My sister-in-law is a well meaning travel agent. She regularly posts on FB about cruises and cruise ships. While I have enjoyed cruising (twice) I've come to look at them as an immense use of energy (both in ship construction and operation) with limited value.
Below the fold is a FaceBook exchange I had with my sister-in-law (SIL) and a friend of hers (former friend of mine, lives in the south, big Rush/Beck fan "RUSH FAN").
I'd love to hear how you would respond to RUSH FAN. My first, un-sent response was, to put it mildly, impolite (you know, the letter you write but never send). After thinking longer, I tried a more subtle approach.
How would you have responded? Are any of you out there experts on cruise ships and energy usage? I could use the data.
SIL: I Was reading more about the ship I sailed a few weeks ago - environmental savings per passenger, Oasis uses 30-40 percent less energy than ships built 10 years ago. Green practices include the use of 14,000 square meters of solar panels atop the Viking Crown Lounge, enough to power the entire promenade area.
ME: Pardon my cynicism, but how much diesel fuel does it use? How much food is wasted? Where does all the trash and sewage end up...
SIL: Don't know the stats on the Oasis. I talked to the chief environmental officer last year on board another one of their ships. He explained all about their "aggressive" environmental program. But honestly, my eyes glazed over and it went in one ear and out the other. I know that Royal Caribbean seems to feel the guiltiest of the mass market lines ... See More because they talk about their Save the Waves program a lot. My perspective is, it's still bad, but better than 5 years ago and with each new build, they seem to be doing more industry-wide.
RUSH FAN: Perhaps we should all stay home so that nothing is wasted ever. Never mind that people are paid to produce the food, move the food, prepare the food, and even remove the waste and do away with it. People with jobs.
RUSH FAN: [To me] ....How much gas did you use going to South Carolina on vacation? You know you could have saved that fuel by just staying home.
ME: RUSH FAN, was the goal of your comments to pick a fight? Because your tone suggests it. Great to hear from you too. Hope your family is well. Frankly I find it odd that you are, in effect, defending the cruise industry. They are obviously doing what we in environmental circles call "green washing" - attempting to make themselves look green with window dressing but not addressing the real impact they are making on the planet. Think critically please.