BLOG COMMENTS RE: Eco-Cruising: Is There Such a Thing?

My mother is taking my family and me on a 10-day cruise to Alaska. It is not the way we normally like to travel, and I haven’t been on a cruise in a long time, but we are going to try it out. I am thinking that cruises are not the most eco-friendly way to travel and I am guessing that the cruise ship lines are probably pretty behind when it comes to providing services in an eco-friendly manner. However, I am keeping my hopes up and I may be pleasantly surprised. I have this negativity in my mind from news reports a few years back about cruise ships dumping their human waste and garbage straight into the ocean. So, on this cruise, I am going to take some green measures for my family (and I am going to put a bug in the cruise liner’s ear about how more customers care about conservation):

My first tactic is not to use any of the body care products provided by the ship which are most likely not eco-friendly or biodegradable. We will bring our own biodegradable body care products to use for showering and washing. I will even bring our own hand soap.

Next, we will probably not have our room cleaned for 3-4 days at a time, and we will re-use our towels and sheets until we are ready to get new ones.

Next, we will try not to buy bottled water. We will bring our own containers and try to find some good sources of water to re-fill them. I will also bring a re-usable shopping bag if there happens to be something we might want to buy at a port or gift shop.

Finally, we will try not to bring TO GO food back to our room for snacks to prevent food container waste. I will pack us some nice organic snacks to keep in our room for emergencies.

To bring about awareness for the cruise ship personnel, I will ask curiosity questions to staff about what steps the cruise lines are taking to recycle, conserve, and keep the ocean clean. I don’t plan to get bent out of shape or get in people’s face about these issues. I intend to bring it up in a respectful way and maybe the discussion will inspire them to help make changes. (My wishful thinking…..). Now, I am going to go read some articles about cruise lines and see if they are taking any steps closer toward greenification. Let me know what you know and I will update you soon with what I find out! Let’s discuss here...

-- Melinda


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well, here's something you may not know about me...i used to work on a cruise ship. Sort of a cross between Julie McCoy and Gopher. It feels like a lifetime ago and I'm hoping the industry has evolved significantly in green awareness, intention and practice, but here are some thoughts...

Snacks from home are always a good travel tactic. However, I bet you can take food back to your room on a tray with real plates with real utensils and real napkins. When you're done, leave it in the hallway (like hotel room service). I wouldn't want you to deprive yourselves of all the glorious (and copious) culinary delights!

It would be interesting to ask about what percentage of the food/drink is organic and local. Maybe talk to the Provisions Master or Chef onboard (they do the food ordering for purchases in ports of call).

Otherwise, I would direct your general staff discussions with the Hotel Manager. Also ask who you can talk (or write) to at their corporate offices as this is really where all the big policy changes/decisions happen. I think a follow up letter to this person after your cruise experience might have a broader impact.

Can't wait to hear about your experience!

Re: BLOG COMMENTS RE: Eco-Cruising: Is There Such a Thing?

I can TOTALLY see you as a Julie McCoy!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm anxious to hear your experiences. When we cruise on the big ships it seems they are so into crowd control that my voice isn't heard. I have, indeed, written to corporate and talked to the Hotel Manager, who are busy planning for the next group of people and hoping beyone hope that there aren't any folks on THAT cruise that are annoying.

On the other hand, I believe in my big green purse. A Board I sit on recently refused to allow a cruise ship line to be part of their events because of their dumping and disposal practices. When on board, I "subtly" (right) announce how I'm NOT making certain food choices because of pesticides, how I'm avoiding certain tours because they don't respect the people, the living creatures, or the environment. Does it make a difference?????? Only time will tell. It is a bit like the story of the person who threw a single starfish back into the ocean and when questioned what difference one starfish made, replied "it mattered to that starfish". Sometimes the reality is that it mattered to me. Perhaps one other person will be courageous to have it matter to them.

Re: BLOG COMMENTS RE: Eco-Cruising: Is There Such a Thing?

I'll admit upfront that I've never been on a cruise. But after reading your post (nana's) it made me want to ask, "Then why go on a cruise at all?" I get that change can come from within, but if we're talking with our big green purses (mine is actually small & black ;->), wouldn't contributing nothing at all to that industry speak the loudest? Or do you think big corporations are more likely to listen to their customers than to their non-customers?

Well, thank you Karen for your suggestions on how to get info. Unfortunately, I read your ideas after I am now back from the cruise. I found out some interesting info that I will share in my next blog. The industry has changed in the last say two years...(pretty pathetic timeframe-wise)

Anyway, as for not going on a cruise at all. That was an option ,however, I did have some strong parental pressure to do this along with a longing to see Alaska and the glaciers knowning I might never do it on my own....and it was a free trip for us. My green purse did not win out on this one....unfortunately. And sometimes, I just plain make bad decisions....

Blog you all later.

Re: BLOG COMMENTS RE: Eco-Cruising: Is There Such a Thing?

To be perfectly honest, I’ve never given any thought to cruises until this blog. So out of curiosity, I did an informal google search about cruises and the environment. I was very shocked at their negative impact on the environment. I had no idea what a disaster this industry is!

1. Dumping waste - There are legal dump zones and illegal dump zones. I was just shocked that there were legal dump zones. One site tried to explain they were “green” because they dumped their waste at least 4 miles from shore, often times 12 miles, while they could legally dump it two miles from shore. They also tried to infer this was a lot better because many cities along the coasts release their overflow right into the oceans at the shore. Wow! Do they not get that it still goes into the ocean whether it’s 2, 4 or 12 miles from shore. Is this another matter of if we don’t see it, we don’t think it’s a problem?? No wonder our oceans are dying.
2. Cruises produce 4.5 times more trash than that same number of people would produce on land. A cruise ship that carries 3,000 people produces as much sewage and waste as a mid-size city.
3. Cruises produce 3 times more CO2 than airplanes. Diesel engines spew out diesel exhaust equivalent to 10,000 cars each day per ship
4. Cruise ships us an insane amount of gasoline. Here goes: Given that cruise ships vary in size, they consume 10,400-26,000 gallons a day! They go an average of 18 feet per gallon. The Queen Victoria which holds 2,000 people uses 239 gallons per mile. An average ship carries 3,000 tons of fuel and will refuel at ports. They carry an average of 150 tons of marine gas oil consuming 12 tons per hour when at maximum output.

Is there are reason then, that carbonfund.org does not list cruises as an option to offset your carbon footprint.? Is that task impossible??

A few good websites I found are:

http://www.kahea.org/ocean/

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/01/22/cruise-ships-worse-for-environment-than-planes/

http://www.baycrossings.com/archives/2003/01_February/bay_crossings_environment_cruise_ships_blues.htm

This one is a must see! www.cruisejunkie.com
Visit the” pollution and environmental violations and fines” page!! (This guy has written a book, Cruise Ship Blues, mentioned in the 3rd website I listed.)

good grief! All this info you list here, makes me wonder if they were lying to me or if they have one of the better waste management programs. Blog coming soon. Hopefully, next week.