Cruise Forward: Cruise Lines & The Environment

Travelers are natural conservationists. Seeing the world in all its magnificence is one of life’s greatest pleasures. If the earth’s incredible variety of land and seascapes are degraded, so is our travel experience.

Travel and tourism organizations that rely on our planet’s splendors know that it is in their interest to protect the environment, and cruise lines are at the forefront of corporate environmental stewardship; after all, their business depends on healthy oceans, clean beaches and pristine destinations.

As a professional travel agent, I’ve had the privilege of helping my clients plan family getaways, romantic escapes, and bucket list itineraries. I love playing a role in creating vacation memories, and cruising is one of my personal favorite escapes to nature. Studies show the health benefits of spending time in the natural world, and a cruise promises the pleasures of being on the water.

And did you know that cruise lines are innovators in environmentally sustainable practices?

• While cruise ships comprise less than 1% of the global maritime community, they are leaders in developing responsible environmental practices and innovative technologies that lead the world’s shipping sector in reducing emissions and waste. Many cruise lines exceed environmental regulatory requirements in a number of areas.

• The cruise industry continuously looks for ways to reduce its impact on the environment and works closely with environmental regulators to protect air, oceans and ecosystems. For example, cruise lines are investing over $500 million in new technologies, and even more in cleaner fuels, to significantly reduce ships’ air emissions.

• No matter where on the earth they are, cruise line members of the Cruise Lines International Association must process all sewage through treatment systems in accordance with international requirements prior to discharge, and even then it’s only discharged many miles from shore. If you live in a coastal community, do you know how your municipality is treating sewage and how close to shore it discharges? Cruise lines exceed the practices of most water treatment facilities of coastal municipalities.

• Cruise ship waste management professionals recycle 60% more waste per person than the average person recycles on shore each day, recycling 80,000 tons of paper, plastic, glass and aluminum cans each year.

• In U.S. waters, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard oversee rigorous requirements on air, water, power, and waste, including provisions of the U.S. Clean Water Act. Environmental performance information is publicly and transparently available.

Engaging over the years with groups like Sustainable Travel International, the Ocean Conservancy and Conservation International, the cruise industry is fully committed to doing its part to preserve the oceans in which they will transport 23 million travelers this year, as well as the destinations they visit. It’s both the right thing to do and fundamental to the future of the industry.

With dozens of cruise lines and hundreds of itineraries to choose from, there’s something for everyone, and an experienced travel specialist can steer you toward the cruise for you.