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PART OF A SERIES OF RESEARCH BRIEFINGS WHICH PRESENT INTRODUCTORY SUMMARIES ON TOPICS OF INTEREST TO OUR MEMBERS

TourismConcern research briefing

Cruise – what’s below the surface? Research briefing 2016 • Helen Jennings & Kai Ulrik

Introduction Questions raised include: A short history Whether it’s by river boat on the • How much economic benefit The earliest ocean-going vessels Rhine or aboard one of the gigantic do passengers actually bring to the were not primarily concerned with destinations they visit, as on board that ply the , cruise passengers, but rather with the cargo spending demands and incentives that they could carry. By the mid-1850s, tourism is becoming ever more increase? popular. But is this form of tourism however, ships began to add a range of ethical and sustainable? Does it bring • What are the environmental luxuries in order to cater for passengers. impacts of massive cruise real benefits to local communities in Although often luxurious, ocean liners ships visiting sensitive marine nonetheless had shortcomings – such the places visited? environments? And how is the as a lack of passenger space – that huge quantity of waste generated According to Cruise Market made them unsuitable for cruising. Watch, under 4 million passengers during such cruises dealt with? Superliners – massive purpose-built worldwide went on cruises in • With many larger ships 1990, over 7 million in 2000, registered in countries where there floating designed to address and over 18 million in 2010. By is limited legal protection for these shortcomings – first appeared 2020 numbers are projected to employees, how are cruise workers in the early twentieth century, making increase to more than 25 million, treated? the 1920s and 1930s were an era of with nearly 60% of passengers from USA and around 25% from This report presents findings glamorous trans-Atlantic travel. These . The industry regards this from desk-based research aimed journeys ceased during World War II, growth as success, but elsewhere at answering these questions, and the advent of air travel after the there is mounting concern about particularly in relation to mass war dampened cruising’s revival. But the damaging impacts of a sector market cruise tourism. from the 1960s, ‘fun’ cruises growing so rapidly. increased dramatically, particularly in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Ships at the cruise terminal in Nassau, The extravagance and luxury of cruise packages, often for seemingly bargain prices,* has brought increasing numbers of customers since, with an estimated 2100% growth since 1970

* Many cruise lines now have a more resort- like fare structure, with low up front prices masking the a la carte purchases which increase the real costs on board.

Action for Ethical Tourism TourismConcern research report

Economic impacts bananas and other tropical fruits, of the major cruise companies are yet scarcely sells any to the many ‘transnational’– circumventing , Carnival Triumph and the visiting Although governments may benefit from taxes and sales of fuel, and some visiting cruise ships (Tourism national borders and manipulating St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, carrying nearly 9,000 passengers. local businesses can sell passengers duty free goods and local tours, Concern, 2015). local economies. (Robinson, 2003). limited time spent ashore and the provision of food, drink and other goods Even in the places where local For example Royal Caribbean – on board, mean that local people often derive little or no benefit from the produce is bought by the ships, the second largest cruise company thousands of passengers disembarking from cruise ships. prices paid are kept to the in the world (see box opposite) minimum by the bargaining – are based in , Florida, The extent of the economic benefit economy (CLIA, 2016/1). power of the companies. and yet sail under a Liberian brought to a particular destination However, the majority of local flag. The company does not offer by cruise tourism is debatable. businesses do not share the Passengers may also be given cruises to anywhere in Africa, let In theory visiting passengers buy economic benefits. And, even incentives to purchase tickets for alone to Liberia. However, the food, souvenirs and local tours at when purchases are made ashore, tours ashore whilst still on board. arrangement does mean that they on their cruise. In practice, there can be agreements between These can include money back pay very little in US taxes, which however, cruise companies can cruise companies