importance of cruise ship in tourism industry

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Home > Books > Tourism

Tourism Impact on Environmental Sustainability: A Focus on the Cruise Industry

Submitted: 29 June 2020 Reviewed: 07 September 2020 Published: 06 October 2021

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.93922

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The growth of the Global Economy and in particular the Caribbean Islands has been for the last two decades fueled by the cruise shipping industry. However, the growth in this industry gives rise to the expansion in ship size and the number of destinations. Unfortunately, the cruise line industry is responsible for the largest volume of waste, pollutants and destruction to marine lives when compared to other maritime industry sector. This chapter seeks to highlight the correlation between the industry and the growing global need for vibrant economies, a high quality of life, while protecting the environment and sustaining the world’s natural resources. A review of several literature has shown that within the last twenty years, the cruise lines have invested a lot of time and money correcting the negative environmental impacts created. Several proactive and green shipping initiatives designed to improve environmental management were successfully implemented by the industry. These diverse initiatives are group as follows: Research and Innovation, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Marketing, Awareness raising/environmental education initiative, and Green technologies. Emanating from these initiatives are: reduce or obviate of harmful environmental emissions and environmental management improvements and ultimately an environment that is experiencing an increased level of sustainability and economic activities.

• green technologies
• global economy
• environmental management
• dynamic positioning

Author Information

Kirkland robert anderson *.

• Economics, Management and Finance, Caribbean Maritime University, Kingston Jamaica, West Indies

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

1.1 overview of the cruise industry.

The Cruise Shipping Industry has evolved tremendously over the years. It experienced changes - from the era of transoceanic transportation and tropical vacations for the wealthy, privileged elites of society only, to the multimillion tourism and leisure industry today, offering affordable vacation options and comfort to match the average citizen. With the increasing growth of the cruise industry comes the expansion in ship sizes and the variety of destinations to meet the demand of customers. As such, the grandeur of the destinations, and their natural beauty are critical to the increasing demand. The cruise industry is definitely linked to environmental performance and compliance. However, studies show that the cruise line industry generates significantly more volume of waste and pollutants than any other maritime industry sector. The industry carries thousands of people around the world in just a single voyage and these people generate a lot of sewage, gray water, oily bilge water, solid and hazardous waste. Unfortunately, the waste is hazardous to the fragile marine environment. Even the least harmful substance can damage the flora and fauna in its surrounding [ 1 ].

With the high level of waste and pollution that is produced, comes the need to implement methods of sustaining the industry’s environment. The central notion of sustainability is that the goals of environmental preservation and the goals of business need not be disparate and conflicting. Throughout its history, the cruise industry has responded to vacation desires of its guests and embraced innovation to develop new destinations, new ship designs, new and diverse onboard amenities, facilities and services, plus wide-ranging shore side activities. Cruise lines have also offered their guests new cruise themes and voyage lengths to meet the changing vacation patterns of today’s travelers [ 2 ].

Shipping is indeed the most significant international transport substructure in the world. It fuels the Global Economy and helps in the development countries. The cruise industry has grown significantly over the last two decades . “In fact, between 2012 and 2017, it grew by 20.5 per cent with 2017 been a record breaking year of 25.8 million global ocean cruise passengers a 4.5 per cent increase over 2016, which had a record high of 24.7 million. This growth in cruise passengers results in both Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) member cruise lines added nearly 22,000 lower berths through six new ocean-going vessels in 2017.” Growth in the industry continues through exciting features, a more personalized guest experience, customizable onboard technologies, media initiatives including even television shows and movies to display what cruising offers [ 2 ].

2. Marine environment: international laws and conventions that governs its protection

International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the world most influential organization on the prevention and control of marine pollution. IMO is guided by international conventions, protocols, guidelines and recommendations such as the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and its annexes. Although, the International Maritime Organization does not have a set of regulations for cruise vessels, it provides requirements for ships, which have also become applicable to cruise vessels [ 3 ].

Annex I prevention of pollution by oil & oily water

Annex II control of pollution by noxious liquid substances in bulk

Annex III prevention of pollution by harmful substances carried by sea in packaged form

Annex IV pollution by sewage from ships

Annex V pollution by garbage from ships

Annex VI Prevention of air pollution from ships.

Sewages is defined by MARPOL 73/78 “as any drainage and other wastes from any form of toilets and urinals, drainage from medical premises (dispensary, sick bay, etc.) via wash basins, wash tubs and scuppers located in such premises” [ 4 ]. Sewage is known to contain harmful viruses, bacteria and pathogens, all of which are harmful to the well-being of human beings. Sewage is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which helps algal to grow much faster. The growth in algal reduces oxygen in the water and cause eutrophication which kills fishes and destroys the aquatic life at sea. In most cases of enclosed or semi-enclosed seas where the water exchange rate is slow and the discharge amount of sewage is high, the eutrophication is faster and harmful to the marine life [ 4 ].

MARPOL Annex IV regulates the discharge of sewage. Except in situations where the ship is at a minimum distance from the nearest land, or has in operation an approved sewage treatment. Furthermore, the discharge rule does not apply when ships are under the jurisdiction of a state which has less stringent discharge requirements [ 3 ]. MARPOL 73/78 has prohibited the disposal of Annex V (pollution by garbage from ships) within the Caribbean waters due to the fact that it consists of a sensitive ecosystem and heavy maritime traffic.

The cruise lines also emit ‘Gray Water’. This includes “drainage from shower, dishwasher, washbasin drains, bath and laundry. However, drainage from toilets, and urinals are excluded. Gray Water contains a mixed composition of different components such as; detergents, oil and grease, metals, organics, petroleum hydrocarbons, food waste, nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria and medical, dental waste. Gray Water represents ninety per cent (90%) of the total liquid waste generated by cruise ships [ 5 ]. Because of its high level of faucal coliform bacteria, and the oxygen-demanding materials, Gray water is dangerous for human and marine life [ 5 ].

MARPOL Annex V regulates the discharge of gray water and provides separate provisions for ‘Special Areas’. Solid waste disposal by cruise vessels has also been an issue, one that needs to be properly censored. Daily operations of the cruise ship generate solid waste in the form of packaging materials, food waste, transportation and storage products. Some solid waste can be recycled while others are non-recyclable. This can be very dangerous to marine life if they become marine debris. It will result in an alteration to the composition of the ecosystems, interference to gas exchange between overlying waters and benthos, degradation of quality at surface waters and beaches, physical injuries to humans and the ingestion of particles by marine animals [ 6 ].

MARPOL implements regulations for garbage disposals in order to mitigate gray water pollution and to achieve sustainability. One such regulation stipulates that ships of less than 400 gross tonnages should make entry of procedures in either the Garbage Record Book, or in the ship’s official log-book [ 5 ].

Finally, Annex III of the MARPOL convention elaborates on the Prevention of Pollution by harmful substances carried by sea in packaged form. This Annex makes provisions for the issuing of detailed standards on packing, marking, labelling, documentation, stowage, quantity limitations, exceptions and notifications. Annex 111, defines harmful substances “as those which are identified as marine pollutants in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), or which meet the criteria in the Appendix of Annex III.” Hazardous substances are said to be corrosive and toxic. These are produced from activities such as dry cleaning, equipment cleaning and photo processing. Other hazardous waste can result from paint waste, crushing of aerosol can, incinerator ash, batteries, pharmaceuticals and used fluorescent and mercury vapor light bulbs [ 7 ].

It is through the executions of these conventions that all vessels, including cruise ships will perform their daily operations keeping in mind that the marine environment is of utmost importance. Adhering to the rules and requirements of these conventions, environmental sustainability can be achieved and maintained [ 7 ].

2.1 Theoretical framework on sustainability

The International Maritime Organization, outlines sustainable development as a form of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It further states that, “it contains two key concepts: the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.”

