Endangered coastal spots to see

Coastal Living via CNN reports on nine environmentally-sensitive coastal tourist spots that could disappear in the near future. Among the sites are:

INSIDE PASSAGE, British Columbia: Much of the storied Inside Passage route between Washington and Alaska looks as it has for centuries. Unfortunately, visiting cruise ships trail a hazardous mess in their wake. On a typical week long journey, passengers produce sewage, gray water, and many tons of trash.

EVERGLADES, Florida (picture above): The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, with 1.5 million acres of marshes, estuaries, and prairies, and shady stretches of pine, cypress, and mahogany. Decades ago, the Everglades' freshwater flow was altered to accommodate agriculture, growing cities, and safety concerns. The dams and diversions starved and polluted the delicate ecosystems and the species that relied on them.

ROATAN, Honduras: Divers and snorkelers rave about the majesty of Roatán's biodiverse waters and coral reef system. [Warming oceans], Coastal development, illegal fishing, and reckless divers have taken a toll [on the delicate reefs].

Read the full story: 9 coastal wonders to see now

Photo from National Parks Service

Antarctic cruise ship stuck in ice

The Associated Press reports on the tourist ship stuck in ice near Antarctica.

A Russian icebreaker, taking more than 100 tourists, scientists, and journalists on a cruise around Antarctica is trying to free itself from ice in the Weddell Sea.

The Weddell Sea is the place that early antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance became infamously stuck and crushed in during his quest to reach the South Pole in the 1910s.

The Captain Khlebnikov icebreaker was near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, German Kuzin of the Fareastern Shipping Company told Russia's Vesti 24 television. He said neither the ship nor the passengers faced any risks.

The ship was trying to move slowly through the ice, but the winds were too light to break up the ice pack, he said. An Argentine official said the ice would delay the ship's return by three to six days.

Read the full story: Ship with 100 tourists stuck in Antarctic ice

Photo by Associated Press

Cruise lines' pollution report cards

USA Today reports on an environmental group's cruise lines pollution report cards.

Friends of the Earth gave its highest mark — a "B"_ to Holland America Line (picture right).

Cruise lines were graded in three categories: sewage treatment, air pollution reduction and water quality compliance.

Disney Cruise Line was among the lowest "F-rated."

Read the full story: Some cruise lines found failing in pollution 'report' card

Photo by Andy Newman, Holland America Line, via Getty Images

CSM answers question about cruise's eco-consciousness

The Christian Science Monitor answers their article title's question about how to find and take a green cruise. Happily it seems that most of the large cruise lines respect and care for the ocean and marine life, claims a conservation advocate, which is something that large oceanside hotels aren't so great about doing. But later on in the article it is recommended to "avoid major cruise lines" and take smaller and shorter boat excursions. However each individual passenger needs to be aware of his/her own impact when at ports of call. And naturally travel to less heavily-touristed areas help local economies and lessen the already heavy impact of too many travelers.

Read the full story: Is it possible to take an ecofriendly cruise?