and bigger local vouchers which, ironically, are may have helped the founder to limit the time spent ashore, and businesses which effectively shut only able to be spent on board! accrue a reported fortune of US$8 also encourage passengers to buy out smaller concerns. According to Brida & Zapata billion (Walker, 2012). It also goods on board. (2015) more than 50% of shore- means that Royal Caribbean is Many of the larger cruise ships based activities are sold on board accountable only to the far less The Cruise Lines International run their own ‘ship economies’ by the cruise companies, with local stringent labour and safety laws Association (CLIA) state that providing floating hotels that operators only receiving 25% to of Liberia, which has arguably cruise lines generated nearly satisfy most of the eating, drinking 50% of the full price. The same led to worse rights and conditions 1 million jobs in 2014 and and even shopping needs of the local operators are also forced to of employment for staff on contributed nearly $120 million passengers. Ships can carry all pay high prices to advertise their their ships. Such companies are Who owns the cruise ships? (£85 million) to the global the supplies they need on board tours on board. Those that can effectively floating ‘transnational The multi-national companies who run the industry have considerable power and often do so even where local afford to compete in this way tend corporations’. The 165m main promenade aboard Norwegian food is easily available. Costa to be the bigger local companies. and influence. cruise ship Color Magic, with restaurants, bars Rica, for example, is one of the Mexico, in an effort to gain a Host Resorts…. where? and shops that cater to every taste. biggest Caribbean exporters of The largest, Carnival Corporation, is a holding company that owns Carnival little more from cruise tourism, Some companies are even Cruise Lines (24 ships), (16 ships), (15 creating their own ‘dream resort’ is attempting to request a levy ships), Costa (14 ships), P&O Cruises (7 ships), Cunard (3 ships), Seabourn (6 of $5 per passenger (Brida, destinations: purchasing land, ships), AIDA (10 ships) and P&O Cruises (3 ships). 2015). Many other destinations and even whole islands, in order to reap all the profits from though are so highly dependent Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd is the holding company for: Royal Caribbean on cruise tourism that their passengers’ visits. International (23 ships), (11 ships), Pullmantur (5 ships), ability to negotiate reasonable Royal Caribbean for years terms of trade is restricted. The Azamara Club Cruises (2 ships), CDF Croisieres de (1 ship). promoted a resort named economic value of cruise ships to ‘’ on the island of Holdings Ltd has 13 ships in service and MSC Cruises governments and authorities, Hispaniola in the Caribbean. especially in small island states, has 12 ships. Sliversea has six ships, Fred Olsen Cruises four and Disney also Labadee is actually in , an creates competition for their visits has four ships. impoverished country that is which can lead to the lowering plagued with natural disasters, Source: Beyondships.com of taxes and the relaxing of political strife, and economic regulations, further reducing the depravation. Royal Caribbean benefits to local people of their to accurately advertise Labadee questions. Have transnational rents a strip of the coastline visit (Kingston, 2006). as being in Haiti. Carnival cruise companies become too from the government, and here Corporation is soon to follow in powerful? Should there be more Floating tax havens and passengers use their cruise ship Royal Caribbean’s footsteps to regulation on an international flags of convenience cards to buy everything they create their own private resort basis? To what extent is there will need. The landscape is fair competition? Do countries Just as there are problems on the Haitian coast (Tourism exploited and the Haitian people visited by cruise ships have any tracking the financial affairs of Concern, 2015). are completely excluded from real power to claim a fair share cargo ships sailing under ‘flags the economic benefits. It took a The way cruise companies of the profits of such tourism? of convenience’, so there are also considerable amount of public use their economic muscle to (Klein, 2005). concerns with cruise liners. Many outrage to even get the cruise line maximise profits raises numerous TourismConcern research report Caye Caulker villagers attributed a large stretch of debris off their shores to dumping by cruise ship traffic a few miles from the island in .

