The current economic situation and its impact on the industry was “the hot topic” at the 2009 Annual Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami, though discussions on the impact cruise tourism has on the environment “was not covered enough,” reports this article by Vacation and Cruising.

Fuel consumption by cruise ships, which includes energy use for laundry, restaurants, leisure club activities, water and waste treatment, can, according to a 2008 study, be nearly three times those of the new Airbus A380.

“Bunker fuels, often the cheapest and dirtiest of applicable fuel types, is utilized by the fleets. This type of fuel usage allows the ships to run their engines, as well as any on-board amenities requiring energy, including restaurants, nightclubs, and bathrooms.”

So what are tourists, cruise companies, and concerned citizens to do? Are the efforts implemented by cruise lines to mitigate pollution and reduce carbon footprint enough? Is there a sustainable future for the cruise ship tourism industry?

Related articles:

• How green is your cruise ship? – Jane Archer, Telegraph
• Clean Cruise Ship Act of 2008 – Open Congress
• Ecoventura launches first ‘Green’ expedition vessel in the Galapagos – TerraCurve