dump toxic waste into waters (especially open sea)

fill the planet with carbon dioxide

kill marine wildlife

once smaller, around 30,000 tons; now worth billion dollars and hold more than 9,000 people

air, water, fragile habitats, coastal communities, and wildlife are all affected

most governments do not legislate to control this huge business

from 2007 to 2012, shipping accounted for 15% of annual NO_x emissions from anthropogenic sources; 13% of SO_x and 3% of CO₂

In Europe in 2013, ships contributed 18% of NO_x emissions, 18% of SO_x and 11% of PM2.5

For road transport, the figures were 33%, 0% and 12%, respectively.

Aviation, by contrast, accounted for only 6%, 1% and 1%, respectively, and rail just 1%, 0% and 0%.”

Dumping food mixed with plastic waste in Bahamian waters

Falsifying records of environmental compliance plans

Illegally releasing over 500,000 gallons of sewage and 11,000 gallons of food waste globally

Illegally discharging oily waste off the coast of England

Illegally dumping thousands of gallons of wastewater into Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska

hit with a $40 million fine for illegal waste disposal and was put on federal criminal probation in 2017

In 2018, Carnival had to pay another $20 million for environmental violations

In Jan.2022, it paid another $1 million for failing to implement court ordered monitoring programs, attempting to ensure it doesn’t illegally pollute in the future

second only to Carnival Corporation when it comes to the criminal fines they’ve had to pay

forced to pay $18 million in fines for 21 federal felonies in 1999 due to dumping hazardous chemicals and waste oil in coastal waters. They then lied to the U.S. Coast Guard and Justice Department by falsifying oil logs to cover up their crimes

Royal Caribbean has 25 ships in its fleet and 22 of them utilize scrubbers to get around community and climate-harming emissions. Scrubbers are used to “clean” smokestacks from the dirty fuel they use and reduce air pollution

However, scrubbers convert air pollution into water pollution because the toxic byproducts from the scrubber systems are discharged into the seas

At the end of 2021, Royal Caribbean announced “Destination Net Zero” to get ahead of the talks on green travel. But its targets toward sustainability are decades away and focus on carbon offsets instead of true sustainable measures - will likely be too little too late

ships utilize fuel with a 0.1% sulfur content - reducing climate-harming emissions

But by providing tourists with once-in-a-lifetime travel experience, they go to untouched areas of the planet and to create a “private island” experience

Disney is working on a massive cruise ship port in the Bahamas at Lighthouse Point

This port is opposed by community groups and will cause harm to coral reefs and migratory patterns of marine wildlife

The Bahamian Island of Eleuthera is known for its clear blue waters, sandy beaches, lemon sharks, and sea turtles. It also includes four endemic plant species and over 200 bird species

But Disney’s planned Lighthouse Point port would bring a million visitors to this untouched region, adding noise, water, and air pollution to this habitat

they claim a range of environmental initiatives, but only do so halfheartedly