Responsible river cruising vacations

Conscious cruising: What you can do

Given the channels they need to navigate, river cruise vessels are usually quite small, with limited space aboard for containing waste, or large supplies of potable drinking water. In addition, many rural communities have little or no capacity for recycling waste. Any efforts you can make to reduce your use of plastics on a cruise will help, such as by not bringing small or half-empty bottles of shampoo and shower gel (or taking empty containers back home with you), checking if there will be drinking water aboard so you can bring a reusable bottle, and removing any packaging for products you’ve bought at home or in the airport before travel. Carry your own bag so that when shopping in local communities and riverside markets you can refuse plastic bags whenever possible. Taking shorter showers when on board will also minimise your use of fresh water and contribution to the problem of grey water.

Before booking a river cruise, find out what the operator does in regard to minimising their environmental impact, such as reducing fuel use. Solar panels are rarely practical given the size of most boats and the amount of power they require, but well maintained engines and traveling with the current rather than against it are more fuel efficient and less polluting. You can help by traveling during periods when the water is likely to be flowing faster, and ensuring the lights and air conditioning in your cabin are turned off during the day – drawing the curtains helps keep cabins cool.

If you plan to cruise along the Nile then consider traveling either all or at least part of the way by felucca. These sail-powered vessels are not only much less polluting, but they also offer a far more relaxing and authentic experience than you would be likely to find on most small ship cruises.

Rather than trying to see everything in one trip, perhaps opt for a slower moving boat that allows for spending more time in a few places. Slower vessels present less of a hazard to river wildlife.

Overfishing leading to depletion of fish stocks is a significant problem on some rivers, where there is a never-ending source of cruise passengers looking for a taste of local cuisine. You can look into whether there are any endangered species you should avoid when they appear on the menu, and try to eat in small, local restaurants when on shore excursions where there is more likely to be an awareness of the need for sustainable fishing.

Conscious cruising: What you can do

When done well, river cruising can be culturally immersive, but for it to be viable it’s important that local communities see a respectful and economically beneficial impact. Itineraries that feature regular shore excursions where you can meet people and shop for handicrafts help to create sustainable industries. Smaller vessels, such as feluccas on the Nile or the houseboats of the Kerala backwaters, can reach areas and communities that larger vessels cannot. They may also source their food from riverside markets which also helps to provide people with an income. Some operators also make a point of using only local crews and support staff which can provide a decent income for many families.

Rather than trying to see everything in one trip, consider a slower-moving boat that allows for more time in different places, and also means that there is less danger to wildlife in the river. Traveling off season, too, helps to spread the economic benefits of cruising across the year. Where you have a trip with a tailor made itinerary, ask the operator to select a few shore excursions that are not so widely visited that will give you a more authentic experience. Eat at locally owned restaurants whenever you can, as that sees your money directly entering the local economy.

In some riverside communities you will encounter extreme poverty and begging, which can be very difficult to deal with. Handing out money only exacerbates the problem, so if you want to really make a positive difference, ask your operator about local community projects that you can either bring donations for, and perhaps visit to learn about their work.

Some river cruises are a good way to learn more about controversial issues, good examples being the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze, or the Aswan Dam on the Nile. Both projects have brought undeniable economic benefits and were arguably necessary, but have also been very controversial for their cultural and environmental impact.