Dear John,
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Fight cruise companies: Tell the Cruise Industry to clean up its act before it returns to sea.
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Coming next month: Deadly pollution and untreated waste will be spewed into the waters of North America. The cruise industry plans to start sailing again -- risking the health of passengers, crews, communities, and the environment. Take action: Stop cruises from resuming before it's safe for public health and the environment.
Cruise companies mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic from the beginning. They failed to protect communities and their passengers and crews -- which led to devastating coronavirus outbreaks on ships like the Diamond Princess. At the same time, every cruise that sails pollutes the environment and endangers port communities.
The global pandemic is an opportunity for the cruise industry to reset its harmful practices -- both for our health and the environment. But left to its own devices, the industry will put profits first. The only thing standing in its way is the CDC’s No Sail Order. Will you tell the agency to stop cruises until the industry can protect the environment and public health?
Demand the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extend the No Sail Order for polluting and unsafe cruises.
In March, the CDC first issued its No Sail Order for the cruise industry. It said “cruise ship travel may continue to introduce, transmit, or spread COVID-19.” Since then, the order has been extended twice. But it’s due to expire at the end of September.
Just last week, a cruise ship in Norway had 41 passengers and crew members test positive for COVID-19. In another incident, a crew member on a different ship tested positive for the virus while in the Pacific.
It is abundantly clear that cruising is not safe to resume at this time. Only a few months ago, thousands of passengers and crew members were stranded at sea. The cruise companies’ reckless behavior not only played a large role in spreading COVID-19 but restarting will knowingly and willfully endanger public safety and communities.
Cruise ships are still a public threat. Demand the CDC extend the No Sail Order to protect public health.
Before the cruise companies come back to sea, they need to do more than protect the health of people. Cruise companies need to earn back society’s trust.
Friends of the Earth just released our 2020 Cruise Ship Report Card. We graded 18 cruise lines and over 190 ships on their environmental practices. Across the board, the industry failed. Cruise companies dump toxins in our oceans, pollute our air, and carry and spread disease.
The industry must do better by:
- Achieving zero emissions by 2050
- Switch to the cleanest fuels available
- End the dumping of untreated or poorly treated waste in our oceans
- Implement strict health guidelines
Additionally, having a public report on their performance will improve societal trust, and drastically improve the safety of the passengers, communities, and our environment.
For decades, cruise companies have made the poor decision to put profits before people and the planet. Will you take a stand and demand that no cruise ships sail before these problems are remedied?
25,000 Signatures Needed: Protect the people and planet from the toxic cruise industry.
Standing with you,
Marcie Keever,
Oceans and vessels program director,
Friends of the Earth
