Responsible Cruising

The Cruise Passenger Adventure Cruise Guide looks at what some cruise companies are doing to lessen their load on the Earth and preserve what's left.

Small-ship, adventure and expedition cruise lines pride themselves on environmental and social responsibility, but ethical travel goes far beyond planting trees and writing cheques.

Giving Back

An activity almost all adventure cruise operators embark on is delivering much-needed supplies to the remote communities they visit.

Unfortunately, some island and isolated villages are beyond the end of the supply chain when it comes to educational, medical and staple supplies. In Papua New Guinea, for example, school and first-aid supplies are often exhausted long before they reach their intended destination. Cruise lines play an important role in delivering books, stationery and simple medicines directly to these outlying communities.

To circumvent bureaucracy, passengers are asked to bring donations in their spare luggage. These are then pooled and delivered at pre-arranged locations during the cruise. It is often a source of great satisfaction for passengers to see their donations go to teachers and students who often have to share pencils and textbooks as part of their daily routine. At first-aid posts, simple items such as paracetamol, disinfectant and fresh bandages are gratefully received.

On a larger scale, Orion Expedition Cruises' corporate and passenger support is helping to rebuild a Sepik village schoolhouse destroyed during a storm. Ask your cruise company about its aid projects and make sure you have stocks to contribute.

Carbon Offsets

Emission offset programs are sometimes contentious and have come under criticism for "being seen to be green" rather than delivering tangible results.

Cruise companies, large and small, are contributing to these offset programs, which usually involve reforestation, alternative energy programs and carbon capture.

More visible activities include installation of solar panels and wind turbine generators, which Galapagos operator, Ecoventura, has embarked upon.

Tourism and the Preservation of Culture

In a world increasingly driven by market economies and materialistic ideals, responsible tourism can help preserve endangered cultures.

We can all recall the paternalistic traits of last century: quaint, "island" carvings from the Pacific and tourist trap trinkets stamped "Made in China", all at the expense of the original cultures they portray.

Today, travellers are more discerning and critical of bogus souvenirs and fake artifacts. Fussy travellers are demanding genuine items, crafted by authentic artisans using traditional materials and methods. This intolerance for cheap copies is having a healthy impact on local industries that are producing valuable items such as paintings, sculptures and jewellery.

Dances and performances by native troupes are much sought after in adventure cruise travel. Authenticity is expected and in many places around the world indigenous peoples are reviving and maintaining waning practices thanks to the demand from small-ship travellers.

Examples include the marginalised Inuit cultures of Siberia, America's First Nation people, the Pacific Islanders and the many cultures throughout South-East Asia.

Tips: Some Australian flag-bearers with programs in place include: Coral Princess Cruises, Aurora Expeditions, Orion Expedition Cruises and Captain Cook Cruises (Fiji).

Remember:

- Never give money to beggars. It encourages reliance on handouts and creates serious social disturbance in poorer communities.

- Don't reward people who have performing animals and don't buy objects made from endangered species. See www.environment.gov.au for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Written by Roderick Eime, Issue 25 Spring 2006