cruise line geography

• Geography of cruise ships

Geography of Cruise Ships

Cruise ship holidays have become a part of global geography and are also big business!

Cruise ship holidays have become are part of global geography and are also big business!

It is difficult to give an exact number to the size of the global cruise ship fleet because there are many of different sizes and locations. There are small ones on rivers like the Nile, Rhine and Danube and huge ones on the oceans, but an estimate would be more than 300 ocean vessels and thousands of smaller river boats and touring yachts.

Old style cruise ships, or 'liners', were narrower-shaped and more boat-like for big ocean crossings, for example the QE2 which carried 1600 passengers, seen here on her last voyage in 2006.

New style ships like this one in Bergen Harbour, Norway, can carry over 2000 people - a floating town - and there are even bigger ones like the wrecked Costa Concordia with 3700 guests! Each ship has hundreds of cabins, verandas and windows; some have water parks and even ice rinks! They tend to concentrate their travel in tours of particularly attractive coastlines.

The Costa Atlantica

So is this tourism all good news for the places they visit and the planet?

The Global Honey pots for Cruise Ships

Geographers use the term 'honey pot' to describe popular tourist destinations that cater for large numbers of visitors. The term is usually applied to small places, like a national park visitor centre in the Brecon Beacons, but some international coastal areas have attracted millions of tourists.

Can you identify on this world map the names of the popular rivers and coastal / island cruising attractions?

Flash Player Required

Of course some cruises go all round the World or all around the Pacific Ocean - these can visit over 100 places and take 115 or more days- one third of a year on the cruise!)

How does this rapidly growing cruise ship industry affect on the places they visit? Well, there is some good news and some bad news.

The Cruise ship industry has many good features.

It provides very successful holiday packages for an estimated 20 million people per year.

It creates employment and income for on-board workers and the ports they use throughout the world.

But cruise ships are attracted to the most beautiful and easily damaged natural environments. There are many who concerned about a non-ecotourism industry visiting ecologically sensitive areas.

Here are a few of the concerns that have been raised.

They have a history of accidental damage to coral reefs and coastlines through collision and anchoring. Wreck of the Costa Concordia is an area that was unpolluted and rich in wildlife. In November 2007, two cruise ships sank in Antarctica. Many tons of fuel, hydraulic fluids, lubricants, harmful chemicals from televisions, computer screens, etc. were released into the protected Antarctic waters.

Analysts calculate that a cruise liner such as Queen Mary 2 emits double the CO2 per passenger mile, compared to commercial passenger aircraft.

The fuel oil burned by ship engines is a heavy air pollutant making air quality in ports particularly poor as these pictures taken in Bergen, Norway show. The smoke over the city is all from just one ship! Throughout the world, they release an estimated 1.2 million to 1.6 million metric tons of tiny airborne particles each year.

Bergen, Norway

Because of the holiday and luxury nature of the lifestyle, passengers cruise ships each produce on average 3.5 kilograms of rubbish daily - compared with the 0.8 kilograms each generated by local people on shore. (Source: Our Planet)

Visits to wildlife areas are very frequent and are unregulated for example Within one month (January) a survey team from the Scott Polar Research Institute in Antarctica recorded 14 visits by six tour ships with over 2000 tourists landing on one penguin island.

A large cruise ship on a one week voyage is estimated to generate 210,000 gallons of human sewage and 1 million gallons (40 more swimming pools) of gray water (water from sinks, baths, showers, laundry and galleys). Cruise ships also generate large volumes of oily bilge water, sewage sludge, rubbish and hazardous wastes. Management of this waste could, with cost, be environmentally neutral but the industry has a poor record of pollution incidents of 'grey water' releases in to the delicate environments they visit.

Cruise ships take on water as ballast (balancing weight) in one place and release it somewhere else later on when the ship's weight needs adjusting. This moves all sorts of plants and animals into new places and creates problems including that of invading species taking over.

Cruises do provide the areas they visit with income, but most of the money goes to the shipping and tour company and not to the holiday destinations.

The Costa Concordia

The Cruise industry is showing some efforts to increase efficiency, decrease pollution and use technology to manage waste, but it only takes an incident like the wreck of the Costa Concordia to show that the environment is still at risk from 'accidents' even from the largest, environmentally managed and well-equipped modern ships.

Related Articles...

Why is Iran in the News?

Chapter 7 The geography of cruising.

• MLA style: "Chapter 7 The geography of cruising.." The Free Library . 2004 Delmar Learning 25 Apr. 2024 https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Chapter+7+The+geography+of+cruising.-a0184379182
• Chicago style: The Free Library . S.v. Chapter 7 The geography of cruising.." Retrieved Apr 25 2024 from https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Chapter+7+The+geography+of+cruising.-a0184379182
• APA style: Chapter 7 The geography of cruising.. (n.d.) >The Free Library. (2014). Retrieved Apr 25 2024 from https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Chapter+7+The+geography+of+cruising.-a0184379182

Terms of use | Privacy policy | Copyright © 2024 Farlex, Inc. | Feedback | For webmasters |

• CLIA Cruise Lines
• CLIA Global Executive Committee
• Mercy Ships
• Explore Topics
• Join or Renew

Professional Development

• Travel Agent Cruise News
• Verify a Member
• Eligibility
• Marketing Partners
• Refund Policy
• Executive Partners
• Fact Sheets
• News and Media Room
• Australasia
• North America
• North West and Canada
• UK & Ireland
• My Certifications
• My Training
• Find a Travel Agent

• Cruising Home
• Travel Agent Center
• Online Learning Courses

Online Learning

CLIA’s online learning courses are interactive, insightful, and packed with information that will help you take your career to the next level! Most of these courses can be completed in approximately 30 minutes anywhere you have internet access. Create your own personal classroom at your desk, in a coffee shop, even on a cruise, completely on your own schedule. Browse our online learning classes below or go to the  Product Catalog . Simply click the courses below to log into your MyCLIA (if you do not have an account, you can create one for free) to review the descriptions and enroll.

