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Ways You Can Save The Ocean While Enjoying A Norwegian Cruise

In 2018, Norway pledged to spend NOK3 billion (£0.25bn) over a five year period to help clean up the world's oceans. This is greatly needed as 15 tonnes of plastic are dumped in the ocean every minute, according to the Norwegian government. As a cruise-goer exploring the great sites of Norway, you're sure to want to keep the local oceans as clean as possible. The good news is that these simple yet effective steps will allow you to do just that without imposing on your getaway.

Eat sustainable food

Every year, 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted. Too often, this food is dumped into the oceans which then pollutes the water. Seagulls are then attracted to the food and go on to eat the fish in the ocean as well, which affects the natural equilibrium of the oceans. Thankfully, Norway is committed to offering sustainable food, which means you'll find plenty of local, sustainable dishes on the ship itself and at each destination where the ship docks. When you are dining, make sure you choose foods that you know you'll enjoy. Don’t be tempted to overfill your plate as, if you fail to eat it, it will be disposed of and may end up flushed out into the ocean.

Avoid single-use plastic 

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems facing the world's oceans which is why Norway is keen to combat ocean pollution. Boyan Slat's Ocean Cleanup project is another scheme that's cleaning up the oceans with the help of pioneering technology. But there are things you can do during your cruise break to protect the ocean, too. This includes avoiding single-use plastic bottles and refilling your bottles up instead. Plastic straws should be swerved at all costs as they are often ingested by sea animals. Make sure you've got reusable cotton bags or paper bags on you too, so when you’re buying gifts at each stop, you can say no to plastic bags that take the lives of 100,000 sea animals every year.

Never throw cigarette butts overboard

Smokers are permitted to smoke while on the ship's open deck but don't be tempted to throw your cigarette butts into the ocean. In 2018, it was revealed that cigarette butts are the biggest source of marine pollution. The filters in shop-bought cigarettes are typically made from cellulose acetate which is a type of plastic that takes around a decade to decompose. As a result, it's likely that sea animals will consume these filters after mistaking them for food. Another risk is that even the smallest amount of tobacco remaining in cigarette filters is toxic to fish.

Making the effort on your Norwegian cruise to combat ocean pollution is a great way to show the world that you care. Plus, as it's so easy to do, it won't have any impact on your trip, meaning you can enjoy the stunning sites of Norway at the same time.