Environmental impacts (Guardian 2009). Sulphur resulting in discharge that often dioxide and nitrogen oxides are contains significant amounts of ‘Most travelers don’t realize that taking a cruise is more harmful to the also major contributors to acid faecal bacteria, heavy metals, environment and human health than many other forms of travel’ rain, which has acidified soils, and nutrients in excess of federal FOE, 2012 Cruise ship environmental report card. lakes and streams, accelerated standards (Hill, corrosion of buildings, and 2015). Encouragingly, though, Cruise tourism consumes millions much more than long haul flight reduced visibility. The quality improvements in new cruise ships of tons of fuel and produces emissions – regarded as hugely and age of a ship’s engine can include advanced wastewater waste including plastic, paper, furans and dioxins – both of almost a million tons of detrimental to the environment significantly alter the level of air treatment systems (CLIA, 2016/2). wood, cardboard, food waste, which are carcinogenic. and other waste each year. – which they calculated to be pollution emitted, however. From cans and glass (Klein, 2009). The Lighthouse Foundation, 0.257kg. These huge emissions are the late 1990s onwards some Many ships illegally discharge Cruise Forward claims that Damage to biodiversity which supports ‘integrated and due to ships expending energy on cruise ships have been using gas bilge oil (a mixture of water, oil, more and more such waste is and reef ecosystems long-term approaches in the a wide range of on board facilities, turbine engines which produce lubricants, and other pollutants being recycled (CLIA, 2016/2). Coral reefs are home to more relationship between humans including laundry, water treatment, far less sulphur and nitrous oxide that collect in a ship’s hold) Nonetheless, it has been estimated than 25% of all known marine and the marine environment’, refrigeration and air conditioning emissions (Klein, 2009). before entering a port, as this that every cruise ship passenger fish species. They provide states that a one-week trip of an (Tourism Concern, 2014). is cheaper than disposing of it produces approximately 3.5 essential spawning and nursery average Caribbean cruise liner Liquid waste – sewage, legally at the port (WWF, 2015). kilograms of rubbish daily, grounds, are a source of food, generates about 50 tons of solid In 2008, Carnival’s own bilge oil and chemicals A typical cruise ship with 3000 as opposed to 0.8 kilograms protect coastlines from erosion, environmental report stated that passengers can produce 15 waste, 7.5 million tons of liquid WWF describes cruise ships as generated by people on shore provide jobs and income, and its ships were releasing 712kg of gallons of toxic waste and 37,000 waste, 800,000 litres of sewage enormous floating towns which (Tourism Concern, 2014). are a source of new medicines. CO per kilometre on average, gallons of oily bilge water every and 130,000 litres of 2 are a major source of marine It is estimated that reefs provide or about 0.4kg per passenger per day. (Tourism Concern, 2014). Under MARPOL (the (Lighthouse Foundation, 2002). pollution – through the dumping around US$30 billion each year kilometer (based on an average of International Convention for of garbage and untreated sewage in goods and services (WWF, 1776 passengers). This is 36 times It is estimated that more than the Prevention of Pollution Greenhouse gases (GHG) at , and the release of other 2015). According to Ocean greater than the carbon footprint 300 million gallons of petroleum from Ships), no garbage can be – Energy consumption & shipping-related pollutants Planet, of 109 countries with of a Eurostar passenger, and more products reach the world’s discharged within three miles of Carbon emissions (WWF, 2015). coral reefs worldwide, 90 have than three times that of someone oceans each year, and nearly shore. Some cleaning agents and Despite improvements in the one-third of this comes from suffered damage from shipping travelling on a standard Boeing Although cruise ships are required food waste can be discharged environmental standards of newly marine transportation discharges anchors and waste discharge. 747 (Telegraph 2008). Many to have on-board waste treatment over 12 miles from shore. Food built cruise ships, old vessels unrelated to collisions and other passengers also fly to the departure systems, they can lawfully release waste can also be ground up and and Florida, two major still produce considerably more accidents (Hill, 2015). point for their cruise, further black water (toilet wastewater) discharged into the sea between cruise destinations, provide emissions per capita than other three and twelve miles, although increasing their carbon emissions. anywhere beyond three miles from Oil destroys the insulating shocking examples of how the forms of travel. Quoted in the even this can damage water shore (Klein, 2009). A large cruise properties