This journey was not without danger. The Serenity<\/em> faced unpredictable weather and uncharted icy waters with no rescue bases.[3]<\/a> In case of disaster, an icebreaker ship, the RSS Shackleton<\/em>, accompanied the Serenity<\/em> with helicopters and emergency rations. Before the trip, Crystal Cruises worked on evacuation plans with both the US and Canadian Coast Guards.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n With the inaugural journey complete, Crystal Cruises is planning on making the Arctic cruise a regular offering. In addition to taking bookings for Summer 2017, it has announced the construction of the multi-million-dollar Endeavor<\/em>, \u201cthe world\u2019s first purpose-built polar class mega-yacht.\u201d[5]<\/a><\/p>\n As it ramps up its operations in the Arctic, Crystal Cruises has a few obstacles to consider.<\/p>\n Environmental Regulation<\/strong><\/p>\n Critics claim Crystal Cruises\u2019 presence in the Arctic is endangering the very ecosystem it brought its passengers to see.[6]<\/a> Although the Serenity<\/em> used low-emissions fuel and cautious waste-disposal programs, those may not suffice forever.<\/p>\n Crystal Cruises will have to comply with two sets of environmental regulation: that\u00a0set by the International Maritime Organization and the more restrictive\u00a0set by individual countries[7]<\/a> such as Canada.[8]<\/a> Anticipating and lobbying for favorable regulation is critical to the success of future Serenity<\/em> cruises as well as the construction of the Endeavor<\/em>.<\/p>\n Local Welcome<\/strong><\/p>\n The Serenity<\/em> made stops at Inuit villages throughout the cruise, to mixed reactions from locals. While some welcome the money, others worry they do not have the infrastructure for so many visitors. Others worry the cruise is aggravating an existing problem: the wildlife, their source of food, is disappearing with the ecosystem.[9]<\/a><\/p>\n Given the existing national concern around the wellbeing of the Inuit,[10]<\/a> Crystal Cruises should prepare contingency plans in case either the villagers or Canada says that passengers are no longer welcome ashore.<\/p>\n Territorial Disputes<\/strong><\/p>\n Canada claims the Northwest Passage as its own, while the US argues it is international territory.[11]<\/a> The outcome of this dispute has concrete ramifications.<\/p>\n Currently, Canada allows the Serenity<\/em> to travel through the Northwest Passage. But the country could easily deny it safe passage on the aforementioned environmental or social grounds. If the Passage were international straits, the Serenity<\/em> would be concerned only with international regulation.<\/p>\n Canada presently takes responsibility for rescue in case of emergency. But its seven icebreakers are not sufficient to patrol the whole Arctic area. Russia, the US, and other Arctic countries would gladly swoop in to the rescue, if only to prove\u2014through Canada\u2019s incapability\u2014that the waters should be international.[12]<\/a><\/p>\n Should disaster strike, Crystal Cruises could be caught in the crosshairs of an international dispute. Let\u2019s hope all passengers and crew would still get rescued.<\/p>\n Looking Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n Although Crystal Cruises has the frontrunner advantage in this logistically complex journey, competitors will not be far behind. Increased cruise traffic amplifies the risk to the ecosystem, the strain on village entertainment, and the complications of rescue operations.<\/p>\n Looks like it won\u2019t be smooth sailing for Crystal Cruises from here on out.<\/p>\n [799 words]<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Andrew Revkin, \u201cWhere Ice Once Crushed Ships, Open Water Beckons,\u201d New York Times<\/em> September 24, 2016. http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/09\/25\/opinion\/sunday\/where-ice-once-crushed-ships-open-water-beckons.html?_r=0, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Chris Sorenson, \u201cThe One Percent Are Coming to the Arctic,\u201d Maclean\u2019s Magazine,<\/em> July 19, 2016. http:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/economy\/the-one-per-cent-are-coming-to-canadas-arctic\/<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Christina Nunez, \u201cA Luxury Liner Is About to Sail the Arctic\u2019s Northwest Passage,\u201d National Geographic,<\/em> August 16, 2016. http:\/\/news.nationalgeographic.com\/2016\/08\/crystal-serenity-luxury-cruise-arctic-northwest-passage\/<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> \u201cCrystal Cruises Announces the World\u2019s Largest Megayacht, Crystal Endeavor,\u201d press release, March 14, 2016, on Crystal Cruises\u2019 website. https:\/\/www.crystalcruises.com\/news\/2016\/03\/20\/crystal-cruises-announces-the-world-s-largest-megayacht-crystal-endeavor<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Eva Holland and Katie Orlinsky, \u201cApocalypse Tourism? Cruising the Melting Arctic Ocean,\u201d Bloomberg Businessweek<\/em>, November 2016. https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/features\/2016-crystal-serenity-northwest-passage-cruise\/<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> CLIA Environmental Sustainability Report 2016, p. 5, http:\/\/cruising.org\/docs\/default-source\/research\/clia_2016_envsust_8-5x11_8-8.pdf?sfvrsn=2<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [8]<\/a> Transport Canada, \u201cCruise Ships,\u201d https:\/\/www.tc.gc.ca\/eng\/marinesafety\/debs-arctic-cruise-ships-menu-495.htm<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [9]<\/a> Robin McKie, \u201cInuit Fear They Will Be Overwhelmed as \u201cExtinction Tourism\u201d Descends on Arctic,\u201d August 20, 2016. https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2016\/aug\/20\/inuit-arctic-ecosystem-extinction-tourism-crystal-serenity<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> Ed Struzik, \u201cAs Arctic Melts, Inuit Face Tensions with Outside World,\u201d Yal Environment 360<\/em>, October 1, 2012. http:\/\/e360.yale.edu\/feature\/as_arctic_melts_inuit_face_tensions_with_outside_world\/2577\/<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n [11]<\/a> Elizabeth Elliot-Meisel, \u201cPolitics, Pride, and Precedent: The United States and Canada in the Northwest Passage,\u201d Ocean Development and International Law<\/em> (2009), <\/em>p. 204.<\/p>\n [12]<\/a> Chris Sorenson, \u201cThe One Percent Are Coming to the Arctic,\u201d Maclean\u2019s Magazine,<\/em> July 19, 2016. http:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/economy\/the-one-per-cent-are-coming-to-canadas-arctic\/<\/a>, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With ice in the Arctic melting, Crystal Cruises jumped to show passengers incredible vistas. But danger might be lurking below the surface.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2164,"featured_media":11413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[1398,868,1399],"class_list":["post-11394","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arctic","category-cruises","category-northwest-passage"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\n![\"route-map-570e423a05076\"](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/route-map-570e423a05076.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n