Set sail to see a new world

After a few decades together, I would have thought I pretty much know my wife by now - but the other day she came out with something which took me aback.

- Brendan Seery

I was watching a YouTube video about a luxury ocean liner and enjoying my taste of how the rich and famous live. Having done a few cruises as a travel journalist and editor, I have a fondness for this way of travelling.

My wife stunned me by remarking that she is anything but a fan of cruising. Imagine the damage these massive ships do to the oceans - with all those people there must be pollution, she said. I would never have characterised her as a closet eco-warrior.

I know from having been on board both river and ocean cruising vessels that all cruise lines are hyper-aware of environmental issues. Quite how they dispose of waste (of all kinds) generated by thousands of passengers and crew out on the ocean is beyond me, but I don't think they would still be in business if they pumped poisons into the oceans.

That's another thing, she continued, as I clearly wasn't armed with enough facts, these ships are crowded. It's not fun being among 3 000 other people...

I was tempted to say a passenger count of 3 000 would mean you're on one of the smaller liners, because many of the behemoths take 6 000 or more people.