The phrase "do cruise ships dump raw sewage in the ocean" refers to the practice of releasing untreated wastewater from cruise ship operations directly into the surrounding marine environment. Notably, the Royal Caribbean cruise line admitted to intentionally dumping over 5,000 gallons of raw sewage into the ocean off the coast of Grand Cayman in 2019.
This practice has significant environmental and public health implications, as raw sewage contains a variety of harmful pollutants and pathogens. It has been linked to beach closures, illness outbreaks, and damage to marine ecosystems. Historically, the reluctance to invest in proper wastewater treatment systems on cruise ships has contributed to the prevalence of this issue.