Theories of sustainability attempted to prioritize and integrate social responses to cultural and environmental problems. There are different theories of sustainability, each prioritizing its own component of what must be sustained. The ecological model of the sustainability framework is essential to this literature, henceforth, this model alludes to biological diversity and ecological integrity [ 3 ].

Sustainability covers largely the environmental dimension of the triple bottom line (social, environmental and economics). On the one hand, some forms of environmental degradation are both relatively easily reversed and highly noxious in the present (many forms of air and water pollution) (Baker, 2016) [ 8 ]. It is a process that helps create a vibrant economy and a high quality of life, while respecting the need to sustain natural resources and protect the environment. It is based on the principle that future generations should live in a world that the present generation has enjoyed, but not diminished [ 9 ]. Ecological models propose means to sustain biological diversity and ecological integrity. Rather than focusing on opportunity or capital as the key unit of sustainability, they focus directly on the health of the world. There are two major ways of deciding which ecological goods to sustain. From an anthropocentric point of view essential natural resources should be sustained, as should those ecological systems and regenerative processes on which human systems rely. From an eccentric point of view, species should be sustained for their intrinsic value, as should ecological systems as generators of creatures with intrinsic value [ 10 ].

2.2 The importance of the cruise industry to the local economy

Since the last two decades, the Caribbean Region has been one of the most favored cruise destination. It accounts for more than a thirty- five per cent (35.4%) of the global deployment capacity market share. The region’s yields and ticket pricing continue to increase respectively, aided by a strong United States economy and consumer sentiment.

spending by cruise passengers and crew;

the shore side staffing by the cruise lines for their headquarters, marketing and tour operations

expenditures by the cruise lines for goods and services necessary for cruise operations;

spending by the cruise lines for port services;

expenditures by cruise lines for maintenance.

“During the 2011/2012 period cruise ship calls brought 15.44 million passenger visits and 2.7 million crew to the thirty -five participating destinations, which generated revenue of US $1.48 billion and US$261.9 million in spending respectively. In addition, cruise-related expenditures generated directly 45, 225 jobs throughout the studied destinations. Cruise generated jobs paid US$728.1 million in wage income to the residents. There is also increased job opportunities in areas indirectly related to tourism, due to the provision of new facilities. Local shops are replaced by new ones. the interactions between residents and cruise passengers results in the exchange of culture, it offers the residents the possibility of learning about the world, and explore new life perspectives ” [ 12 ].

Records demonstrated a substantial increase in all the above data during the 2014/2015 financial period. “ Cruise ship calls brought 23.63 million passenger visits and 4.5 million crew to the thirty -five participating destinations, which generated revenue of US $3.16 billion and US$302.2 million in spending respectively. Cruise-related expenditures generated directly 75, 050 jobs throughout the studied destinations. Cruise generated jobs paid US$976.5 million in wage income to the residents” [ 13 ].

In addition, tourism of which the cruise shipping industry is a large part has been found to be a significant driver in the creation of positive environmental externalities such as environmental care and the protection of nature [ 14 ].

2.3 Negative impacts of the cruise industry on the local environment

The previous section highlights the economic merits of the cruise lines to regional and global economies. However, it is worth reiterating that literature documents that the industry is most damaging to the marine environment. Impacts on the environment ranges from the construction of the port infrastructure to its operation [ 15 ]. Activities having the greatest impact on the marine environment include: discharge of ballast water; dredging and the disposal of dredged waste (spoil); physical damage to marine habitats by ships’ hulls (e.g. grounding); use of antifouling paints; noise emissions; disposal of waste materials and sewage; oil spills from routine activities or accidental incidents [ 16 ].

In order to facilitate the Royal Caribbean’s new mega-ships at the Falmouth Cruise Ship Pier, Jamaica, some thirty-five million (35,000,000) cubic feet of coral reef, and two square miles of mangroves was buried under the now pulverized reef material. Additionally, in order to accommodate the mega ships, the developers had to create a twenty chain-wide opening in an offshore barrier reef. Both living and dead coral were dredged, along with the rock substrate, after which the materials were taken inland by trucks to a two-square-mile dump site; situated on the outskirts of town that was once a thriving red mangrove swamp, to the demise of marine life [ 17 ].

Dredging is a port operations activity carried out so as to construct or maintain harbors, docks and channels. Dredged materials, or spoils, are either uncontaminated, if materials are dredged in areas remote from pollution sources, or contaminated if material is dredged from urbanized or industrial harbor in which there are heavy metals and a variety of organic compounds. The dredged materials are disposed of in one of three ways: on land; at or near the dredged site; or at sea. Therefore, there is no doubt that the impacts of dredging can affect the environments of both the port and ocean. The potential impacts of dredging include: “smothering seabed organisms; clogging fish and invertebrates’ gills; reducing the light available to plants; releasing nutrients and toxic trace metals from contaminated sediments; bio accumulating toxins from contaminated material in organisms and possibly the food chain; depleting dissolved oxygen in the water column; and reducing water quality” [ 18 ].

Interestingly, it is said that even the enduring boom of the industry has a negative impact on the environment of the cruises themselves. The more people that go on a cruise, the more ships will be sailing on the seven seas, thus generating even more waste, and causing more damage. The cruise ships carry large numbers of humans, and this generates significant piles of waste for which there is not much space. The regulation of waste disposal at sea is limited, partly because the cruise industry is not subject to the same environmental standards as land based industries and because it is hard to control or enforce [ 19 ].

The average cruise ship produces the following immense amount of pollution every day : “25,000 gallons of sewage from toilets; 143,000 gallons of sewage from sinks, galleys and showers; 7 tons of garbage and solid waste; 15 gallons of toxic chemicals; and 7,000 gallons of oily bilge water. These wastes, if not properly treated and disposed of, can be a significant source of pathogens, nutrients, and toxic substances with the potential to threaten human health and damage aquatic life. One simple example of the pervasive nature of this pollution is that a plastic bottle thrown overboard may take up to 400 years to break down, and during that time such pollution can move great distances and cause negative impact to marine life” [ 20 , 21 ].

Ballast water is critical to the safe and efficient operation of shipping, it provides balance and stability for the ships. The disposal of this water, pose a risk to the marine ecosystems as it results in the introduction of new marine species in other parts of the world. For example, in the 1980s, the disposal of ballast water in the Black Sea resulted in the introduction of new species such as zooplankton and fish-egg feeding comb jellyfish. Since then there has been dramatic changes in the pelagic system of the Black Sea, which impacted in a significant way the food chain, resulting in the collapse of commercial anchovy fisheries. The introduction of exotic marine species to the local marine environment, and the translocations of existing marine pests to new locations are major hazards associated with the discharge of contaminated ballast water. The establishment of exotic species can result in the alteration of an entire ecosystems and habitat and the extinction of indigenous species by predation or competition [ 22 ].

Cruise ships are insulated on the inside for noise and vibration. Unfortunately, there is no insulation on the outside, thus disrupting the communication and sonar of sea mammals. Research shows that the noise produced by ships can travel long distances, and marine species who may rely on sound for their orientation, communication, and feeding can be harmed by what is called sound pollution. Furthermore, wildlife collisions marine mammals, such as whales and manatees, risk being struck by ships, causing injury and death. “ For example, if a ship is travelling at a speed of only 15 knots, there is a 79 per cent chance of a collision being lethal to a whale ” [ 16 ].

