Thinking of taking a cruise vacation this summer? Cruise Ship Environmental Report Card

[liberal N proud]

Millions of Americans take cruise vacations every year. Yet, most travelers don’t realize that taking a cruise is more harmful to the environment and human health than many other forms of travel. The 2010 Cruise Ship Report Card lets vacationers decide which cruise to take based on a cruise ship or cruise line’s environmental and human health impacts.

Cruise Lines Sewage Treatment Air Pollution Reduction Water Quality Compliance Change From 2009 2010 Final Grade
Sewage Treatment

Has the cruise line installed on its ships the most advanced sewage and wastewater treatment systems available instead of dumping minimally treated sewage directly into the water? In determining a cruise line’s Sewage Treatment grade, we compared the number of cruise ships in the cruise line that have installed advanced sewage treatment systems against the total number of ships in the cruise line. Air Pollution Reduction

Has the cruise line retrofitted its ships with “plug-in” technology to be able to use available shoreside electrical grids instead of running polluting engines when docked? In determining the Air Pollution Reduction grade, only ships that dock at North American ports with shoreside power hookups (Juneau, AK; Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA; Vancouver B.C.) were graded. Water Quality Compliance

To what degree cruise ships violated 2009 water pollution standards designed to better protect the Alaskan coast. In determining the Water Quality Compliance grade for cruise ships operating in Alaska, we used the notices of violation issued to each cruise line by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for individual cruise ships. 2009 Cruise Ship Report Card


Holland America Line......B-
Norwegian Cruise Lines....B-
Princess Cruises..........C+
Cunard Cruise Line........C-
Disney Cruise Line........C- (Most Improved)
Regent Seven Seas Cruises.C-
Celebrity Cruises.........D+
Royal Caribbean Int'l.....D+
Carnival Cruise Lines.....D-
Silversea Cruises.........D-
Crystal Cruises...........F


Good information for those considering a cruise at link: http://www.foe.org/cruisereportcard

[wtmusic]

1. I kinda thought they all got an "F" nt

[daggahead]

2. Why can't these floating hotels ...

Use wind generators and solar panels to run their electricity while docked?

[Merchant Marine]

4. Too much power demand and too little square footage

Think about it.

[Statistical]

6. Also the sun decks tend to have people on them.

Who goes on a cruise to spend their days lying in the shadow of a PV solar panel?

[polichick]

3. Why in the hell do governments allow it? It's SICK beyond words!! nt

[Nihil]

5. For the same reasons as usual: money & corrupt politicians.

(cf MMS re offshore drilling ...)

[Merchant Marine]

7. I would wager to you that a cruise ship

burns less fuel/head/mile than an airliner, and is in-fact better for the environment than flying to a shoreside resort.

Unless of course you're railing against recreational travel in general.