We Are Sailing?

As in the case of aviation, it's difficult to decide who bares responsibility for the activities of particular cruise ship companies. As it's difficult, both planes and shipping currently benefit from extremely lenient environmental and tax rules. Cruise ships have now become vast floating resorts. They can have up to 20 decks, often with rooms for several thousand paying passengers. Cruise ship companies have recently changed their marketing focus. They are moving away from retired folk, to appeal to the relatively affluent young with families. The carbon emissions of a cruise ship are, however, massive. They're roughly double that of equivalent flights to destinations, with hotel stays. Cruise ships also discharge enormous quantities of waste, directly into the oceans. When in port, most leave their engines running to generate electricity. This greatly adds to local toxic air pollution. Cruise ships are becoming persona non grata in some locations. They're banned in the Venice lagoon, as well as currently restricted in Amsterdam and Barcelona. Damage to buildings and massive influxs of tourists, are frequently cited problems (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/26/the-guardian-view-on-cruise-ships-a-licence-to-pollute). There's even an account of a former French sea captain (who knows the truth about shipping), campaigning to keep cruise ships out of his local port of Marseille (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/25/i-feel-guilty-and-angry-the-captain-turned-campaigner-trying-to-keep-cruise-ships-at-bay). Cruise ships trade on images of paradise, while doing enormous damage. The operations of both airlines and cruise ship companies must be allocated to countries. Their emissions should be added to that countries 'carbon footprint'. They should also be responsible for other forms of polution. That might stimulate them to tax frequent flyers and cruisers, accordingly.