Vacation on the ocean

Over the past 20 years, cruise ships have become an increasingly popular mode of holiday among people worldwide. Reason being, it is all-inclusive and great-for-value. Cruise ships are literally big floating cities with shopping, dining, recreational activities and accommodation all in one place. And above those, you get to enjoy a great sea view and breathtaking sunsets while travelling.
 

However, how many people actually wondered what is the real cost of their holiday? Cruise holidays may be economically friendly but not environmentally friendly. Do you know that cruise ships generate an astonishing amount of pollution, up to 25,000 gallons of sewage from toilets and 143,000 gallons of sewage from sinks, galleys and showers each day? Imagine if these were to go directly untreated into the ocean, how destructive could it be? VERY

Untreated or inadequately treated sewage from ships can contaminate shellfish beds. Human sewage carry bacteria, diseases, and viruses, and eating contaminated fish or swimming in water contaminated with sewage can cause serious illness. Sewage also contributes to the harmful nutrients, especially nitrogen, which reaches our oceans. Excess nutrients can promote harmful algal blooms, decrease dissolved oxygen in water, and contribute to the decline of coral reefs.

Of course, there are efforts to reduce the impact of cruise ships on the ocean environment, such as pollution prevention guidelines, and the Clean Cruise Ship Act. Thankfully, more and more cruise lines are using advanced wastewater treatment systems to treat their sewage before releasing it into the ocean. “Friends of the Earth” even has a Cruise Ship Report Card which compares the environmental footprint of 16 major cruise lines and 162 cruise ships.

Hence, I urge everyone who is thinking of a cruise holiday to look beyond the glamorous appearance and check out if the cruise treats their wastewater appropriately before releasing it into the ocean. Help to save our oceans and the precious creatures living under.

References:

Oceana, "Cruise Ship Pollution: Overview." Accessed August 24, 2014. http://oceana.org/en/our-work/stop-ocean-pollution/cruise-ship-pollution/overview.

Friends of the Earth, "2013 Cruise Report Card." Accessed August 24, 2014. http://www.foe.org/cruise-report-card.

The Ocean Conservancy, "Cruise Ships and Clean Oceans." Accessed August 24, 2014. http://act.oceanconservancy.org/site/DocServer/fscruiseships.pdf?docID=102.