Should you still vacation on cruise ships?

The Venice crash is just one of the unsettling costs of cruises

Stars Insider

04/06/19 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL Cruise ship

Over the past decade, cruise ships have become an increasingly popular vacation choice for people seeking an organized, stress-free, all-inclusive vacation. The destinations are paradisaical, there are endless onboard attractions to keep you entertained, and there’s the lure of the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation.

Unfortunately, cruise ships come with massive costs, from putting lives at risk to inflicting devastating effects on the environment.

In recent news, videos surfaced of a 65,500-ton cruise ship sailing straight into a much smaller riverboat in Venice, Italy, injuring five people, and finally crashing into the cement embankment, CTV News reports.

Besides the obvious safety issues, the incident has reignited the discussion around whether this vacation vessel should still be in use. Venice environmentalists have long been campaigning to ban cruise ships from entering the fragile lagoon, as they displace water, wear down delicate foundations, cause immense air pollution, and damage the environment by dredging up the shallow muddy floor. Still, the historic city remains one of the world’s top cruise ship ports.

Less than a week before the Venice crash, a river cruise ship on the Danube River in Budapest collided with a tour boat, leaving nine dead and another 19 missing. In fact, many people have gone missing on cruise ships, as there are thousands of people housed on the boat (many of whom are intoxicated), and the employees don't always keep track of the residents. Passengers, and even crew members, have been regularly lost.

But the environmental impact is the greatest factor driving the renewed protests against cruise ships. The only problem is that even major crashes—like when the Costa Concordia capsized off the Tuscan coast, killing 32 passengers and crew members—aren’t enough to deter people from booking their nautical stay.

If you've ever considered this particular getaway, check out this gallery to learn more about not only the true cost of cruise ships, but also concrete ways which the industry can improve its carbon footprint.

Campo obrigatório

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