of a seabird’s feathers, industry can negatively impact Guardian in 2006, the Climate quality and alter ecosystems – ship with 3000 passengers will allowing ice-cold ocean water on coral reefs. According to the Outreach Information Network by providing habitats for particulate matter generate 30,000 gallons of human to soak through to its skin Ocean Conservancy less than estimated that the Queen Mary II opportunistic organisms (Klein, Many cruise ships still burn waste a day (Tourism Concern, causing the bird to suffer from five percent of the reefs around was then emitting 0.43kg of CO2 2009). Since 2013, discharge cheaper bunker fuel – the remains 2014). The U.S. Environmental hypothermia and starvation. Jamaica are now alive, compared per passenger per mile. This is of most other garbage has been of crude oil after gasoline and Protection Agency (EPA) has Oil is also a poison that, when to 60 percent in 1982. ‘In the completely banned. distillate fuel oils are extracted found that many cruise ships ingested, can kill through either Florida Keys, one of the Western Hemisphere’s largest reefs is under through refining. On average, treat sewage with old technology, liver damage or blindness. Significantly, MARPOL does not ‘Environmentally speaking… ocean tremendous stress from the two bunker fuel has almost 2,000 have its own enforcement regime. travel can be a dicey proposition: A range of other chemical waste and a half million visitors who times the sulphur content of Heavy diesel smoke pouring from the Saga Instead it depends on active is generated by cruise ships – come each year to fish, dive, and every year, the industry consumes highway diesel fuel and is Sapphire cruise ship during a cruise in enforcement by nations where the for example cleaning agents, boat.’ About 90% of Florida’s millions of tons of fuel and produces therefore much more polluting to vessels are registered. It becomes chemicals for water treatment, coral reefs are believed to be dead. almost a billion tons of sewage. If the environment (Klein, 2009). meaningless if ships are registered and chemicals in refrigeration in countries that are not signatories insufficiently treated, exhaust and When docking in port, diesel equipment. Some of these In Grand Cayman, scientists to MARPOL, and is at best weak sewage from ships can fog the air particulates, along with emissions chemicals are toxic, persistent, and report that more than 300 acres even in signatory countries, given and pollute the water, potentially of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen bio-accumulative (WWF, 2015). of coral reef have been lost to the inconsistent enforcement across causing a host of ugly environmental oxides, can have a devastating cruise ship anchors, whilst a different jurisdictions. Norwegian Cruise Line destroyed and health effects that undermine impact on the health of local Solid waste – food 80 percent of a coral reef when it people. Research has suggested waste, garbage and Solid waste and some plastics the very natural beauty that cruise went aground in a national park that air pollution from the packaging are also incinerated on board. ships advertise to potential travelers’ off Cancun, Mexico (The Ocean world’s 90,000 ships kills at Cruise ships also produce a large Incinerator ash and air emissions Conservancy, 2002). The Guardian, January 2015 least 60,000 people each year volume of ‘non-hazardous’ solid from incinerators can contain TourismConcern research report

Rights and working conditions with different legal jurisdictions. of globalisation. Long hours, Fines and punishments may poor pay and a culture of fear Thousands of people from all over the world are employed on cruise ships. vary considerably for different cast a dark shadow over the five Yet the legal framework within which the ships operate may mean that pay ‘crimes’, and it can be impossible star experience of passengers and working conditions are far worse than for equivalent jobs ashore. for unions to protect all workers above ’ (Celia Mather, in such circumstances. The 2002). Crew and other staff registration of ships under the have few rights of appeal on For many employees, cruise Workers on cruise ships often also flags of different countries, each board ship and conditions have ships appear to offer work which face unfavourable working hours. with its own employment laws, been compared to the factory is simply an extension of the Ships are floating hotels in which further exacerbates this. conditions of nineteenth century hospitality industry. However, passengers have to be catered to England. On the worst run cruise despite recent CLIA claims that at all hours. There is therefore Enforcement & ships low wages, long hours, they ‘strive to provide a high- little scope to escape from the Regulation inadequate training, no job Jury awards 3.4m to a former cruise ship worker quality work environment for demands of the job. security and poor accommodation in compensation