Featured CLIA Courses

Required course of annual membership – 2024 State of the Cruise Industry – Coming Soon

Cruising 101 Cruising 201

20 Best Practices for Travel Agent Success Better Listening Skills for Better Business Building Client Loyalty Getting Prepared for Cruise Sales Adding Value to the Cruise Experience

Clever Ways to Close a Sale a Sale Converting Prospects to Customers a Sale Customer Relationship Management Delivering Great Customer Service Power Selling 101: Skills Power Selling 201: Techniques Put the Person Back in Personal Selling Successful Qualifying

Cruise Events 101: Creative Ways to Increase Sales Cruise Events 201: Taking Your Cruise Event to the Next Level Cruise Events 301: Virtual Events Getting Prepared for Cruise Sales Marketing 101: Developing Your Marketing Strategy Marketing 102: Marketing Your Cruise Business on a Budget Marketing 201: Implementing Effective Cruise Marketing Marketing 301: Cruise Lead Generation - Using Lead Generation Pages Personal Branding Public Relations 101: Public Relations Basics for Your Cruise Business Cruise Industry Leadership 501 Cruise Industry Leadership 601

World Geography- Eastern Hemisphere World Geography- Western Hemisphere

Groups 101: Introduction to Groups Groups 201: Developing Group Business Groups 301: Successful Group Management Sell Your Passion The New Face of Luxury

Make Suppliers Your BFF Wonderful World of Ship Inspections

(Select from following list)

Cruising 101 Cruising 201 Delivering Great Customer Service 20 Best Practices for Travel Agent Success Power Selling 101: Skills Sell Your Passion Successful Qualifying 101 Wonderful World of Ship Inspections Getting Prepared for Cruise Sales Power Selling 201: Techniques Holland America Line Virtual Ship Inspection Cruise Industry Leadership 501 Effective Cruise Presentations 101: Skills

*These online courses can be used toward the complimentary course benefit of your CLIA Individual Agent Membership (IAM).

Be sure you enroll in one of CLIA's Certification Programs to get the most return for your time and money!

Take your career to the next level by enrolling in CLIA Certification and applying your online courses towards the certification level of your choice!

“CLIA membership has taken my travel business to another level! It has given me the confidence to offer my clients the best in cruises, from family-oriented to luxury. CLIA Professional Development has provided me with in-depth knowledge of cruise lines, ports of call, and so much more. Most importantly, CLIA has taken my commissions to another level. After all, it is true, “the more you learn, the more you earn.” Speaking as an ACC, nearly complete with the Master Cruise Counsellor (MCC) program, it truly is the best investment that I could have ever made in my business. Onward and upward!” — Ferne C. Sapp, ACC

I am so grateful for CLIA, and everything you all do to make sure agents are equipped with the knowledge and tools to provide the best service in the cruise industry. I have enjoyed all of the classes I have taken so far, and I look forward to working toward my MCC. It’s not just important to me to advise clients, but I also want to be knowledgeable in all aspects of the cruise business. Even after three college degrees, the training with CLIA has been my best education yet! Thank you all for being great trainers, leaders, and advisors. — Tonia Sanders, ACC

Earning my CLIA Master Cruise Counselor certification nearly 20 years ago provided me with the core knowledge to get my career off the ground. I am grateful for CLIA’s continually evolving training offerings both digitally and in person that enhance travel advisors ability to understand the complexity of the cruise market. — Daniel Genung

“CLIA training has given me the competence and confidence to sell cruises. When I started as a travel advisor 11 years ago, I had sales experience from my previous job, but I had no cruise sales or personal cruising experience. The first place I started was enrolling in Cruising 101, and eventually on to more advanced CLIA online courses. I eventually earned my ACC and then my MCC. I tell my clients that I have a PhD in cruising and that I earned that level of expertise from CLIA training. CLIA Professional Development has helped me to become an expert in cruising!” — Barbara Ballard, MCC

Don’t yet have a login? Create a new account

Forgot Password

If you have forgotten your Password, complete the information requested below and click the submit button.

You will receive an email with a reset token to change your password.

Please allow at least 10 minutes to receive the email before requesting another password reset. Please be sure to check your Spam folder for the password reset email.

Please note: the Email you provide must be the one that is associated with your profile.

If you have difficulty resetting your password please email [email protected] .

Create a New CLIA Account

Set or change password.

Please use the form below to set or change your password. Passwords must be at least 8 characters.

We are sorry. An error has occurred.

Please confirm.

The "Secrets of the Octopus" are more extraordinary than we ever imagined. Stream now on Disney+ and Hulu

Latest Stories

Today's picks.

• History & Culture

Secrets of the Octopus

Discover More on Disney+

• Photographer
• Queens with Angela Bassett
• Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold
• The Space Race
• Genius: MLK/X
• A Real Bug's Life with Awkwafina
• Incredible Animal Journeys with Jeremy Renner
• TheMissionKeyArtDisneyPlusCard
• Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory
• Secrets of the Elephants
• The Territory
• Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins
• Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper

Port Protection Alaska

Wicked tuna, may 2024 issue, in this issue.

• Photography
• Perpetual Planet

The National Geographic Society Mission

National geographic’s nonprofit work.

The National Geographic Society invests in innovative leaders in science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved