While cruise lines have gotten a pretty bad reputation in the past for negative environmental impacts, the cruise lines of today are definitely going green. All the major cruise lines have green and environmental programs in place to help minimize the ships' environmental impact, including water and electricity usage and waste generated. Some examples are:
* Chooses to recycle, incinerate or offload all waste materials from its ships for disposal on land, rather than dumping in the open ocean.
* Monitors water quality through an alliance with the International Seakeepers Society, to assist scientists in assessing ocean pollution and researching global climate changes and weather patterns.
* Supports community programs and local initiatives such as the Coral Reef Task Force and beach cleanups ashore.
Carnival Cruise Lines sails from Norfolk and Baltimore!:
* Discover the fun of 2-day weekend "Cruises to Nowhere" from $319 and 6-day Bahamas cruises from $629 from Norfolk, Virginia.
* If you prefer to depart from Baltimore, you can enjoy 6, 7 and 8-day Bahamas cruises from just $429!
* Tweaks arrival and departure times so that ships can save fuel while sailing to the next port.
* Alters the speed of ships at sea to gain the greatest level of fuel efficiency.
* Uses special window tinting to keep ships cooler and reduce the load placed on the ships' air conditioning systems.
* Installing Advanced Wastewater Purification (AWP) systems on all its ships.
| Royal Caribbean sails from Norfolk and Baltimore!: * If you're departing from the Norfolk cruise port, you can enjoy a 5-night Bermuda cruise from $549 or a 9-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from $749. * If you prefer to depart from Baltimore, you can enjoy a 9-night Canada/New England cruise from $1,049, a 5-night Bermuda cruise from $599 or a 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from $849 . Royal Caribbean will also be offering a special 14-night Caribbean repositioning cruise, departing Nov. 19 from Baltimore and ending in Tampa, FL from $1,099. |
* Only discharges biodegradable food waste. All other waste is either treated on board or disposed of on shore.
* In Hawaii and Miami, ships offer used cooking oil to be used as biodiesel fuel.
* Plans to utilize Alternative Maritime Power (shore power) when it is available to cruise ships at the Port of Los Angeles in 2008.
| NCL sails from Baltimore!: * Sail on a 5-night Bermuda cruise from $549, or a 7-night Bermuda cruise from $629. Special Offer - Book by 3/15/09: * Freestyle Resolution Sales Event - 3rd and 4th guests in your stateroom sail for $99 each, plus receive up to a $250 onboard credit per stateroom! |
* Has replaced all light bulbs and light fixtures onboard with energy-efficient versions.
* Conduct both internal and external energy and efficiency audits to ensure maximum energy savings and efficiency.
* Cruises feature enriching Experiences of Discovery, themed cruise events and experiences onboard based around Mind, Body and Spirit; Fashion & Style; Golf and more.
* Has special compactors for processing garbage.
* Only purchases seafood from sustainable sources.
* Has a unique onboard system to reroute excess heat generated in the ships' engine boilers to power evaporators used in the process of converting sea water into potable water.
* Up to 33% of the water used onboard is reclaimed from condensation in the shipboard air conditioning units and then re-used to wash the decks.
* Utilizes a new, non-toxic coating on the hull of the ship to reduce surface resistance in the water and increase fuel efficiency.
* Encourages guests and crew to support the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund.
* Prints all onboard materials with soy-based inks.
* Uses non-hazardous detergents formulated with soy, banana and orange extracts in the ship's dry cleaning facilities.
* Buys and uses onshore electricity when docked in Seattle, rather than using the ship's fuel.
* Testing cutting-edge emission reduction technology on the Zaandam.
* Australia and New Zealand from $999
* Caribbean from $449
* Hawaii from $1,099
* Holiday cruises from $699
* Mexico from $449
* Panama Canal from $799
* South America from $899
Norwegian Coastal Voyage
* Does not discharge any wastewater into oceans or seas.
* Companion travels free - Book select 12, 7 and 6-day Norwegian Coastal Voyages departing in Oct., Nov. and Dec., and your companion travels free.
* Free airfare - Book select 12-day Norwegian Coastal Voyages and receive FREE airfare from New York or Newark. Book select 7 or 6-day Norwegian Coastal Voyages and receive 2 for 1 airfare from New York or Newark.
* Donates gently-used and surplus materials to organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
* Through its "Seafood For Thought" program, only purchases seafood from sustainable sources.
* Started the Galapagos Conservation Fund in 1997 to allow guests to contribute directly to local conservation projects. To date, the fund has raised over $3.5 million.
* Hosts sailings geared towards environmental education and offering environmental experts as onboard lecturers.
* Ships docking in Seattle and Juneau currently "plug in" to clean, local, hydroelectric power when in port.
* Balcony Bonanza! Book select 2009 summer sailings to Alaska, Europe and the Caribbean and receive a balcony stateroom for the price of an oceanview - up to a savings of $1,000 per cabin!
* Coral Princess "Voyage of the Glaciers" 7-day Alaska cruise departing Vancouver June 1, 2009 - $1,409 Balcony (including $25 per person onboard credit and stateroom gifts of wine and canapes)
* Through a unique partnership, Regent offers special onboard classes and onshore excursions with famed environmentalist, oceanographer and educator Jean-Michel Cousteau and his colleagues from the Ocean Futures Society. Learn about the unique ecosystems of the places you'll visit on your Regent Seven Seas cruise.
* Discover the beauties of Bora Bora, the Marquesas and the Cook Islands aboard the all-inclusive Regent Seven Seas MS Paul Gaugin. Exotic South Seas cruise 2-for-1 pricing for Aug. 29 and Dec. 5, 2009 voyages. Plus, save up to $500 per person on select 2009 voyages.
| River Cruising in Europe The hottest new trend in cruising is small ship river cruising on the historic waterways of Europe. World Vista Travel has a number of suppliers that offer you the opportunity to discover quaint, European villages and bask in the heritage of the Continent. You can choose a springtime tulip cruise through Holland, a wine cruise in Burgundy and Provence, a music lovers' getaway on the Danube or a magical cruise in Germany. In addition,many river cruise operators offer group leaders a free cabin when traveling with 10 or more people. Contact us today to explore the many river cruise options aboard small ships in Europe, and to find out how to enjoy a free cruise when you travel with a group.   |