A ship generally has a damaging impact on the oceans and its sea life. Ninety (90) countries worldwide have reported severe damage to their coral reefs due to anchorage, and sewage disposal. “ An anchor drop for just one day can destroy as much as 3100 square meters of coral reef. No doubt, it is extremely, necessary to maintain comfort and profit, while simultaneously decrease harm to coral reef. The cruise line has also impacted the air quality of the environment due to the fact that shipping has traditionally relied on heavy diesel fuels which result in the emission of significant quantities of pollutants. A large percentage of ocean liners run on giant diesel engines; this equipment, along with smaller auxiliary engines, can emit dangerous levels of Sulfur dioxide.” By curbing these emissions millions of premature, air pollution-related deaths could be prevented by 2020. This means that all players must take appropriate steps to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases and adapt to the potential impacts of climate change [ 23 ]. The world two larges ships ( Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas) , have been touted by the Royal Caribbean International as environmentally friendly ships, yet they burn bunker fuel, which is the dirtiest and most dangerous fuel in the world. This is essentially a tar-like refinery by-product in which the non-combustible particles blacken the sky and pose a major health hazard to everyone within a hundred-mile radius [ 20 ]. In order to prevent the discharge of wastewater into the sea, governments or its agencies must enforce the guidelines for the discharging of waste by ships stopping at its ports as was outlined at the Ballast Water Management convention, adopted in 2004. A number of guidelines have been developed to facilitate the implementation of the Convention.

The Convention will require all ships to implement a Ballast Water and Sediments Management Plan. All ships will have to carry a Ballast Water Record Book and will be required to carry out ballast water management procedures to a given standard. Existing ships will be required to do the same, but after a phase-in period [ 3 ]. Additionally sustainable environment can be further enhanced if the appropriate government agencies enforce green practices in all operations relating to transport such as minimize consumption of non-renewable resources to the sustainable yield level, reuses and recycles its components [ 24 ].

2.4 Sustainable practices employed by the industry and its major cruise lines

Sustainability in the cruise industry is a result of making optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity. The Sea Trade Insider made it absolutely clear that sustainable transport is recognized as one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. Whilst shipping is relatively safe and clean, compared with other transport modes, the industry does have a significant impact on the environment. Within the last few decades several proactive efforts to encourage environmental management improvements within the shipping industry were successfully implemented (Sea Trade Insider, 2010) [ 25 ]. These have been referred to as sustainable or green shipping initiatives, which are diverse, but can be grouped as follows:

Research and Innovation - these are initiatives which aim to reduce or eliminate harmful environmental emissions. It includes investments into research aim to develop new technological design for safer and more sustainable ships. R and I initiatives are divided into high and low investment for specific solutions, that could be applied to many ships in order to reduce their negative environmental impact.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Marketing – this area helps companies to integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis.

Awareness raising/environmental education initiative- this aims at encouraging environmental management improvements across the sector. Nonetheless, Green cruising might seem like an oxymoron for an industry that some say pays little attention to the natural resources that fuel its success, but it is indeed the path to achieve sustainability [ 25 ].

Green technologies such as solar panels, exhaust scrubber systems that help minimize emissions, advances in hull design that let ships cut through the water more efficiently, cooking oil conversion systems and energy efficient appliances are being incorporated into newly built ships and are also retrofitted into older ones. It is further explained that some cruise lines also collaborate with nonprofit organizations and government agencies to collect data about the ocean’s health and climate changes. Cruise lines continue to make important strides to improve their environmental policies. Some lines do so more extensively than others. Whereas, recycling, incinerating and waste-processing were cutting edge on cruise ships just over a decade ago, such processes today are basic and expected. The Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean, for example, are some of the most popular lines that make attempts in achieving sustainability [ 25 ].

The carnival cruise line has made steps in achieving sustainability, by offloads a multitude of materials (plastic, glass, aluminum, scrap metal, cooking oil, petroleum oil, toner cartridges, electronics, refrigerants and photo processing liquids) from its ships for disposal on land. Ships process and incinerate solid waste onboard whenever possible or send it to an approved shore side facility for treatment, recycling or disposal. Even oily bilge water is subjected to its own three-step engineering process. Furniture, linens, small appliances, kitchenware and clothing are some of the two dozen items donated to charities instead of sent to landfills [ 24 ]. There has also been a shift in the cruise line usage of eco-friendly detergents for its linens and dry cleaning, and developing a new, energy-efficient and non-polluting engine for its newer ships. The larger Carnival Corporation (which incorporates Carnival Cruise Line along with brands like Holland America and Princess) has installed exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) technology on 60 ships in its fleet as early as 2017; more than 85 vessels will be outfitted with EGCS by 2020. This exhaust gas cleaning technology utilizes a proprietary technology to remove the oxide of sulfur that come from combustion of fuels that have sulfur, is a win for the environment and a win for the company and the environment [ 25 ].

Carnival Cruise lines established a Health, Environment, Safety, Security & Sustainability Policy & Governance (HESSS). This policy drives the cruise lines commitment to environmental protection. Like other critical business matters in the cruise industry, assigning this policy and governance is of top priority to the cruise lines. Fuel is the primary source of energy consumed for ship propulsion and generation of on-board hotel power. “ As such Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Miracle use shore-power technologies while in port in Long Beach, California. By connecting to the Port’s electrical grid, air emissions are managed and regulated under the emission control requirements at the power plant supplying it. Unfortunately to date only five ports worldwide are currently utilizing this practice and there are an additional three ports with shore power projects under construction ” [ 26 ].

In additional to onboard policies employed by the cruise line, crew members also undertake various sustainability initiatives. Carnival Cruise Line employees regularly attend training sessions relating to waste management while on board. In collaboration with the International Sea Keepers Society, Carnival Cruise has installed scientific devices on four of its ships mainly; Legend, Miracle, Spirit and Triumph). The aim of these devices is to monitor ocean water quality and other climatic information. The data generated by this practice are shared via satellite with Environmental groups, various governmental agencies and universities worldwide. The data provided by the cruise line are analyze by the various recipients in order to determine; ocean pollution, climate change and weather patterns. Carnival Vista is the cruise line’s first ship to receive the ECO Notation designation from the maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register, which recognizes that the Vista exceeds current maritime environmental regulations. Sustainability efforts have also been extended to the passengers. The cruise line participates in beach cleanups and other community programs through its affiliation with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association [ 25 ]. Specially marked containers are placed strategically throughout each ship in the fleet in order to encourage recycling by cruisers. These designated bins are located in areas such as; steward stations, galley, crew areas, room service, pantries and bar pantries in order to collect items of food, glass, aluminum and plastic products [ 26 , 27 ].

“Disney Cruise Lines processed more than 1,900 tons of metal, glass, plastic and paper for recycling or reuse since 2014. All of the recyclables are separated and made ready for unloading in the ships garbage room. The Cruise Line used cooking oil from the galley which has been collected in special containers each week; and whenever the ship arrives in ports, the oil is taken to the backstage area and mixed, then used as fuel for small vehicles in the respective islands.” One hundred per cent of used cooking oil is offloaded and recycled each week, some of which is used to create biodiesel fuel for a fleet of vehicles in the Bahamas [ 25 ]. Other initiatives focus on energy, water-saving efforts and fuel efficiency [ 15 ]. Excess heat from power generators is rerouted to power evaporators that help turn seawater into drinkable water. Even the condensation from air-conditioning units is reclaimed and reused to wash the decks, saving more than thirty million gallons of freshwater each year. On Castaway Cay, which is a private Bahamian island owned by Disney, solar panels are used to heat water for their crew members residing there. The ships are also equipped to plug into shore power, whenever it’s available in port [ 25 ]. Results depict that the utilization of renewable energy in logistics operations will reduce emissions, improve; the health of citizens, environment and economic growth [ 28 ].

All four ships used the service of onboard environmental officers who oversee shipboard recycling and waste minimization efforts. The officers also supervise shipboard environmental safety programs for crew. Furthermore, Disney encourages cruisers to help conserve water and energy by reusing bath towels, and to recycle with marked bins provided in staterooms and on deck. The line also shows a “Behind the Waves” video series that educates passengers on the line’s various environmental practices and ways in which they can assist in helping those efforts during their voyage [ 24 ]. Passengers and crew members are asked to support the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, which provides support for the study of wildlife, protection of habitats, development of community conservation and education programs in critical global ecosystems. Additionally, the fund provides special grants to connect children with nature. The fund has raised an amount exceeding US$45 million, which was used to support more than 330 nonprofit organizations in 115 countries worldwide [ 26 , 27 ].

