally. So I'm looking at the options much more carefully now.
I think there are new cruisers (let’s say they started 10-15 years ago) who love the new bigger and bigger ships and there are the “oldies” who plan to the smallest detail and travel on the smaller ships. The latter group is being squeezed out. This is only from the UK perspective though. All my 25+ cruises have been from the UK. We used to live two miles from the UK’s main cruise port and could see many of the ships from our loft. Now we have an arduous 40 minute journey!
Hi Sharon - Wow! 25+ cruises. 🤯 It's true the cruising industry continues to evolve -- which is great -- now it can evolve into a more sustainable venture!
The cruise companies certainly need to look at the environmental impact - rather than just pay lip service to it - and passenger safety. It's going to sound snobby but we've given up sailing on ships where passengers get into fights (that would be P & O in the UK, part of Carnival).
Your article is great info, thank you!
Happy you found the information helpful, Sharon!
Beware the gloating Petri dish. Norovirus loves cruise ships. Hand sanitizer anyone?
True. There are a lot of germs on board! 🦠
Great information!
Thanks, Dana — I’m happy you found it helpful!
Well, this is all disconcerting. I mean, it’s not surprising, but it is a little scary. And important to consider, I now realize, whether we’re “travelers” or not. I’ve never really thought about the safety, health, and ethics of cruises. I’ll be continuing my own research as well. Thanks for researching and writing this! (Erin--I previously posted before finishing my comment and then deleted it, but you must have seen it and replied before it deleted! 🤷♀️)
No to worry, Kat! 😉 I’m happy we’re raising the level of consciousness about (all) the security & sustainability issues associated with cruising.
It's great you point this out, Erin, so one can be aware of possible perils and not let their guards down. In holiday settings or on vacation, it's important to remember to be aware.
Absolutely. As someone who teaches self-defense, situational awareness is the #1 way to avoid an assault.
As a sailor who has from time to time been in port cities that are frequented by cruise ships, I can attest to the airborne pollutants they spew out 24/7. We've been downwind from them on occasion and our boat gets coated in greasy black soot - the deck, the rig, everything. And to top it off, the exhaust smells like a deisel fuel + soup base + french fry cocktail. And then of course there is the discharge below the waterline, that you can't see.... 😬
We try hard to avoid ports where the big ships go.
And yes, Carnival Cruise ships are especially nasty.
Thanks for your first-person perspective, Linda. There are so many improvements to be made. Hopefully, building awareness of the extent of the problem and identifying the worst culprits are a start at redress.
There is much room for improvement. Agreed that raising awareness is a key first step.
Some places in Europe, as well as many Pacific islands, have banned the larger ships. When 3 - 5,000 people descend on a small island all at once it puts a tremendous strain on the island resources.
I also wonder about what must be a stupendous level of onboard waste from the food. Buffet style dining creates mass overage. And I kind of doubt that they are composting. 🤔
This is what the internet told me (unverified):
Cruise ships manage food waste primarily through on-board, industrial-strength processing rather than disposal at sea. Techniques include using bio-digesters to create liquid slurry, dehydration, incineration (using Micro Auto Gasification Systems), or offloading in port for land-based processing.
Good to know. Thanks Erin. I’m sure the incineration technique added to the layer of soot on my boat in Ensenada. hahahaha
What concerns me most is what happens out in the open sea and for those ships that don't "self report." 😧
All ok, Kat! Maybe just spend a few more minutes researching which cruise line to take, usually there're options with every sail.
A passenger on a cruise ship can emit approximately two to ten times more CO2 than someone who flies and stays in a hotel.
That was from Google. The numbers can easily be higher.
Thanks, Dudley - Love a factoid! Do you have a source for the stat? Would like to look into it more.