Thursday, September 17, 2009

Ships' Eco Ratings

Cruises are a popular travel option for Levelers so I thought you'd like to know who does it greenest.

In a nutshell, Holland America does, Disney doesn't, according to Friends of the Earth, the San Francisco-based environmental group.

Travel Weekly reports that Friends ranked major lines on wastewater treatment, reducing air pollution, water quality compliance (for those with Alaska itineraries) and accessibility of environmental information to the public.

Here are the grades.

Holland America - B
Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines - B-minus
Celebrity Cruises - D-plus
Carnival Cruise Lines - D-minus
Disney - F

The mouse-eared mariners expect to do better in 2010 when new sewage treatment systems will be installed on the Magic and the Wonder. The line's new ships, scheduled to launch in 2011 and 2012, will have the newest technology.

CLIA, the association of cruise lines, notes that all its members, including those with failing FOE grades, meet or exceed current applicable environmental regulations in the U. S. and around the world. In debunking FOE's criteria, the organization points out the wastewater qualities ships were judged against are targets proposed for Alaskan waters that may go into effect in 2015.

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