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has improved substantially its environmental performance. “They qualified for both ISO14001 and ISO9001 certification, which established an environmental management plan. Ships also have environmental managers aboard and environmental training for all staff, requiring them to be able to explain the environmental policies to all guests” [ 26 ]. The cruise line is currently using Dynamic Positioning on two of its vessels ( Oasis of the Sea, and Allure of the Sea ), which is a new alternative for anchors. Oasis of the Seas, which can accommodate 5400 passengers is powered by liquefied natural gas fueled engines. These engines are equipped with pollution scrubbers that completely eliminate all Sulfur emissions, cut nitrogen oxide emissions and CO2 by more than 20%. It is one of the first cruise ship to have a large tropical park filled with thousands of plants and natural features [ 27 ].

The Royal Caribbean Cruises family, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara participate in an above and beyond compliance policy, geared toward optimized environmental practices. This includes the Save the Waves Program, which, at its core, employs an advanced wastewater purification system that treats wastewater onboard to levels that regularly exceed international standards. The company recently introduced a line of designated sustainable shore excursions, in partnership with Sustainable Travel International, which highlight outings that emphasize destination stewardship and sustainable tourism [ 24 , 25 ]. Over the past five years, the major cruise lines have spent an average of US$2 million dollars per ship in order to upgrade vessels with better systems for dealing with waste management and emissions. Decades ago, the cruise industry paid very little attention to the environment. Today cruise lines have made a 180 degree turn. They are now spending large amounts of time and money cleaning up their act, and in essence are helping to bring sustainable practices to a wider group of players in the travel industry [ 27 , 29 ].

3. Conclusion

The International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships (IMO)

The Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty (UNCLOS)

The international treaty for the prevention of pollution from ships, 1973, as modified in 1978 (MARPOL 73/78)

In the final analysis, this chapter gives a clearer understanding as to how the cruise shipping industry impact environmental sustainability. However, this chapter is limited to the fact that a larger per cent of the information garnered is over five years old. It is therefore, the desire of the researcher to pursue future studies in the area by the analysis of primary data. The outcomes of such study will assist policy/decision makers both public and private to establish and implement plans that will environmental sustainability a concern of the past.

Acknowledgments

I would like to say thanks to God Almighty for His physical and Spiritual strength. Thanks to my wife Juliet and daughter Kristen for their continuous support and to my final year students who assisted me with information.

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© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Responsible Tourism: Can Cruise Ships Deliver Sustainable Travel?

Welcoming a record 29.7 million passengers in 2019, the cruise industry caters for a significant number of travelers each year and is one of the most popular ways to vacation ( Statista, 2021 ). While the COVID-19 pandemic saw passenger numbers plummet, the industry is experiencing a steady resurgence, with 96% year-on-year growth in 2021 ( Nilson, 2022 ).

Like all travel operators, cruise lines are consistently looking for ways to increase bookings and meet passenger expectations, and the rising popularity of responsible tourism and sustainable travel presents new and exciting opportunities for cruise lines.

What Is Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Travel?

Responsible tourism.

Responsible tourism can be described as, “making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit ” and the responsible tourism definition was laid down in the Cape Town declaration as travel and tourism which:

• “minimizes negative economic, environmental and social impacts;
• generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry;
• involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes;
• makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world's diversity;
• provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;
• provide access for people with disabilities and the disadvantaged;
• is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.”

Sustainable Travel

Sustainable travel has a broader definition and typically refers to transportation methods that have zero, minimal or reduced negative environmental impacts. A sustainable traveler may choose to explore their destination on foot, by bike or using an electric vehicle, rather than relying on fossil fuels, for example. Similarly, sustainable travel incorporates the transportation methods people use to facilitate a vacation or trip. Traveling by boat can be a more sustainable option than flying due to the reduced carbon emissions, for example.

Although the terms ‘responsible tourism’ and ‘sustainable travel’ are often used interchangeably, there are distinct differences between the two. In general, however, both responsible tourism and sustainable travel are concerned with reducing and eliminating environmental damage and enhancing our surroundings.

How Popular is Responsible Travel and Sustainable Tourism?

There are lots of factors to consider when making travel-related decisions but sustainability is becoming increasingly important amongst consumers. At the Travel Weekly Sustainability Summit, Google reported a 70% rise in the number of searches for sustainable travel options in 2021 yet 37% of survey respondents ‘do not know how to make their travel choices more sustainable.’ ( Travel Weekly, 2021 ).

Similarly, research published by digital travel company, Booking.com, confirms that 81% of the 30,000 travelers surveyed cite sustainable travel as ‘important to them’ and 71% want to travel more sustainably in the next 12 months. Crucially, 51% of respondents view ‘lower-to-no CO2 transportation emissions as a key element of sustainable travel and 40% actively look for sustainability information when booking transportation ( Booking.com, 2022 ).

With the ecotourism industry forecast to grow significantly in upcoming years, reaching a value of $333.8 billion USD by 2027 ( Statista, 2021 ), it’s clear that sustainability is becoming a key decision-making factor for consumers. As a result, transport and travel companies can not only capitalize on the rising trend of responsible tourism but must increase their sustainability efforts if they are to fulfill customer demand.

How Sustainable is the Cruise Industry?

The shipping industry in general accounts for 2.89% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ( IMO, 4 th GHG Study, 2020 ) but the cruise sector is estimated to produce just 0.2% of global CO2 emissions ( Global Sustainable Tourism Dashboard, 2018 ).

While tourism-related transport produces 1,597 million metric tonnes of CO2 per year, it is air transport that produces the most CO2 in relation to international travel and cars which produce the most CO2 in terms of domestic travel ( Statista, 2021 ). However, this is likely to be due to the increased number of people traveling by plane or car in comparison to ships.

In fact, various studies have shown that cruising can produce more pollution than flying, based on ‘per passenger’ calculations ( Geeky Explorer, 2020 ). The Global Sustainable Tourism Dashboard, in conjunction with Griffith University, estimates that a cruise ship passenger accounts for 0.82 tonnes of CO2 emissions ( GSTD, 2018 ), while a passenger taking a round-trip economy flight from Sweden to London accounts for 0.289 metric tonnes of CO2 ( ICAO, 2022 ) and a passenger taking a round-trip economy flight from France to New York is responsible for 0.664 metric tonnes of CO2 ( ICAO, 2022 ).

The data collection, methodology and route obviously have a bearing on the accuracy of ‘per passenger’ calculations but there’s no doubt that the shipping industry can, and should, enhance its environmental performance. In fact, many cruise ship operators are already embracing responsible tourism and making sustainable travel a reality:

Sustainable Travel Companies: Virgin Voyages

Determined to deliver an ‘Epic Sea Change For All’, Virgin Voyages is already increasing shipping sustainability and is well on its way to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Offering luxurious cruises to sustainable travel destinations in Europe, the Caribbean, the South Pacific and elsewhere, Virgin Voyages’ ships are designed and built with sustainable travel in mind. 

Complete with Climeon HeatPower modules to generate clean, onboard electricity, Virgin Voyages is embracing the opportunity to promote responsible tourism, both at sea and on shore. 

Learn more about its operations and find out how cruise ships can become more energy efficient, take a look at our Virgin Voyages case study now.

Can Cruise Operators Deliver Sustainable Travel?

The decarbonization of the shipping industry and the increased demand for eco friendly travel points to a pivotal moment for cruise ship owners and operators. With 83% of travelers maintaining that sustainable travel is important, a cultural and worldwide shift in the way we view travel and tourism appears to be underway. In response, travel companies must increase their sustainability to fulfill demand for responsible tourism options.

When surveyed, however, global travelers cited the cruise sector as making the least effort to be sustainable ( Statista, 2021 ), which could significantly damage the industry as sustainability becomes an increasingly important decision-making factor for travelers.

So, can the cruise sector become more environmentally friendly and deliver truly sustainable travel options and, if so, how?

