Green Daily

Somewhere between the ice rink, the rock wall, and the dumping of a smorgasbord of toxins into the ocean, it hits you - this is way more than a cruise, it's an environmental catastrophe! While the automobile and aviation industries move grudgingly towards greener pastures, the cruise industry for the most part sails serenely along in its wasteful ways, littering its way across the seas, spewing tons of CO2, and hauling hordes of heavy-footed tourists into environmentally sensitive regions.

A recent story in the Telegraph found cruises to be the least green sector of the tourism industry, for a number of reasons. CO2 emissions for cruise ships are on average 3 times higher per passenger than those of airplanes, and none of the major cruise lines surveyed actually invest in carbon offsets. Another problem is that while cruise ships don't discharge raw sewage into the sea the way they did a few years ago, filtered waste continues to be dumped as long as ships are more than 12 miles offshore. A draft EPA study has found that even waste filtered through advanced treatment systems contains a mishmash of heavy metals and chemicals like chlorine, ammonia, copper, and zinc. Cruising is also contributing to the growing problem of habitat destruction - the Galapagos Islands, home to unique, exotic and endangered species, are now visited by 120,000 tourists a year, with most of them arriving by sea. Besides the standard tourist trash, the visiting ships can carry invasive species such as insects or rats, which could potentially have a devastating impact on the delicate eco-system of the region.

Is it all bad? No - the cruise lines are starting to get the message, and the bigger companies are starting to lurch into meaningful action. However, if you're planning a vacation, consider the planet and take a close look at the green credentials of your cruise provider before you book.