Cruises are once again in trend after many years of uncertainty and the COVID pandemic. The trend is back with a bang after all the restrictions dropped, and it’s here to stay. Cruises are becoming more and more popular these days as they give people the ease to travel to multiple destinations without having to worry about the logistics of how to reach those places.

Cruise companies are also trying to lure their customers into having a nice time. The trend is now one of the highest-growing tourist industries, with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) predicting that the industry will grow to 12% above pre-pandemic levels by 2026.

Meanwhile, the industry is facing a hard time in terms of sustainability challenges as it’s known for its carbon-spewing vessels, port over-tourism, oil waste, and excess waste production (spanning trash, grey water, and sewage).

Although the industry is making tall claims about its clean up act, with implementation of new technologies. But, can it be really trusted? Or, is it more of a simple marketing gimmick?

Issues concerning cruise ships

Credit: iStockWell, cruise ships are big! Some of the world’s largest ships are so big in size that you would have to see them to believe it. Not to mention, they’re only getting more massive, for example the gigantic Icon of the Seas.

Imagine a large cruise ship like that turning up in your local coastal town. Well, it might seem like a small city has landed at a place with a possible dearth of infrastructure to support it all.

Moreover, these ships come with all the amenities like supermarkets, cinemas, ice skating rinks, water parks and whatnot, and a degree in environmental science is not required to figure out that they can’t be environmentally friendly once they set sail. In this case, if you go by what researchers suggest, these cruise ships are bound to lead to increased pollution levels. Of course, science also fails to paint a pretty picture.

Studies conducted on this case

The European Federation for Transport & Environment conducted a study in 2022, which found out that cruise ships in Europe alone pumped out more harmful gases than 1 billion cars! As per the study, the ships emitted around 509 tonnes of sulphur oxides, and it’s interesting to note that this figure is up from pre-pandemic levels.

Another report authored by Dr. Ryan Kennedy concludes that the air quality on cruises is equivalent to a badly polluted city. This means anybody suffering from any kind of respiratory problem should definitely avoid this.

Then, a study headed by Dr Joseh Lloret, published by the Marine Pollution Bulletin, stated that the problems don’t end there. He found that not only is cruising polluting the water, air, habitat, soil, and wildlife, but the cruise ships are also a potential source of both physical and mental health risks to both land based residents as well as passengers.

All these sound damning; but thankfully, cruise industry leaders are making efforts to stress that all this is from the past, and are taking help of new and big techs to go green.

Are the ships actually going green?

Credit: iStockIn response to recent reports regarding the environmental impact by the cruise industry, Andy Harmer, who is the Managing Director of CLIA UK & Ireland, added that the cruise industry is strongly committed to continually improving its sustainability efforts. Also, the industry has pledged to make zero-emission vessels and fuels widespread by 2030, and achieve a goal of ‘net-zero carbon’ cruising by 2050.

This might sound great to the ears, but critics are not in the mood to buy this and they have more than one reason to do so. One of the largest cruise lines in the world (based on passenger numbers) has been caught dumping waste oil off the coast of Britain, dumping plastic waste in Bahamian water, and whatnot.

Needless to say, these are just tall claims as actions don’t exactly match their words. Critics have also pointed out that there are numerous so-called green technologies implemented on cruises, which aren’t as green as they first appear.

We need to wait and see if the cruise industry can really become environmentally friendly in the future; time will answer.