Yet another campaign against RCCL

Jason · November 14, 2003

Concerned citizens across the nation flooded Royal Caribbean headquarters with phone calls Wednesday denouncing the company''s refusal to install advanced wastewater treatment technology on all of its cruise ships. Organized by Oceana, an international non-profit ocean advocacy group, the "National Call-In Day" was the second of its kind and included participants in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Portland, Maine.

The effort produced more than 300 phone calls to Royal Caribbean''s Miami offices. Dana DuBose, Oceana''s Cruise Pollution Campaign Director, said the call-in day gave a frustrated public the chance to express its anger with Royal Caribbean over the company''s needless sea pollution. Currently, 23 of Royal Caribbean''s 26-ship cruise fleet treat their waste with antiquated marine sanitation devices. The resulting pollution can contribute to beach water contamination, shellfish bed closures, coral reef destruction and the killing of marine mammals.

"This issue won''t just ''float away'' like the waste Royal Caribbean''s fleet leaves in its wake," said DuBose. "The public is justifiably angry with Royal Caribbean over its sewage and wastewater dumping standards. All we''re doing is focusing that anger toward its source."

Local organizers proclaimed today''s call-in the most successful to date. Katie Swayne, a Florida-based volunteer organizer working with Oceana, approached citizens in Royal Caribbean''s backyard of Miami: "We did this right in the heart of the beast," said Swayne. "Several of our callers had even been on cruises before. When they discovered the truth about Royal Caribbean, they were more than willing to voice their concerns to the company."

Many call-in participants noted Royal Caribbean''s lack of knowledge when pressed about the subject of cruise pollution. Others said they were shocked by its customer service representatives'' refusals to listen to their concerns, even saying they would follow up with the company until it installs the advanced systems.

Citizens interested in joining or learning more about Oceana''s Stop Cruise Pollution campaign should call Oceana headquarters toll-free at 1-877-7-OCEANA, or visit the website at http://www.oceana.org/.

jbond · November 15, 2003

Just like the majority of all the other cruise lines and all perfectly legal. I sure hope Oceana is privately supported and not using my tax dollars.

bakersuzie · April 12, 2005

I just saw this older post and wondered if this is the norm for the cruise industry or just on the RCCL line?

bakersuzie · April 12, 2005

I just saw this older post and wondered if this is the norm for the cruise industry or just on the RCCL line?

njseawee · April 12, 2005

I went to that website http://www.oceana.org and it seems that Royal Caribbean has made some changes since that campaign against them was started in 2003. I'd check out the website--it seems to have some interesting information and you could probably find out about other cruise lines on there.

njseawee · April 12, 2005

I went to that website http://www.oceana.org and it seems that Royal Caribbean has made some changes since that campaign against them was started in 2003. I'd check out the website--it seems to have some interesting information and you could probably find out about other cruise lines on there.