There is no doubt that the environmental impacts of cruise ships have been under fierce scrutiny, in particular relation to the pollution and wastes they create. While a long-term solution to permanently transition the cruise industry to cleaner energy and stricter regulation is called for, this article introduces a changing trend in cruise lines' waste and water management.

Waste on board - including food waste, bottles, plastics, aluminium, and cardboard - are treated within the ships, then sent to partner recycling facilities. Grey water are purified before they're released back into the ocean.

While a significant progress, questions still remain; when the food wastes are processed and incinerated, what are the emissions implications? How clean and non-hazardous is the purified water at the point of its release? Most importantly, is the industry willing to address its extensive fuel burning, and in turn, carbon emission and energy efficiency?