As a former travel agent who has booked countless cruises and taken a few myself, I’ve had a front-row seat to the rise of the cruise industry. For many, cruising is an easy, all-in-one vacation option—a floating city that takes you to exotic destinations while providing endless food, entertainment, and activities. It’s a travel experience that, on the surface, seems like a dream: one ticket, multiple destinations, and minimal planning required.
But after years in the industry, working with clients and witnessing the impacts of cruise tourism up close, I’ve come to an unpopular opinion: cruise ships should be phased out. The environmental and social costs of cruising far outweigh the convenience and enjoyment they offer. Let me explain why, drawing from both personal experiences and the stories of clients who once trusted me to help plan their perfect cruise vacations.
The Environmental Toll of Mega Cruise Ships
Cruise ships are notorious for their environmental impact, and after years of seeing this firsthand, I can no longer turn a blind eye to the damage they cause. These massive floating cities, while offering convenience and luxury to travelers, are some of the largest polluters in the travel industry. Their negative environmental footprint is staggering and exists on multiple fronts:
Air Pollution: A Floating Smog Machine
One of my first cruises was a Mediterranean voyage with stops in Italy, Greece, etc. As the ship glided towards each destination, I marveled at the serene beauty of pristine coastlines. But what I didn’t know at the time was that the very vessel I was aboard was emitting as much sulfur dioxide as hundreds of cars.
Cruise ships typically burn heavy fuel oil (HFO), one of the dirtiest kinds of fuel available. According to studies, the emissions from a single large cruise ship can equal that of 1 million cars per day. While on a cruise to the Norwegian fjords, I remember standing on the deck, breathing in what felt like fresh, crisp air. But as I looked closer, I noticed a thick plume of smoke rising from the ship’s funnel, polluting the very environment we were meant to be admiring.
Water Pollution: Dumping at Sea
I’ve had clients who booked cruises specifically for the allure of clear, blue waters. Ironically, those same ships contribute to the degradation of the very waters they sail. Cruise ships often dump untreated sewage and wastewater directly into the ocean. On a trip to the Caribbean, I was shocked to learn that the ship I was on had likely dumped waste into the ocean just hours before we docked at a pristine beach.
This fact was driven home by clients who booked an Alaskan cruise through me. They were excited about experiencing the region’s natural beauty and wildlife but came back deeply disappointed. They had seen news reports about cruise ships in Alaska being fined for illegal dumping of wastewater in protected areas. Alaska’s waters, once teeming with wildlife, were now at risk due to the irresponsible actions of an industry that prioritizes profit over preservation.
Waste Management: Where Does It All Go?
Cruise ships are essentially small cities, with thousands of passengers consuming vast quantities of food, drinks, and materials. The waste generated by these ships is staggering. On one cruise I took, I was astonished by the sheer amount of plastic waste generated—disposable cups, straws, and packaging. I once asked a crew member what happens to all the waste, and while they assured me that much of it is recycled, I later learned that a significant portion of waste is incinerated or dumped at sea.
One client, a frequent cruiser, decided to cut back on cruising after seeing footage of cruise ship waste being dumped into the ocean. She told me, “It’s hard to enjoy your cocktail on the pool deck when you know that the plastic cup might eventually end up in the same ocean you’re gazing at.”
Over-tourism and the Social Costs
Beyond the environmental damage, cruise ships also contribute to over-tourism, overwhelming small port towns with thousands of visitors at once. While the cruise industry brings revenue to these destinations, the social and cultural consequences are often damaging.
The Invasion of Port Towns
One of the most striking memories I have from my time as a travel agent was a client’s feedback after a cruise to Venice. Venice, a city already struggling with overtourism, is especially vulnerable to large cruise ships that dump thousands of tourists into the narrow streets of the city all at once. My client described the experience as overwhelming: “It felt like we were invading the city. Everywhere we went, we were part of a huge, slow-moving crowd. We didn’t get to experience the real Venice—just a commercialized, overcrowded version of it.”
Cruise ships often dock for just a few hours, giving passengers limited time to explore. This creates a “hit-and-run” style of tourism, where travelers flood a city, clog up streets and attractions, and then leave, without contributing much to the local economy. In fact, many passengers spend the bulk of their money on the ship itself—on drinks, excursions, and shopping—rather than in the towns they visit.
I’ve seen this firsthand in Dubrovnik, another city overrun by cruise tourism. On a cruise stop there, I joined the throngs of passengers disembarking from multiple ships. The Old Town was packed, and the local businesses seemed overwhelmed. While the city benefits from the influx of visitors, the charm and tranquility that once defined Dubrovnik were nowhere to be found. Locals I spoke to expressed frustration, telling me that the cruise industry had made life in the city unsustainable during the high season.
Cultural Erosion
The social costs of cruise ship tourism go beyond overcrowding. Many port towns have been forced to adapt to the whims of cruise-goers, often catering to tourists at the expense of local culture. In some Caribbean islands, I’ve seen how port towns have transformed into little more than shopping malls for tourists, with locally-owned businesses replaced by international chains and souvenir shops.
A client who took a cruise through the Caribbean shared a similar sentiment: “It felt like every port we stopped at was the same—shops selling jewelry, T-shirts, and trinkets. We didn’t get to experience the real culture of the islands. Everything was geared toward getting us to spend money.”
The homogenization of cruise destinations strips these places of their unique identities, turning them into tourist traps rather than cultural experiences. Many of the clients who booked these cruises with me returned feeling underwhelmed by the lack of authentic, local interactions.
The Convenience vs. the Cost
I understand the appeal of cruising. It’s convenient, often affordable, and offers a plethora of activities. But after years of seeing the environmental and social impacts up close, I can’t help but feel that the convenience of cruising comes at too high a cost. While passengers enjoy their all-you-can-eat buffets and Broadway-style shows, the places they visit—along with the planet—bear the brunt of the damage.
Some of my clients have come to the same conclusion. One couple, after taking their fifth cruise, told me they wouldn’t be cruising anymore. “It just doesn’t feel right anymore,” they said. “We used to love it, but now, knowing what we know about the environmental impact and seeing how it affects local communities, we can’t justify it.”
The Need for Change: Phasing Out or Reforming Cruises
I’m not naïve—I know that the cruise industry isn’t going to disappear overnight. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people. However, I believe the industry needs drastic reform, if not a gradual phase-out.
Stricter Environmental Regulations
First, the industry must adopt stricter environmental regulations, including banning the use of heavy fuel oil and requiring ships to use cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. Regulations around waste management and water pollution also need to be enforced more rigorously, with heavy penalties for violations.
Limiting Cruise Ship Access to Vulnerable Destinations
Second, cruise ships should be restricted from entering vulnerable destinations like small coastal towns and environmentally sensitive areas. Cities like Venice and Dubrovnik have already begun imposing restrictions, but more needs to be done to protect these places from the negative effects of over-tourism.
Encouraging Sustainable, Land-Based Travel
Finally, we need to shift our mindset around travel. Instead of opting for the convenience of a cruise, travelers should be encouraged to explore the world in more sustainable ways. Land-based travel, whether by train, bus, or car, allows for a deeper connection to the places we visit and a smaller environmental footprint.
Conclusion
Cruise ships have long been a popular vacation option, but their environmental and social costs are too great to ignore. As a former travel agent, I’ve seen both the appeal of cruising and the damage it causes. While it may be an unpopular opinion, I believe the cruise industry, in its current form, should be phased out or at least significantly reformed. It’s time for us to rethink our approach to travel, prioritize sustainability, and protect the planet and the communities we love to visit.