The cost of maintaining vessels throughout the COVID-19 pandemic meant that many companies chose to retire ships early, rather than continuing to finance them. As a result, more new-build ships are in production or at sea. While new vessels aren’t necessarily more environmentally friendly, they have the potential to be much more sustainable. By incorporating energy saving and emissions reducing technology, like marine waste heat recovery, into the ship’s design, new-build cruise ships can be far more eco friendly and, therefore, provide a more sustainable option for passengers.

EEDI, EEXI and CII

Along with the entire shipping industry, the cruise sector is under increasing pressure to meet strict environmental regulations. Applicable to the new-build vessels, the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) is a measure of technical efficiency that mandates how efficient a vessel must be by design. Similarly, the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) applies to existing vessels and ensures that current fleets are optimized to increase energy efficiency.

In contrast, the incoming Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) measures ‘CO2 emitted per cargo carrying capacity and nautical mile’ and is an operational measure of energy efficiency. This, along with other requirements, such as a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), will be used to enhance operational performance in relation to energy efficiency, thus requiring cruise ships to sail in a more energy efficient manner.

As owners, operators and design houses are forced to comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations in a bid to fulfill the IMO’s decarbonization goals, shipping is set to become more sustainable. Due to this, cruise travel will inevitably be more environmentally friendly than it has been in the past, thus giving passengers an added incentive to explore the world by sea.

New marine Technology, or ‘MariTech’, is consistently delivering new innovations, many of which are helping to reduce GHG emissions throughout the industry. Climeon’s HeatPower 300 Marine system is one example of marine technology that improves onboard energy efficiency, reduces fuel consumption and cuts carbon emissions. Our maritime waste heat recovery (WHR) system captures and repurposes the waste heat that’s produced on board a vessel and transforms it into carbon-free electricity, which supplies power to the ship’s generators and, therefore, reduces fuel consumption.

To learn more about Climeon’s HeatPower system and discover how waste heat recovery can increase shipping sustainability, download our White Paper, ‘What is Heat Power and how can it increase energy efficiency in the shipping industry?’ now:

Low-Carbon Fuels

While zero-carbon fuels aren’t expected to become available in the marine industry until at least 2030, low-carbon fuel represents a viable opportunity to reduce shipping emissions. However, low-carbon shipping fuels are unlikely to deliver a holistic solution to the maritime climate crisis.

From cost-intensive engine modifications to increased methane emissions and increased storage requirements, the widespread use of low-carbon fuels is not as straightforward as it may seem. Despite this, the transition from heavy fuel oils (HFOs) to low and zero-carbon alternatives, such as LNG, LPG or biomass, could enable cruise operators to offer more sustainable travel options.

Sustainable Travel Example: Viking Line

Operating in the Baltic region, Viking Line has seven vessels traveling between Sweden, Finland and Estonia and transports approx. 6.6 million passengers every year. 

Eager to increase energy efficiency, reduce emissions and make sustainable travel more accessible, Viking Line commissioned Climeon’s HeatPower modules for an existing vessel, Viking Grace, back in 2015. 

Following a successful retrofit installation on Viking Grace, Viking Line chose to install Climeon HeatPower modules on board its new vessel, Viking Glory, too. Now, Climeon’s HeatPower system is generating enough clean electricity on board Viking Glory to fulfill 40% of passenger operations - making Viking Glory one of the most climate-friendly cruise ships in the world.

Find out more about how Climeon is increasing sustainability in shipping with Viking Line in our case study.  

Making Shipping More Sustainable

The decarbonization of the maritime industry has been mooted for decades but a confluence of factors now makes sustainable shipping more achievable than ever before. As demand for responsible tourism soars, increasing regulation requires reduced emissions, vessels are retired in favor of new builds and new MariTech becomes operational, shipowners face an unprecedented opportunity to increase energy efficiency and make shipping a leading form of sustainable travel.

To find out how Climeon HeatPower  is helping to decarbonize the industry, take a closer look at our world-leading technology or get in touch with our team today:

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What Is the Role of Cruise Ship Industry in Tourism Industry?

By Michael Ferguson

Cruise ship industry is one of the most important components of the tourism industry. Cruise ships provide an amazing way to travel and explore different destinations while still enjoying the comfort and luxury of a floating resort. Cruise ships are like floating hotels with a wide range of amenities and activities, perfect for those who want to get away from it all and simply relax at sea.

The cruise industry has grown significantly in recent years, with more people taking advantage of its unique offerings. Cruise ships are now offering everything from nightclubs and casinos to shopping malls, spas, and even private villas. These ships also offer a variety of onboard entertainment options, ranging from live music performances to movie screenings.

Cruise lines are also offering a range of accommodations for passengers, including luxury suites, family-friendly cabins, deluxe accommodations, and budget-friendly cabins. Some cruise lines even offer specialty meals that cater to specific dietary requirements or preferences. With so many amenities available on board, it is no wonder why many people choose to take a cruise as their preferred form of vacationing.

The cruise ship industry also plays an important role in promoting tourism in various destinations around the world. Many cruise lines partner with local businesses or organizations in order to create experiences that will draw visitors from around the globe.

By providing exciting activities at each port of call, the cruise industry encourages more people to visit these areas and explore what they have to offer. This helps promote economic growth in these areas as well as increase cultural awareness among travelers.

One of the most unique aspects of the cruise ship industry is that it provides an opportunity for people from all walks of life to experience something new while still enjoying the comforts and luxuries they would normally find on land-based vacations. Cruise ships can be used as a way for families or groups to bond over special experiences while still getting away from it all without having to worry about transportation costs or accommodations expenses that can come with other types of trips.

In conclusion, the cruise ship industry plays an integral role in promoting tourism by providing luxurious amenities and exciting experiences at every port of call while simultaneously supporting local economies by creating jobs for staff members aboard each vessel and partnering with local vendors throughout each destination visited by travelers on board these vessels.

Conclusion: The role played by cruise ship industry in tourism cannot be overstated; it provides an amazing way for travelers to explore different destinations while still enjoying luxurious accommodations and amenities found on board these vessels. The industry also plays an important role in promoting tourism in various destinations around the world by creating experiences that will draw visitors from around the globe as well as helping stimulate economic growth through partnerships with local businesses/organizations found at each port visited.

7 Related Question Answers Found

What is the role of travel agencies in the cruise ship, what is the profile of cruise ship industry, what is the future of the cruise ship industry, what is the profile of the cruise ship industry, how much is the cruise ship industry worth, what is the importance of cruise ship, what is the purpose of cruise ship, backpacking - budget travel - business travel - cruise ship - vacation - tourism - resort - cruise - road trip - destination wedding - tourist destination - best places, london - madrid - paris - prague - dubai - barcelona - rome.

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Counting the Cost of COVID-19 on Global Cruise Ship Industry

• First Online: 20 September 2020

Cite this chapter

• Godwell Nhamo 3 ,
• Kaitano Dube 4 &
• David Chikodzi 5  

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The cruise ship industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism sector. In 2019, the industry transported over 30 million passengers across the world, creating over 1.11 million jobs. In as much as the industry plays such a significant role to global and regional economies, it remains vulnerable to a cocktail of challenges, including disease outbreaks. The chapter documents the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global cruise ship industry. Secondary data and document analyses were the main forms of data collection used, while content and thematic analyses were used to analyse the data. The results showed that the COVID-19 outbreak imposed both economic and human costs to the industry. The outbreak decimated the industry, which saw the value of shipping companies’ stock falling by up to 80% in March 2020, with major sources of revenue shut due to the suspension of cruises. With no bailout packages in many instances, the industry faced bankruptcy and imminent collapse. COVID-19 also left the industry facing several criminal investigations and lawsuits due to passenger infections on board. Some ships were denied access to ports and medical facilities on land due to fear of spreading the virus. Those that got access were not allowed disembarkations, with passengers often quarantined for days or weeks. This resulted in additional infections, trauma and psychological stress of the passengers. Probably the biggest loss the industry has incurred is reputational damage, and this has had the potential to impact negatively on its ability to recover after the COVID-19 shock. Through improved public health standards, aggressive marketing and the offering of massive discounts, the industry has the potential to rebound from the COVID-19 disaster. These stand out as the chapter’s key recommendations.

