Cruise ships

Abstract

Cruise ships in the polar regions have been the most common mode of transport for tourists since the modern era of polar tourism began around the mid-1960s. From around 2000, polar cruise-ship operations have intensified and diversified, but despite its relatively small scale by global comparison, regulation is challenging and complex due to the unique geopolitical, socio-economic and environmental contexts. The legal regulatory framework can be found in international maritime law, including the law of the sea, the Antarctic Treaty in Antarctica and national laws and regulations in the Arctic