Dispatches – Secrets of your Cruise

Last night channel 4 aired a 30 minute documentary regarding the negative impacts that cruising can have on the environment and the health of passengers and crew. The documentary was an interesting insight of the emissions offset of cruising and the outcome this can cause.

Talking to vivid cruisers on the documentary showed just how much we do not know about the offset of cruising and with 80 new ships to be built over the next decade we will see just how much they will challenge to change this. P&O Cruise lines (under the Carnival group) advised that they hope to reduce heavy fuel oil emissions by 2020 helping the environment and the sea.

They also showed us what is what sewage is placed in to ocean whilst art sea (calling them gray water areas). However some cruise lines use special equipment to dilute their garbage making it more clean for the sea.

Cruise customers were completely surprised by these levels and we hope to see in the near future all cruise ships using more advanced economical equipment to help the environment. However after watching the documentary I felt a little disappointed that they did not show other aspects of cruising and how all guests enjoy their time away.

I very rarely hear feedback from customers that is negative in any way. I do feel that the documentary could have been explored in a better way showing the ambience and unique atmosphere on-board the ship. They also advised that the cruise market has 2 million UK guests a year going on cruises and will continue to grow as more ships are built.

In this day in age, yes emissions are offset practically anywhere and everywhere and it would be great if we could reduce this in the near future with new systems and equipment being built for new and existing ships. So I am sure given time this will come in to place with a lot of funding behind it. However I do believe that this will not stop customers wanting to travel on a cruise neither will I. Lets hope next time a documentary is shown about the cruise world it could show the positives about how great it is to cruise.