How bad are cruises for the environment? Cruise ships are floating cities that can carry thousands of passengers and crew members. They burn a lot of fuel, produce a lot of waste, and can damage marine ecosystems.
The cruise industry is a major contributor to pollution. In 2019, the cruise industry emitted more than 10 million tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to the emissions of 2 million cars. Cruise ships also produce a lot of other pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulate matter.