Are cruise ships worse than flying for the environment?
Taking a seven-day cruise is more than three times as carbon-intensive as flying and staying abroad.
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A medium-sized cruise ship spews greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 12,000 cars, while environmentalists accuse big industry players of investing little in decarbonization, and of covering up endless delay tactics in a heavy coat of greenwash.
A five-night, 1,200 mile cruise results in about 1,100 lbs of CO2 emissions, according to Comer. Flying the same distance and staying in a hotel would emit less than half of that. And that's not counting for the fact that cruise guests often also have to fly to the port where they will embark.
Trains. Besides walking and biking, traveling by train remains one of the greenest and most environment-friendly options when getting around. Regardless if electric or diesel-powered, trains emit between 66 and 75 percent fewer carbon emissions when compared to cars and airplanes.
Cruise ships emit more carbon per passenger kilometre than flying, even considering the extra damage that emissions cause at high altitude. It's thought that the Queen Mary II emits 0.43kg of CO2 per passenger mile – that's even worse than the 0.257kg for a long-haul flight.
Sewage and rubbish being dumped in the sea, air and water being polluted, whales being hit by cruise ships sailing too close to shore, invasive species being introduced by pumping ballast water.
“Cruising is less stressful and also means you do not lose time commuting and travelling to a destination as you will be eating, watching shows, drinking with friends and sleeping in comfort as the ship takes you to the next destination. It is a more efficient and enjoyable use of your time.”
Ship exhaust contains harmful constituents, including metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, many of which have toxic, possibly cancer-causing properties, Kennedy said: “It's dangerous it's not a healthy thing for us to be exposed to.”
Taking the train or ferry works out to be around seven times less polluting than travelling by plane, according to various estimates. Travelling by train is slightly greener than taking the ferry, in terms of emissions.
Walk, bike or take the train for the lowest footprintOver short to medium distances, walking or cycling are nearly always the lowest carbon way to travel.
Walk, bike or take the train for the lowest footprintUsing a bike instead of a car for short trips would reduce your travel emissions by around 75%. If you can't walk or cycle, then public transport is usually your best option. Trains are particularly low-carbon ways to travel.
The filthy fuel (called marine gas oil) means the big diesel engines on cruise ships emit tons of toxic smog that people on board and in port cities have to breathe. And while the smog is the most obvious in port, cruise ships also emit tons of greenhouse gases. (Cruising is actually worse for the climate than flying.
While there's a romantic idea of ships being powered by steam, cruise ships are powered by diesel engines as standard. There are three methods: direct drive, diesel electric or gas turbine. Direct Drive. The conventional diesel method is the simplest.