On Sunday, October 8th, in Brittany France, the passengers of the World Traveller cruise ship disembarked to a gathering of approximately 80 demonstrators who expressed their discontent in a vocal manner.
Travelers on board the 'World Traveller' cruise ship were met with cries of disapproval such as "shame on you," "you are not welcome," and "go home" upon their arrival at Port Douarnenez.
The demonstrators, some dressed as polar bears, sea lions, or Venetian carnival goers, including a 25-year-old protester who voiced her disapproval of "luxury and expedition trips," were there to protest against the passengers' choice of travel.
MS World Traveller is a luxury ship owned by AOV-Atlas Ocean Voyages, a USA-based company known for offering "intimate, yacht-style cruises" to otherwise difficult-to-reach destinations.
Critics argue that such voyages engage in "last-chance tourism," frequently traveling between the polar regions to witness the last of various natural phenomena, which they find morally objectionable.
World Traveller had docked at Douarnenez Port as part of a 10-day itinerary from Dublin to Lisbon, with ticket prices ranging between EUR 8048-13257 per person. However, the ship's usual journeys take it through more remote waters, including trips to Antarctica, the Arctic, Norwegian fjords, Iceland, and Greenland.
It is important to note that all cruise ships exact a considerable toll on the environment due to the additional fuel consumption required to power their hotel and leisure facilities, resulting in significant air pollution emissions. A recent study by the NGO Transport & Environment estimates that cruise ships sailing in European waters last year emitted over 8 million tonnes of CO2, equivalent to 50,000 flights between Paris and New York City.
Moreover, sailing near coastlines brings pollution-related health concerns to local communities, prompting some areas to ban giant cruise ships altogether. Expeditions to the polar regions also have distinct environmental impacts, as increased tourist visits contribute to black carbon pollution, leading to darkened snow at the south pole. Researchers estimate that each visitor causes the loss of 83 tonnes of snow in Antarctica, underscoring the paradox of tourism harming the very environment it seeks to showcase.
Campaigners in Douarnenez Bay highlighted this irony, expressing their support for polar fauna suffering due to climate change and the consequences of society's way of life. During the protest, a police cordon prevented demonstrators from approaching the landing zone.