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Vera, A. (2020). Major cruise lines suspending operations at US ports for 30 days over coronavirus pandemic. CNN . Retrieved from www.cnn.com/travel/amp/cruise-line-suspensions-coronavirus/index.html . Accessed 9 Apr 2020.

Webeck, E. (2020). Grand Princess Passengers sue cruise line for negligence over COVID-19 outbreak. The Mercury News . Retrieved from www.mecurynews.com/2020/04/09/grand-princess-passengers-sue-cruise-line-for-negligence-over-covid-19-outbreak/amp/ . Accessed 10 Apr 2020.

Woodyard, C., & Hines, M. (2020). More the 90,000 cruise crewmembers left to battle coronavirus – At times without pay. USA Today . Retrieved from www.usatoday.com/amp/2959362001 . Accessed 5 Apr 2020.

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Nhamo, G., Dube, K., Chikodzi, D. (2020). Counting the Cost of COVID-19 on Global Cruise Ship Industry. In: Counting the Cost of COVID-19 on the Global Tourism Industry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56231-1_6

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What does sustainability mean for the cruise industry and how can this be achieved in light of the impact the pandemic continues to have on the cruise industry? What is the future of cruise tourism?

Following the COVID-19 caused shutdown in early 2020, the cruise industry began a return in early 2022 and over-optimistically expects to be back to normal in 2023. The restart was slow, and not without difficulties caused by the lingering effects of the pandemic. However, as requirements loosened for cross-border and international travel, passengers returned and cruise tourism gained momentum. The challenge now for cruise tourism post-pandemic is for all industry partners to benefit from the return of cruise ships and cruise passengers.

The resumption of cruise tourism coincides with cruise corporations’ renewing their commitment to sustainability. It is difficult to guess what this means, given that it was 2002 when the corporations first proclaimed their commitment to sustainability. But what does this word mean for the cruise industry? Answering this question requires a broader view. Cruise corporations (and the lines and ships they operate) are just one partner in the creation of cruise tourism. Others include governments, non-governmental organisations (including those representing cruise industry interests), ports, businesses and vendors. The list could go on, but it is of greater value to realise the complexity of each of these groups or segments. A port of call, for example, includes diverse interests, each with its own view of sustainability. The port authority, which collects port fees and operates the physical port, may have a different view of sustainability than citizens concerned with preserving the destination’s environment or sociocultural elements. The sustainability of bringing 10,000 or more passengers to a port will be viewed quite differently by a cruise line than by diverse segments comprising the port of call.

One way of disentangling the differences is to use the term responsible tourism . Responsible tourism brings to the forefront the question ‘Sustainable for whom?’ Sustainability for a cruise corporation emphasises the balance sheet. The goal is to increase revenue while reducing costs. The losses during the pandemic were obviously not sustainable. But there is more than the balance sheet. Carnival Corporation, as one, has historically performed poorly when it comes to social responsibility and labour. The London Times [1] , in a 2004 corporate profile of Carnival Corporation, rated the company relatively high on share performance (9/10), fat-cat quotient (8/10), future prospects (8/10) and strength of brand and innovation (7/10), but relatively low on social responsibility (3/10) and attitude towards employees (4/10). Being responsible would likely be reflected in a more balanced profile. For a start, they could increase wages, be more vigilant in reducing emissions and treat ports more equitably.

Responsible tourism introduces a moral component [2] . It is a question not just of cruise line revenues and costs but also of the revenue and costs to the community and its constituents. The costs and benefits to a port of call may be economic, sociocultural or environmental. Responsibility asks whether the core of cruise tourism—the port of call—is treat fairly and equitably. Sadly, no exemplars stand out, although some companies (e.g. expedition cruise ships, small operators) are more sensitive and responsive to local communities than the large corporate operators, which together constitute more than 95 percent of cruise ships. On the flip side, the state of Alaska has been proactive in regulating environmental practices, as well as economic relationships with ports.

Responsibility and health

The post-pandemic era provides a good illustration of divergent views of sustainability. Fewer restrictions on cruise passengers and on onboard labour is good for the cruise operator’s bottom line but does not necessarily demonstrate responsibility to ports of call. Prior to a cruise ship visit, a port should be informed of the vaccination status of all passengers and crew, and a full account of all illness reports recorded in each of the previous 10 days. That allows the port of call to be informed of potential risks posed by the visit. It is notable that the first cruise ship scheduled to visit Canada in 2022 had its port calls at Vancouver and Victoria cancelled because of a Centers for Disease Control investigation of a COVID-19 outbreak [3] . The ship, Ruby Princess , reported 253 cases of COVID-19 in five weeks [4] .

The flip side is the cruise industry’s perspective. Though transparency may be the moral thing to do, responsibility to stockholders requires a public relations machine that makes invisible the scale of COVID-19 on cruise ships. They want to reassure passengers of the safety of cruise ships. This tact was taken when waves of Norovirus undercut the perceived safety of cruise vacations; the strategy was described in detail at the 2003 World Cruise Tourism Summit [5] . Bad publicity is bad for business. At the same time, transparency to passengers and to communities can have positive public relations value. Online reports as recent as May 2022 reveal that passengers are unable to receive full information about COVID patients onboard.

Another illustration is revealed around medical emergencies on cruise ships. Medical facilities are limited, so medical emergencies must be debarked in a port or have a medical evacuation. This is sustainable for the cruise line—it offloads responsibility for the ill passenger, including liability, and it minimally impacts the ship’s itinerary. From another perspective, the question is where these ill passengers end up and at whose expense. Is there cost to the port where passengers are left? Yakutat, Alaska, sought to charge cruise lines because of the demand on the town’s emergency services—its only ambulance was often used for cruise ship emergencies, which made it unavailable for local emergencies. Ships never made a port call at Yakutat—passengers were transferred by tender and left behind. The cruise lines refused to pay the levy, and subsequently an amendment was added to the Maritime Security Act prohibiting the levy [6] . While this may be a unique situation, it draws attention to the need for cruise lines to be more sensitive to the communities on which they depend.

Responsibility and labour

Cruise ship labour illustrates another way sustainability may diverge from responsibility. It is cost-effective for cruise lines to employ workers, often from developing countries. They are immersed into a hierarchy with clear lines around race, culture, gender and authority (sexual harassment and sexual assault are long-standing and persistent problems [7] ). The standard employee contract requires a 77-hour workweek and can continue for 10 months without a day off (the length often varies with skin colour or country of origin). The salary for many is less than $2 an hour. Though mandatory gratuities and service charges have increased significantly over the past 20 years, the incomes received by workers have not. Pay scales need to be more equitable and fair, and workers should be represented by a traditional-style labour union (with grievance rights). If wages kept pace with the Consumer Price Index, a worker earning $500 a month should earn $850 today. That is not that case.

Cruise lines have also limited worker rights of grievance and their protection of health and welfare through arbitration clauses inserted in employment contracts [8] . This followed a period where most major cruise lines were sued by workers for unpaid overtime—discovery in the Princess Cruises case revealed a baker working 19 hours a day—8 hours unpaid overtime every day. It also showed different pay scales for workers from different countries, even when filling the same work role.

These labour practices are sustainable for the cruise line. If asked, the industry unapologetically says workers take their jobs freely and can leave anytime they want. That may be true, but the situation appears quite different through a lens of responsibility. Take one example told to me by a musician who had just lost his job with Norwegian Cruise Line. The cruise line fired all Hawaiian musicians playing Hawaiian music on ships in Hawai‘i, replacing them with Filipino musicians playing Hawaiian music. The Filipino musicians cost less, worked more hours and appear Hawaiian when dressed in Hawaiian shirts. Most passengers knew no different, but to the native Hawaiians the cruise line was not behaving responsibly. Similarly, Princess Cruises in 2019 apologised for cultural insensitivity after cruise ship employees posed in New Zealand as Maori performers with careless scribbles on their faces and wearing skirts not reflecting Maori culture [9] .