for fall from ladder [their] crew members’ (CLIA, International maritime law is have been documented by Mather 2016/3), terms of employment Flags of Convenience in theory well developed: it lays down rules regarding safety, and others. Rotterdam in 2014 (Walker, reports of racial and gender are often far less favourable, Cruise ships undoubtedly offer 2015). Unfortunately, with discrimination, bullying and and rights less clear, than for employment opportunities to labour requirements and rights, For workers in poorer parts and on environmental matters. fierce competition to encourage favouritism on cruise ships. equivalent jobs ashore. For some, relatively poor and unskilled of the world, the exploitation cruise ships to visit, it may be terms may be tied to a particular workers from all over the Whilst this should cover what starts even before they board Women in particular are happens in international waters, easier for cruise lines to cut ports cruise rather than the company, world. Inevitably this means the ship. They may have to pay considered too punctilious from discriminated against. They and based on short rather than that the crews and teams on enforcement is in practice recruitment agency fees, take out are often employed in the most extremely challenging. Ships their itineraries, than to improve long term contracts. Rates of any particular cruise are often loans, and cede many of their their compliance with local laws. menial positions and there have pay may also be lower than ethnically, culturally, religiously cruising around the globe are legal rights in the contracts that been reports of sexual abuse of constantly entering and leaving for similar work in hotels and and educationally extremely they sign, making them extremely Equal pay for equal work various kinds. A lawsuit brought restaurants ashore. Professionals mixed. Unfortunately this leads territorial waters which have very vulnerable. Some even have their against Carnival Cruises in 1999 Many employees work long hours on board – the captain and key to unequal rates of pay, poor different rules and conventions, passports taken from them as a revealed that 100 accusations of with little or no time off and for members of the crew, medical treatment of certain minorities, as well as approaches to condition of working on board rape and sexual assault had been less than the minimum wage. staff, entertainers or specialist tour and a lack of respect for rights inspection and regulation. It is ship (Mather, 2002). reported on their lines in just five According to the ITF, overtime guides and lecturers, for example and customs. There are also up to different countries and years (Walker, 2015). work is poorly remunerated and – will probably be better paid, but numerous reports of gender port authorities to ensure that According to surveys carried out wages range from just US$400 to even they may only be hired for discrimination. legislation is effectively enforced by the International Transport Lack of unions (Lighthouse Foundation, 2002). Workers’ Federation (ITF) in US$700 per month, out of which specific cruises (Coggins, 2014). Not until more countries The captain’s word is frequently 2002, 95% of 400 employees they are expected to pay for their Flying a ‘flag of convenience’, ratify ILO Maritime Labour Sweatships at sea. This image accompanied a regarded as law on board ship, questioned were working 7 days own uniforms’ (Tourism Concern, as the term suggests, enables Conventions protecting the CorpWatch report about Carnival Cruises paying particularly as ships move in and a week; over one third worked 2014). companies to register their rights of seafarers will the below International Standards, May 1st, 2012. out of different territorial waters up to 12 hours a day, while just In common with other hospitality situation be improved. A TV ships in any country they like, under a third worked up to 14 and entertainment employment, programme made for Channel 4 allowing them to choose those hours a day. No holiday pay workers’ remuneration is often in 2012 highlighted how cruise that offer tax advantages as was given and employees waited made up of a basic salary lines restricted the rights of well less stringent regulation. months for their next contract supplemented by gratuities. This workers to engage in collective Companies are able to recruit to start. Little to no sick pay was is rarely to the advantage of the action (Tourism Concern, 2015). staff under less stringent terms provided, maternity leave rights employees. When 150 Indian crew members and conditions, and are less were non-existent, and women accountable regarding safety. protested about low wages in were sacked on discovery of a In 2002 ITF and War on Want Many of the of the largest Cruise 2012, they were dismissed by pregnancy (Mather, 2002). found that cruise ship employees companies – including Carnival P&O, a subsidiary of Carnival, from the more developed Corporation, Royal Caribbean, Some