What People are Saying
As a former Chief of the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), I can assert that outbreaks on cruise ships are actually not a common occurrence. The current increase in reported outbreaks is consistent with the significant increase in norovirus activity being reported throughout the U.S. The reduction in cruise-related outbreaks over previous years is a testament to the extensive and effective onboard sanitation procedures cruise ships employ.
— Dave Forney, CNN, March 8, 2010
FOE ignores how much the industry has changed for the better, how regulated shipping and particularly cruising are today and how the world needs to tackle environmental issues on a holistic basis because regulatory patchworks and singling out sectors are simply not effective.
— Seatrade Insider, December 4, 2009
The cruise ships actually -- many of them have -- on-board treatment systems that are really very sophisticated and they have made a concerted effort in the last five or six years to really become environmental stewards and a number of them have treatment systems that discharge wastewater that is cleaner than the municipal treatment plant.
— Pam Parker, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, interview with The Maine Public Broadcasting Network,August 19, 2009
It reinforces to consumers and to the industry itself that passenger safety and well being takes top priority.
— CruiseOne agent in USA Today, April 30, 2009
We have no evidence or data to suggest there is significantly more crime or change to the nature of crime affecting U.S. citizens aboard cruise ships.
— U.S. Coast Guard Testimony (Committee On Transportation & Infrastructure, September 19, 2007)
[Norovirus] was unjustifiably dubbed the ‘cruise ship virus' by unknowing media who did not understand why cruise ships are the only entity required to report outbreaks of Norovirus. The CDC does this because ships are the only self-contained environments where they can study an outbreak of Norovirus and learn something about it.
— Paul Motter, CruiseMates, March 20, 2009
Cruise vessels are environmentally aware, and have sound environmental systems and operational practices in place to minimize environmental impacts.
— Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, February, 2009
With the global nature of the industry, cruise lines have the scale to make compelling, positive, impacts on the environment. By engaging with its crews and customers as well as working with conservation organizations to use science based solutions to address important issues such as wastewater treatment and energy efficiency, the industry's commitment to conservation remains strong.
— Patrick Maher, Senior Director of Business Policies and Practices at Conservation International
I am a single dad ... I have traveled with my kids to China, Italy, Spain, England, France, Mexico and most of the Caribbean. To be honest, I feel safer and more in control when I take the kids on a cruise than when we head out on a land-based trip.
— John Frenaye, Examiner.com, May 13, 2009