Waste management on cruise ships

Abstract

The production of waste is a huge topic in every business branch. The question how to deal with the leftovers is asked everywhere. This of course also concerns the hospitality industry. Within this industry, the topic used to stay in the background as the main goal of the industry is to create the perfect stay for its guest. The reason for staying in a hotel or using the facilities are therefore not important. Especially for the cruise ship industry this topic is even more important, as they have to deal with limited facilities as well as limited space. The object of this thesis is the waste management on cruise ships. It not only concerns the common standards regarding waste management, but further shows what different groups, involved in the topic, think about the topic. Therefore primary data was collected from interviews with cruise ship industry representatives. Furthermore a survey was conducted with the persons traveling on cruise ships in the harbor of Hamburg, Germany; in the spring of 2014. The report further includes the description of the general waste categories produced on a cruise ship as well as the disposal treatments. Further it provides an impression on how important the topic of sustainability has become for the hospitality industry. The thesis closes with the conclusion. Within this very last part the research questions are answered as well as the whole topic is reviewed. The last chapter further includes the authors personal resume and suggestions for the future.