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The Global Cruise Industry: Cruising for an Environmental Bruising?

Back in the days when passengers on a cruise liner could be said to have been in 'God's Waiting Room', it would have been hard to envisage a time when over a million UK holidaymakers chose to take a cruise. But that is today's reality. The age profile of a typical cruise passenger has fallen and the sector has expanded rapidly in recent years. Special interest cruises are growing in popularity and there is even a niche for 'no frills' budget cruises, where the cruise ship is regarded as a floating low cost hotel. But how ethical are the business practices of these cruise operators? What is the environmental impact of the cruise industry's activities? How can we protect some of the most beautiful areas of the world, whilst encouraging business to flourish?

Going overboard

A drop in the ocean

	Just got back from the shoe shop; bought myself a pair of deck shoes.
			Deck shoes? What's wrong with flip-flops?
	I'm off on a cruise holiday, so I thought I'd better get some appropriate footwear.
			You? Off on a cruise? You'll be wanting a tuxedo too, for dinner with the Captain!
	Nah! It's not one of those posh ones.
			Ahh, a budget cruise then? Bring your own oars type.

What's available to potential customers of cruise holidays?

			Blimey, sounds like you won't be short of anyone to talk to!
	Yeah, I thought it would be a bit more exclusive than that.
			Where did all those cruise customers come from, then?

What's the size of the global cruise market?

			What's your cruise all about then? Whale watching off Alaska?
	No it's a short cruise in the Med for me.
			I dunno! Whatever happened to sharing a villa in sunny Spain with your old mate?
	You and your mates drained the pool and scared the maid away, that's what!
			All a big misunderstanding, that was. They were never justified in keeping our deposit!
	My deposit, I think you mean. You've never paid me that back. Anyway, I want to lay on a nice relaxing holiday for me and the family, but with enough to do of an evening for Charmaine and Dwayne.
			You're taking them? That'll cost you!
	Yeah I plan to, but Charmaine's paying her way from her holiday job and Dwayne's writing me an IOU. Something you should have done for me a while back.
			Enough already! Which company are you going with then?
	Not one of the big ones. There seemed to be so many different cruise companies. Can't remember which one right now.

What's the structure of the cruise industry?

			Bit of a carve-up, then; only three firms in control.
	Yes, it seems a lot less confusing to what I saw in the brochures. Anyway, all those firms with ships at sea, or on order, makes you think. Wonder what it'd be like to work on one of those?
			Dealing with a bunch of trapped tourists with too much drink inside them, complaining all the time. Not for me, ta very much!
	You're thinking about you and your mates on the ship! Seriously though, makes you think about how they organise daily life on a cruise.
			That's easy enough. Get up at midday; have brekkie, go to the bar; lunch; bar; afternoon nap; bar; dinner; bar; club; crash out. I think that sums it up nicely.
	Sounds like a normal day for you.
			I could handle it. Wouldn't want to work on one of those things though. They must take on loads of staff just for cleaning. Unless they just chuck it all overboard, that is.
	They wouldn't be able to do that. There must be huge bins full of bottles, paper and all that. Get them emptied when they're in dock, I imagine.

How do cruise ships manage waste?

			How do they get away with that then?
	You'd imagine there were laws against it.
			These major corporations can afford the fines, so they don't worry about behaving properly. Bet they're doing it wherever they sail.
	I can't believe there's no international law covering this sort of thing, though. It probably accounts for all that sewage floating off the coast in Cornwall. You know that pressure group that formed to protect surfers, who keep seeing the stuff when they're out on their boards.
			That puts me right off my fortnight in St Ives!
	As if you'd get anywhere near a surfboard!
			I dunno. They look quite comfortable to rest on to me.
	Hardly Rip Curl, though is it?

How is the environmental side of the cruise industry regulated?

			So these companies just say 'Yes I agree not to pollute' and that's it?
	Sounds a bit iffy, I admit.
			Well, that's really going to stop them chucking all their waste into the sea, isn't it?
	Don't have a go at me!
			What happens when things go wrong then?

Illegal discharge of waste into the sea: a case study

			Thinking again about your cruise?
	How do you fancy getting that villa again?
			I'll pay the deposit this time!

Activities and further sources of information