Sustainability has become a goal for the cruise industry.
Passengers generally support that idea, but they're generally not willing to be even slightly inconvenienced to make it happen.
That's not true of every person sailing, but many on board would rather sail on ships powered by whale blubber and bald eagles than have to sacrifice air conditioning in certain situations.
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That has been evident in some passenger resistance to cruise lines' tests to replace bottled water with cans of water. People rejected the idea because they didn't love the metallic taste they perceived from the cans.
Still, while the industry walks a fine line with passengers, some of whom are still mad they had to give up their plastic straws, it has committed to the idea of sustainability. The Cruise Line Industry Association publishes an annual report on the subject.
"CLIA ocean-going cruise lines are sailing to a better future – pursuing fuel flexibility by investing today in engine technologies with conversion capabilities for the future," the association wrote. Its goals include:
- Reducing emissions while at berth and at sea
- Investing in advanced environmental technologies on board
- Partnering with cities and ports on sustainable destination management
Every cruise line has its own sustainability plans and Carnival Cruise Line wants its passengers to help it reach its goals.
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Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival asks for a small favor
As Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald posts answers cruise questions on his Facebook page, he often works in bits of his personal life. One of his Sept. 17 posts noted that he often gets called names by passengers, with "old fart" being one of the nicer ones.
"I may drift towards miserable old fartery, but only when my daughter leaves her bedroom and bathrooms lights on all day (am I sodding Jeff Bezos?) or when the dishwasher needs emptying and it’s my turn," he wrote.
There was a reason for his comments on turning the lights off.
"Anyway, the reason I mention this is the example I use of leaving the lights on. I was asked by the Beards to please help us with this," he wrote. ("The Beards" is Heald's term for Carnival's top managers, who include many non-bearded people.)
"Now some of the ships have the key slot thing where you place your key when you enter which allows you to turn on the lights ( it does not affect the air conditioning) and when you take the key out when you leave it will turn the lights out, thus saving electricity," he wrote.
Many passengers have a workaround for that when they leave the room.
"However, we are aware that some of you bring a plastic key card from your Mariotthyattmotel6 stay or your Cruise Critic membership card to use in the slot and thus the lights stay on. So, please, even if you do this and on all ships, please do your best to turn the lights out before you leave the cabin and help us save energy," he asked.
Carnival passengers admit to hacking the key system
Many people use an alternate card for the slot in their cabin for an honest reason.
"Good morning John. Yes, I'm one of those that uses a card for the slot," Shawn Caccia wrote. "Honestly though, it's more so that we don't have to take our keys out of our lanyards just to work the lights! Just like at home, when we leave, we turn the lights off, when we return, we turn them on. Pretty simple but trying to take your sign and sail out of that lanyard plastic once it's in there, that's the real pain."
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It's also a hassle if you're a solo traveler or someone whose cabinmate is elsewhere should you use your actual key and lock it inside. When that happens you can either call security, which may be a long wait, or trek to Guest Relations for a new card.
"I will turn my lights off when leaving but I hate with a passion the slot to keep lights on. It's a great way to forget your key card in your room," Karen Ann Hollingsworth added.
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