Travelling Responsibly
Ways you can help protect the ocean while enjoying a Norwegian cruise
Norway has committed billions of kroner to help clean up the world's oceans, and it is greatly needed, with vast quantities of plastic entering the sea every year. As a traveller exploring the great sights of Norway, you are sure to want to keep the local waters as clean as possible. The good news is that a few simple, effective steps let you do just that without imposing on your holiday.
Eat sustainable food
Enormous quantities of food are wasted around the world every year, and too often it ends up polluting the sea. Seagulls are drawn to the waste and then feed on ocean fish as well, which upsets the natural balance. Norway is strongly committed to sustainable food, so you will find plenty of local, sustainable dishes on the ship and at the places it calls. When you are dining, choose foods you know you will enjoy, and try not to overfill your plate; anything left uneaten simply goes to waste.
Avoid single use plastic
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing the world's oceans, which is why Norway is so keen to tackle it. There are things you can do during your voyage to help. Avoid single use plastic bottles and refill a reusable one instead. Skip plastic straws, which are often ingested by sea creatures. Carry a reusable cotton or paper bag too, so when you buy gifts at each stop you can say no to plastic bags, which take the lives of many thousands of sea animals every year.
Never throw cigarette butts overboard
Smokers are permitted to smoke on the ship's open deck, but do not be tempted to throw cigarette butts into the sea. Cigarette butts are one of the single largest sources of marine litter. The filters are typically made from cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that takes around a decade to break down, and sea animals often consume them after mistaking them for food. Even the small amount of tobacco left in a filter is toxic to fish.
Making the effort on your Norwegian voyage to reduce ocean pollution is a great way to show that you care, and because it is so easy to do, it need not affect your trip at all. You can enjoy the stunning sights of Norway and help protect them at the same time.
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