Responsibility and the environment

The cruise industry says its ships meet or exceed all international environmental regulations. This is meant to be reassuring, but there are two problems. First, though Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has mandatory environmental regulations for member cruise lines, it has never punished or fined a cruise line for violating these regulations (even those found guilty of felony offenses). A CLIA vice president was asked about this in a community meeting in Rockland, Maine; his response was that they had ‘pull[ed] the company aside and given them a stern talking’. That attitude did not further the industry’s desire to be viewed as leaders in sustainability. The local community was not reassured.

The second problem is ambiguity as to what it means to ‘meet or exceed international regulations’. That there are no international regulations around greywater (4,000-passenger ships produce more than 1.5 million litres of greywater every day) should raise concerns for ports since greywater can be legally discharged virtually anywhere in most jurisdictions. Incinerators are similarly not regulated when at sea, even though incinerators onshore are regulated. And though many cruise ships have advanced wastewater treatment systems, the systems do not always operate as promised and their discharges are often exempt from limitations or regulation [10] .

The Ocean Ranger Program in Alaska was a good strategy for ensuring that cruise ship practices and promises correspond, and that discharges into coastal waters meet water quality standards. Alaska’s experience, as the only jurisdiction worldwide to monitor cruise ship discharges and enforce regulations, demonstrates that cruise ships often fail to meet water quality standards. Violations of air quality standards are also enforced through local observers. Enforcement positively impacts cruise ship behaviour.

Another approach is reflected is a recent port-led initiative in the Pacific Northwest. Ports, governments and cruise lines are working to form a ‘green corridor’ where cruise ships traversing the coastal waters of British Columbia and Alaska would operate without fossil fuels by 2050 [11] .

Responsibility and ports of call

Ports of call are a critical element in cruise tourism. Ports significantly contribute to passenger satisfaction. They are also a huge source of cruise lines’ income and profits through shore excursions, shopping programs, ownership of cruise terminals and much more. The responsible cruise tourism lens asks whether economic benefits are equitably distributed to all segments of a tourist destination and whether negative sociocultural and environmental impacts have been minimised. The perception of sustainability or responsibility is vested with stakeholders involved in and impacted by the development of tourism products. Thus, when considering the economic benefits of cruise tourism the focus may not be on income derived from cruise tourism but instead on the degree to which economic benefits are distributed equitably between the cruise line and port and among the stakeholders and segments of society in the port. The cruise line’s goal is to retain as much of the income as possible.

Belize provides an illustration. Passengers arrive by tender at Fort Street Village in the centre of Belize City. The village is contained by a wall and security fence and has within a range of shops, eateries and bars, many of which are found in other Caribbean ports. The retail space is expensive, so few local merchants can afford it; there is a small crafts market for them in another area, but the rents again are significant. The merchants have some income, despite heavy overhead costs; they do better than merchants outside given that few cruise passengers venture independently from the village. Most passengers take shore excursions from which the cruise ship takes 50 percent or more of the price paid by a passenger. A passenger expects a $50 product, but the shore excursion provider receives less than $25. The excursion provider is challenged to provide a quality product while still retaining a small profit. It is of mutual benefit for shore excursion providers to receive a higher payment—they can upgrade their product and elevate passenger satisfaction, but pressure from cruise lines is usually to reduce costs.

Cruise lines similarly pressure ports to keep port fees low. Many ports have been unable to significantly increase head taxes for decades. That doesn’t serve the port. A port fee in 1990, keeping pace with the Consumer Price Index, should have more than doubled by 2022. A $10 port charge in 1990 would equitably be $22.69 in 2022. Cruise lines and ports have divergent interests in seeing these fees increase.

People pollution is another concern for ports of call. This refers to situations where the number of tourists or visitors exceeds the comfortable carrying capacity of a port community, such as when cruise ships collectively disgorge tens of thousands of passengers in a port at one time. Overcrowding has implications for the community and for the experience of passengers. As regards the latter, visitors don’t have an opportunity to interact with and to experience local culture; local cultures may be treated disrespectfully. The sheer volume of cruise passengers compromises the experience of all. On ‘cruise days’ in Belize, for example, locals warn land-based visitors to avoid Xunantunich, one of the country’s main Mayan sites visited by cruise passengers. Passengers’ experience of the sacred site is limited by the short time spent and by the overwhelming number of other cruise passengers sharing the small site. Cruise days are especially busy for the operator of the hand-cranked bridge that crosses the river to get to the Mayan site (quaint when crossing in a single vehicle on a lazy day), and for some craftspeople selling wares at the crossing point, but most passengers stay in safety on their air-conditioned bus and are whisked someplace else. Ideally, cruise lines would work with port communities (and with each other) in itinerary development. Rather than force a port to be proactive and place daily limits on cruise passengers (as has been done in Key West) or on cruise ship size (as in Venice), it would better for cruise lines and communities to find mutually agreeable solutions.

The challenge for cruise tourism post-pandemic will be for all industry partners to benefit from the return of cruise ships and cruise passengers. Cruise corporations want to return to profitability; the major lines all increased service fees (gratuities) and bar prices in 2022, and they are likely to put more pressure on ports of call. The challenge for ports and their constituents is to treat cruise tourism as a business, the way the cruise corporations do. They need to not only get their fair share but also enough benefits to make cruise tourism worth it. A clear business model is needed with targets for income and methods to offset costs.

Ports need to maintain self-esteem [12] . They may benefit from working cooperatively with one another [13] , a strategy the cruise industry has thwarted in past. In any case, they need to meet cruise lines (and those who speak for them) as equals. A cruise ship needs a port to fill its itineraries, which gives the port a degree of power. The port needs to know its value to a cruise line before it begins negotiations. Too often ports (and their constituents) rely on cruise lines and cruise line representatives for data on such things as passenger spending even though these industry-supported experts often overstate the economic benefits of cruise tourism. A study of cruise passenger spending in Halifax, Nova Scotia, revealed that the cruise industry had significantly and systematically overstated passenger spending [14] . The lesson is that port communities need to do their own independent research, and to enter negotiations from a position of strength, based on facts and realistic expectations. Ports also need to engage in inclusive consultation with all involved with and/or impacted by cruise ship visits—this is often the case in smaller communities in Alaska and the Canadian North.

—–

[1] London Times , Corporate Profile no. 104, 16 February 2004, 22.

[2] R.A. Klein, “Responsible Cruise Tourism: Issues of Cruise Tourism and Sustainability,” in “Cruise Tourism: Emerging Issues and Implications for a Maturing Industry,” special issue of Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management 18 (2011): 103–12.

[3] S. Little, “Start of Cruise Season Delayed as First Planned Arrival in Victoria Is Scrapped,” Global News , 2 April 2022, https://globalnews.ca/news/8730681/vancouver-cruise-cancelled-covid-19/.

[4] N. Diller, “Princess Cruise Ship Has 253 Coronavirus Cases in 5 Weeks,” Washington Post , 27 April 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2022/04/27/ruby-princess-coronavirus-outbreaks/.

[5] R.A. Klein, Cruise Ship Squeeze: The New Pirates of the Seven Seas (Gabriola Island, BC: New Society, 2005).

[6] Klein, Cruise Ship Squeeze .

[7] R.A. Klein and J. Poulston, “Sex at Sea: Sexual Crimes on Cruise Ships,” Journal of Tourism in Marine Environments 7, no. 2 (2011): 67–80.

[8] R.A. Klein, “Are Current Regulations Sufficient to Protect Passengers and the Environment?,” Testimony before US Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Hearings on Oversight of the Cruise Ship Industry, 1 March 2012.