countries have attempted and prohibited from working countries ‘enjoyed better and Disney – register to carry out inspections and on its ships again. (Walker, positions, better wages and in such countries, commonly enforce regulations pertaining 2016). Quoting a spokesperson working conditions’ than those Liberia, Panama or the Bahamas to working conditions, and to from the seafarers union, The from elsewhere. This affected (Walker, 2015). levy fines. For example, Royal Guardian says ‘ it’s a shabby who was employed above deck Caribbean International’s Oasis unacceptable practise to and who was employed in the Working Conditions: of the was fined 600,000 exploit cheap foreign labour…’ less salubrious conditions below euros for violation of Dutch (Guardian, 2012). ‘Many ships are a floating deck. Sadly there are frequent microcosm of the worst excesses labour laws when it docked in TourismConcern research report

What can be done? in recent years. Further toughening Friends of the Earth (FOE) have is planned. For example, IMO been raising awareness about the Positive steps forward? environmental impacts of cruise “Given that cruise lines trade on the pristine beauty of the places they visit, plans to reduce the amount of Significant improvements are being made to the environmental impact of some ships for several years. Until wouldn’t they want to do everything possible to preserve them?” Marcie sulfur allowed in ship fuel from new cruise ships. There are reports suggesting that new vessels may reduce CO 3.5% to 0.5% across the globe by recently they released a yearly 2 Keever, Oceans and Vessels Program Director, FOE emissions by as much as 90%, and NOX by 70%. Nonethless, older ships continue 2020. Cruise Ship Report Card, using information from CLIA – the to be used, or are being sold on to other companies. Cruises and the companies who Much of the pollution from However, in common with other world’s largest cruise association Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have formed Cruise Forward, operate them are not all the cruise ships is preventable, and international regulators, they are – to grade a number of cruise lines same. Some vessels are run more technology exists which can criticised for being too slow to on their commitment to sewage an information hub that aims to provide data about the industry’s systems of responsibly than others and significantly mitigate many of the regulate, and serious questions treatment, air pollution reduction, accountability, economic and environmental impact and commitment to the safety, significant imorovements are problems outlined in this report persist about who oversees water quality compliance, and health and wellbeing of guests and crew. They cite innovations including: being made to the environmental (see box opposite). enforcement of the regulations. transparency (see www.foe.org/ • Exhaust gas scrubber equipment to significantly reduce sulfur emissions. impacts of some new cruise cruise-report-card). In 2014, However, given the industry’s Similarly there are conventions ships. Nonetheless, surely all however, CLIA stopped co- • Energy-efficient engines that consume less fuel and reduce emissions. dismal environmental record, it under both the International operators should be expected operating with FOE. They claimed • Paint coatings for ship hulls that can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 5%. would be naive to expect cruise Labor Organization (ILO) and to minimise the environmental that although it ‘supports the lines to self-regulate. Real change IMO to legislate safety, and • Solar panels that capture clean energy for shipboard use. impact of their vessels, pay fair preservation of the oceans... [FOE’s seems to require legal compulsion. support fairer working conditions. prices for the goods and services report card] does not advance • Technologies that allow ships to “plug in” at ports where shore power is Equally, sustained consumer Notable conventions include the they commission, and to offer fair the public’s understanding in a available and further reduce fuel emissions. pressure can encourage the International Convention for the employment to all their staff? meaningful or objective manner’. strengthening of legal frameworks Safety of Life at Sea and the 2014 • Energy-saving technologies such as LED lights, tinted windows, higher In an article of January 2015, The whilst also creating a business case Maritime Labor Convention, efficiency appliances, and windows that capture and recycle heat. Guardian suggested that, although for the industry to improve. that requires ‘the certification In the USA... many of the cruise lines claim to • Heat exchangers that recycle hot water to heat cabins, as well as water of seafarer’s working and living examples of effective publish their own sustainability reclamation from various sources for non-potable uses. The issues described in this briefing conditions.’ As with human rights campaigning reports, they fail to be completely extend beyond the jurisdictional and labor law generally, individual • Recycled materials used during ship construction. In 2000, a coalition of 53 transparent. Although claiming to powers of a single country. Cruise countries are responsible for comply with legal guidelines (on Source: www.cruiseforward.org environmental advocacy groups lines operate under international holding cruise lines accountable sewage dumping for example) these petitioned the Environmental regulations and international to international requirements and maritime organisations have been standards are 35 years old and, Protection Agency (EPA) to take standards. Unfortunately, it has is benefiting the places you visit. Tourism Concern has a wealth seeking to address at least some according to FOE, fail to reflect regulatory action to address pollution proven virtually impossible to Transparency about the way of information on traveling of these challenges for some time. up-to-date understanding about by cruise ships. The petition called enforce domestic and international a company operates is a good responsibly and sustainably. Some were even established for the protecting our oceans. laws on cruise lines when they are indicator of whether a particular for an investigation of wastewater, purpose. in international waters. company is serious about its Make sure your travel purchases oil, and solid waste discharges from What you can do benefit local people. Investigate One such body is the International obligations. Check what flag the cruise ships. The agency agreed to There is surely an urgent need Tourism Concern’s advice is the activities offered at cruise Maritime Organization (IMO) ships sails under and try to ask study cruise ship discharges and for greater transparency and simple: consider whether you destinations and find out if you – a United Nations agency with them searching questions about regulation of the rights of should go on a cruise at all. Quite might be able to travel beyond waste management approaches and, responsibility for the safety and the issues raised in this report. workers on cruise liners. apart from the serious issues resort limits. in 2007, released a draft cruise ship security of shipping and the raised in this report, there is an Remember those below deck and discharge assessment report. prevention of Both as individuals considering a abundance of worrying feedback steer clear of any cruise line that International tourism can and by ships. It seeks to provide the cruise holiday, and as supporters In California, a protest by The Ocean from returning passengers and has a record for mistreating its should be a great force for good, global regulatory framework for of campaigning groups, we broadening travellers’ horizons, Conservancy and other groups resulted tourism watchdogs, including employees. the shipping industry, and claims should continue to press for more about the spread of sickness fostering cultural exchange, and in an agreement by Princess Cruises to champion energy efficiency, stringent regulation, improved aboard, safety issues, hidden There are several useful websites bringing economic development not to discharge wastewater while new technology and innovation, transparency and evidence of costs, and legal safeguards that are out there to help you make an to destination countries. Demand located in the Monterey Bay National maritime education and training, compliance. Some progress has significantly lower than you might informed choice. The following more of the cruise line industry; Marine Sanctuary. security, traffic management and been made, much of which has expect for an equivalent holiday are excellent references and there is a lot of room for the development of infrastructure. come about in response to public ashore. quick reads: Ethical Traveler, improvement. In Maine, a bill was introduced in As described in this report, criticism and environmental Friends of the Earth, Responsible March 2003 which made it one of MARPOL (the International campaigning. The box left shows If you do decide to go, pick your Vacation, Cruise Law News, And if you do choose to go the first states to prohibit ships from Convention for the Prevention how lobbying in the US has led to cruise line carefully and avoid the and the Business and Human on a cruise please report back on anything you experience or dumping any partially treated sewage of Pollution from Ships), which some positive change, particularly worst violators. Think about how Rights Resource Center, which was developed by IMO, has regarding regulation of the onshore your money is being spent and observe which might add to our or other wastewater in or around lists legal actions brought against strengthened its recommendations impacts of visiting ships. the extent to which your cruise companies. And of course, research. Portland Harbor. TourismConcern research report

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