Protecting Our Marine Environment

Keeping with our recent eco-statistics posts, I thought I'd present two issues today: Some stats on the damage cruise ships do to our oceans, and some interesting points regarding off-shore drilling. Now, some of you may be scratching your heads as to why I'd present these stats while being in the travel business. It's simple: Both Jessica and I are travelers, want to promote it and take part in it, but we want to do so responsibly. For this reason, we have created a program that reinvests money in eco-friendly, sustainable, and conservation-based non-profits. We give money from every trip to help protect our world. You can read more about this program, here.

Our statistics on cruise ship pollution are well-documented on our Web site here, so please check the link out when you get a chance. To start with offshore drilling, I received an interesting e-mail from a partner of ours (Surfrider Foundation) today regarding offshore drilling. In our quest to lower the price of oil this is a pretty hot topic, and Surfrider pointed out the following:

Regarding calls to restart coastal drilling:

1. Lifting the moratorium will not provide immediate relief from high gas prices.
If the moratorium was lifted it's estimated that it would take about a decade before any oil could even be extracted. And it's safe to assume that drilling might reduce gasoline prices by merely 6-7 cents per gallon. Obviously, this would not have any effect on prices at the pump this summer or anytime in the near future. But it would affect the coastline you love.

2. Drilling for oil offshore threatens the coastal & marine environment, recreation and coastal economies.
Increased spills and industrialization associated with drilling offshore will result in devastating damages for coastal and marine environments for decades - not to mention putting your enjoyment of the beach at risk! Although improved technology may limit the likelihood of catastrophic spills, there are still hundreds of thousands of documented "small" spills in areas heavily used for oil drilling. In one study of a proposed drilling site it was predicted that over the next 40 years there could be up to 870 spills of 2,000 gallons or less - that's over 1 million gallons from just one site.

3. Increasing oil production worsens global warming.
You and I both know that global warming is threatening our planet, our coasts and us. And fossil fuel consumption is a major culprit. It is time to look for alternatives not further our addiction to oil.

Now I'm not sure it's as simple as these points make it out to be, but at a macro level the point is this: Coastal drilling does substantially more harm than good. Drilling does unimaginable harm to our coasts and oceans, and the places we love to visit. As with cruise ships, the solution is not necessarily to just not partake, but rather look for ways to give back and promote legislation that protects these environments. There is a great example of a company working with such legislation for cruise ships called Blue Water Network. They, like us, are seeking to not stop people from taking cruises but to work with governments to pass legislation holding cruise ship companies accountable for how they dispose of their waste. If you'd like to read more about this, please see the following article. Read more...

Alternative Energy for Cruise Ships???

Could it be possible? We have seen some people convert their cars to biofuel (used cooking oil as a source of clean burning energy) but can it be, Cruise Ships are now using this method?

Well...no, not really. But, one cruise company, Fred. Olson, a company out of England, is trying to get one step closer to this endeavor.

Fred. Olson has signed an agreement with Bio Driven of Canterbury, a start-up company which is involved in creating high-quality bio-diesel. Under the agreement, waste cooking oil from Olsen cruise ships will be collected and transformed through a carbon negative process into a clean and efficient fuel. Matt Grimes, Director of Logistics for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said: “We are very excited to be working with Bio Driven, as we are always looking for ways to make our operations more environmentally friendly and to recycle our waste material, so this venture is a “win win” situation for everyone.”

Basically alternative energy is still in its infancy, but it is wonderful to see companies making positive steps. Since Fred. Olson produces about 40 tons of waste cooking a year, I think this is a much better use than simply dumping it. I wish more cruise companies would follow suit. Read more...

Gambling While on a Cruise

I have a quasi-fascination with how many entities in this country have managed to circumvent the bans on gambling in the United States. The most well-known example of this is of course the casinos that can be found on Native American Reservations. Other examples include riverboats, online gambling forums that are "based" in other countries (though accessible here), venues with fast horses and greyhounds, random places in Nevada and New Jersey, and the ever-popular cruise ship. We often get a lot of questions about gambling while aboard cruise ships, so I thought I'd highlight some of the finer details here. First off, if you're wondering how US cruise ships manage to have legal gambling, the answer is simple: Because you're in international waters (though most don't wait until they are)... Here are some random facts for you on how these casinos differ from everyone's favorite playground, Las Vegas.

1. With all due respect to Charles Barkley and John Daly, there are no high limit rooms/tables on cruise ships. If you want to lose a fortune, you'll probably have to do it in $5 increments (though I guarantee you it can be done).
2. Forget about perks or comps. If you do succeed in losing that fortune, unlike Vegas, you're not going to get your room comped. At best you may get a handshake from a pit boss, but that's about it. That's not fair, you say? Well, here's why Vegas comps things for their high limit winners/losers: Because they don't want you to go to another casino. On a cruise ship you don't have that option, so unless you threaten to jump overboard and swim for Monte Carlo (side note: not advisable), you're out of luck.
3. Most boats (if not all) are on a cash basis. I say that because most things on board you can just have charged to your room, but that's not the case in the casino. You'll have to pay cash to play.
4. Dealers are MUCH nicer and MUCH more patient than at other gambling establishments. For those of you like me that have nearly had your hand lopped-off at a craps table for not holding the dice or betting correctly, you'll appreciate this difference. Gambling on cruise ships is seen more as a form of entertainment than a revenue producing affair for the ship, so dealers are more willing to explain things, take their time, and have an overall better temperament.
5. Most cruise lines allow you to gamble at 18 rather than 21 (and the ones that don't will usually let you if you're with someone 21 years or older).

On other random note: Disney is about the only major cruise line without a casino (die to it's family-oriented cruises). Good luck at the tables! Read more...