[9] D. Jones, “Princess Cruises Apologizes for ‘Cultural Insensitivity’ after Employees Pose as Maori Performers in New Zealand,” Washington Post , 3 December 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2019/12/03/princes-cruises-apologizes-cultural-insensitivity-after-employees-pose-maori-performers-new-zealand/.

[10] R.A. Klein, Getting a Grip on Cruise Ship Pollution (Washington, DC: Friends of the Earth, 2009).

[11] H. Bernton, “A Cruise Ship ‘Green Corridor’ in the PNW? Ports Make Pact over Carbon Emission Goals,” Seattle Times , 20 May 2022, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/a-cruise-ship-green-corridor-in-the-pnw-ports-make-pact-over-carbon-emission-goals/.

[12] R.A. Klein, “Playing Off the Ports: BC and the Cruise Tourism Industry” (Vancouver, BC: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2005).

[13] Klein, “Playing Off the Ports.”

[14] B. Kayahan, R.A. Klein and B. VanBlarcom, “Overstating Cruise Passenger Spending: Sources of Error in Cruise Industry Studies of Economic Impact,” Journal of Tourism in Marine Environments 13, no. 4 (2018): 193–203.

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State of the Cruise Industry report

Press Release | April 09, 2024

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has released its 2024 State of the Cruise Industry report. This year’s report includes the release of 2023 passenger volume, which reached 31.7 million— surpassing 2019 by 7%.The report also shows continued demand for cruise holidays, noting intent to cruise at 82%. The forecast for cruise capacity shows an increase of 10% from 2024 through 2028, as cruise lines make ongoing, concrete progress in pursuit of net- zero emissions by 2050.

Other highlights include the forecast for cruise capacity through 2028 and a summary of the 2024 – 2028 cruise orderbook, as well as the latest cruise trends, which include.

• The number of new-to-cruise is increasing – 27% of cruisers over the past two years are new-to-cruise, an increase of 12% over the past year.
• Cruises are a top choice for multi-generational travel – with more than 30% of families traveling by cruise with at least two generations and 28% of cruise travelers traveling with three to five generations.
• Expedition and exploration are the fastest-growing sectors of cruise tourism, with a 71% increase in passengers traveling on expedition itineraries from 2019 to 2023.
• Accessible tour excursions are on the rise—with 45% of cruise passengers booking an accessible tour for their most recent cruise.
• 73% of cruise travelers say that travel advisors have a meaningful influence on their decision to cruise.

Read more  here .

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Nanaimo anticipates tourism boost as cruise ships return

I t's all hands on deck in Nanaimo, B.C., with cruise ships set to return to the Vancouver Island city for the first time since 2019. 

The Port of Nanaimo announced last week that the first cruise ship of the year, the Seabourn Odyssey, will be docking in Nanaimo on May 9. A second ship, the MS Regatta, is scheduled to arrive at the docks on Aug. 26. 

The Seabourn Odyssey will bring up to 450 passengers to Nanaimo, while the MS Regatta carries approximately 830. 

"We've got the space. We've got the availability. Our residents are keen to see the ships here and welcome the tourists," said Andrea Thomas, manager of engagement, content and cruise development with the Port of Nanaimo. 

Thomas says the current focus is on bringing smaller ships to Nanaimo. She says the port is working with a tour operator to put together day excursions so guests can explore the central island and visit areas like Cathedral Grove and local wineries. 

Mayor Leonard Krog says bringing ships back to Nanaimo is a positive economic development.

"Two cruise ships in a year is very good. But much like Oliver Twist, I think it's fair to say we want some more," said Krog. 

Tourism and local business impacts 

The cruise dock and terminal were built in 2011, with the goal of welcoming 25 to 30 ships each year.

But in the years leading up to 2019, only a handful of ships stopped each year as the port worked to establish Nanaimo as an option for cruise lines.

Before the pandemic forced the cruise industry to grind to a halt, 2020 was set to be one of Nanaimo's busiest years, with seven cruise ship stops booked. 

Ships were not allowed to return to Canada until 2022. 

Thomas says it's estimated that each passenger spends approximately $84 once off the boat — meaning that the two cruise ships combined could bring in just over $107,500 to the central island.

"It's a huge impact for the local economy from a tourism perspective," said Thomas. 

"Passengers get off cruise ships, and they've got money burning a hole in their pocket, and they want to spend it at our local businesses."

Kierra Maher, owner of Newfoundland to Nanaimo, a souvenir boutique located on Nanaimo's harbour walk, said the ships have a big economic impact, particularly for waterfront businesses. 

"The tourists really enjoy our waterfront so having the cruise ships be a part of that makes it that much richer for all of us," she said. 

Maher added that it would be good to see more investment in the area, such as buses that connect to downtown and the waterfront, more eateries and more places to sit and relax.

Shared dock with Hullo Ferries 

Despite the lack of cruise ships in recent years, the dock hasn't been standing empty.

Hullo Ferries, which has been offering foot passenger service between Nanaimo and Vancouver since the summer of 2023, has a lease agreement with the port and has been using the dock and the welcome terminal. 

With cruise ships set to return, Hullo Ferries and the port are working out what operations will look like when there are docking conflicts.

On May 9, Hullo will be cancelling sailings. Vancouver Island Ferry Company (VIFC), the company behind Hullo, says they are working with the port for long-term solutions and ways to maintain services during future dockings, including the Aug. 26 docking later this summer. 

"We're delighted to welcome the return of cruise ships to Nanaimo, anticipating the significant boost it will bring tourism in our community," read the statement from VIFC. 

Tourism training program aims to empower Inuit to guide on Inuit land

Cultural guide in industry warns of tour operators who tokenize inuit.

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A cruise expedition training program is working to bring more Inuit into leadership positions for trips showcasing Inuit land and culture. 

Expedition cruises are a popular way to see Arctic landscapes around northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Iceland but industry guide Jason Edmunds says the Inuit who live there aren't often involved in guiding those trips. 

That's why Edmunds — an Inuk from Nain, Labrador, now living in Mississauga, Ont. — developed a training program to empower Inuit to become involved in the tourism industry and take ownership over how Inuit knowledge is shared on their land.

"Once I moved down south and I started working with southern organizations that were working in the Arctic, you start to see how little Inuit are involved, and if they are involved it's not overly in leadership positions," he said. 

Edmunds first ran the program as a pilot project in 2017 through Parks Canada and now runs the program through Adventure Canada.

Many of the certifications required to work on cruise ships are only available from the south and with the cost of travel, very difficult to get, he said. When the program started, it was a way to bring those certifications opportunities north but it's now grown to include preparing to be a cultural guide.

"So we started to really focus on support. How do you actually go into this educational context where you're going to be a minority but representing the land that you're traveling on," Edmunds said.

"The amount of emotional capacity you have to have behind it with very little support behind that position makes it a very challenging position. But often the difficulty is not recognized from southern or white individuals or companies."  

Lois Suluk is a graduate of the program.

Now she's been hired to work as a cultural speaker on a ship for a cruise company this fall. She'll also be helping guests with excursions on the land. 

She says it's important for Inuit to represent Inuit land.

"I believe in Arctic Inuit land sovereignty, I believe in that a lot and if Inuit were to frequent more of the land that we don't normally travel to or visit … it will be more apparent that we are Inuit [and have] sovereignty."

For anyone coming into the industry, Suluk says to be wary of hiring tourism operators who tokenize Inuit workers. 

"Make sure they treat you like an employee, and not like someone just to gain access to Inuit land," she said. 

The program starts with an in-class portion in Iqaluit and ends with each participant on a placement with a cruise ship. 

The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) helps organize those partnerships and, in an email, said interest from operators always exceeds the number of available candidates. 

Applications close on April 12 and the Iqaluit portion of the training starts on April 29. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Natalie Pressman is a reporter with CBC North in Yellowknife. Reach her at: [email protected].

• Follow Natalie Pressman on Twitter

With files from Elena Akammak

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