Cruise Talk: WHere does my poop go?

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»	Cruise Talk » Technically Speaking » WHere does my poop go?

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Topic: WHere does my poop go?

steeplechase
First Class Passenger
Member # 4056

posted 02-07-2009 09:45 PM

3000 passengers+three buffets a day=Lots of waste. do they still dump all of that in the ocean and if so when do they do it?Late at night whie we sleep?How many days do you think they can go without a dump?What about bad things put in the toilet? DO they screen that out? I don't see any big pipes that they could be unloading the waste at the ports.Someone must know.

Posts: 663 | From: elkton maryland | Registered: Aug 2003 | IP: Logged

Magic Pipe
First Class Passenger
Member # 6994

posted 02-07-2009 10:07 PM

It's incenerated onboard.

Posts: 213 | From: NYC | Registered: Jul 2006 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 02-08-2009 06:07 AM

It goes into special holding tanks and is treated, broken down chemically, and discharged as "black water", which is not environmentally harmful. (Just like the sewage treatment in your own home town, most likely.) Waste water from showers, etc. becomes "grey water" after being similarly treated, and discharged.

This is a very simplistic explanation for what happens--I'm sure someone else will be able to go into more specific details.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 02-08-2009 12:10 PM

That's the best title of a thread ever!

I believe that newer ships do not dump anything over the side at all these day, including your poop. There are some very strict environmental rules now.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

greybeard
First Class Passenger
Member # 5284

posted 02-08-2009 12:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
That's the best title of a thread ever!

. . . and a great excuse for CT members to talk sh*t

Posts: 587 | From: London | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

greybeard
First Class Passenger
Member # 5284

posted 02-08-2009 12:31 PM

On a serious note, modern cruise ships have sophisticated sewage treatment plants.

On Independence of the Seas, a senior member of Royal Caribbean's environmental protection team demonstrated the end result, a liquid which looked as clear as tapwater. We declined the offer to taste it, however . . . and so did he

Posts: 587 | From: London | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 02-08-2009 01:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by greybeard:
. . . and a great excuse for CT members to talk sh*t

We don't normally need much of an excuse.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

steeplechase
First Class Passenger
Member # 4056

posted 02-08-2009 08:35 PM

Okay that"s the new ship way but feb 23rd I will be on Regal Empress what about an old tug like her??

Posts: 663 | From: elkton maryland | Registered: Aug 2003 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 02-08-2009 08:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by steeplechase:
Okay that"s the new ship way but feb 23rd I will be on Regal Empress what about an old tug like her??

Probably tanks like an airliner. Maybe the 'honey wagon' comes pier side and pumps the waste out

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 02-08-2009 10:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by steeplechase:
Okay that"s the new ship way but feb 23rd I will be on Regal Empress what about an old tug like her??

Well, I can tell you where some of the sewage on REGAL EMPRESS goes. The toilet in cabin U1. Unfortunately I would return to my cabin and sometimes the toilet would be filled with sewage. Nasty!

Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 02-08-2009 10:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by eroller:

Well, I can tell you where some of the sewage on REGAL EMPRESS goes. The toilet in cabin U1. Unfortunately I would return to my cabin and sometimes the toilet would be filled with sewage. Nasty!
Ernie

I have also been in cabin U1 and....well, maybe we should not talk about that.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

VDK
First Class Passenger
Member # 3460

posted 02-09-2009 01:00 AM

Well if you sailed on QE2 your poop would have gone overboard without treatment and only collected into holding tanks while alongside...she could hold about 36 hrs worth...and then the old girl would get constipated...lol

Posts: 325 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 02-09-2009 11:35 AM

The nautical term 'Poop Deck' is now starting to worry me!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 02-09-2009 12:10 PM

Well it is where the Thunderbox was placed

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-09-2009 02:20 PM

Enviormentists required that all waste NOT be dumped overboard. "Save the Waves" program on RCL or example. Heavy fines could be incurred as what happened to RCI a few years ago.
Funny that this topic should pop up as I could smell some sort of sewage smell in the passage way aft starboard side on deck 8 as our Solstice cabin was 8294. I wonder with a new ship if they encounter leaks in the system or poor venting??

Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

Norfolk Boy
First Class Passenger
Member # 5387

posted 02-15-2009 12:37 PM

There are various ways of dealing with the waste on board, but as already posted, on modern ships almost nothing is dumped over board.
A lot of effort is put into reducing prodcution of waste, for example, vacuum toilet systems as opposed to the old salt water flush as fitted on QE2.
"Black Water" is collected from all toilets and urinals on board and these days is treated to such an extent that the by products are "technical" water that can be used in the engine room for cooling / boilers / etc. and a solid waste known quaintly as "biomass". Depending on how sofisticated the system is the biomass is either dried, compacted and incinerated, or can be dumped more than 12 miles from land.
As an example check out Rochem Rochem
or Hamworthy
Hamworthy

Posts: 28 | From: Miami | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

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