Cruise Ships: A Dirty Business

Awareness of the cruise ship industry's pollution problem is shockingly low

Every day, a single cruise ship can produce the same emissions as 1 MILLION CARS

Many people see a cruise vacation as a chance to tune out the world, stop thinking, and enjoy some care-free leisure. But—to put it bluntly—cruise ships are terrible for the world. According to Forbes, a passenger’s carbon footprint triples in size the second they board a cruise ship. A study by research group Transport & Environment reveals that Carnival Corporation, just one cruise company, emits 10 times as much air pollution as all cars in Europe combined. Yes, you read that right: more than all cars. On top of the pollution caused by their exhaust fumes, cruise ships discard trash, fuel, and sewage directly into the ocean.

According to Faig Abbasov, shipping policy manager at Transport & Environment, “Luxury cruise ships are floating cities powered by some of the dirtiest fuel possible. Cities are banning dirty diesel cars but they’re giving a free pass to cruise companies that spew out toxic fumes that harm coastal communities." On a cultural level, cruises devastate local port economies, forcing local people to abandon their own businesses and conform to tourist-friendly industries devoid of culture. In other words, cruises are colonialism.

It's possible to clean up the industry. Shore-side electricity can cut in-port emissions, and hydrogen technology can power cruise ships. But the cruise industry doesn't care about the damage it's causing life on earth, so these measures must be legislated and enforced.

A fun week at sea? The planet pays the price.

Cruises & Coronavirus

Cruise ships have been in the news a lot lately for their central role in the spread of COVID-19. Cruise lines continued their operations long after experts called on them to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Time and time again, these companies put profits before people. Is our government holding them accountable? NO! — The Trump administration is now pushing to spend billions to prop up the cruise industry. Meanwhile, the industry continues to skirt labor regulations like minimum wage, and avoids paying taxes by offshoring operations.