Even in the absence of Covid or the next unknown pandemic cruise ships are unhealthy for you, the environment, the locals in the ports of call, the crew, and anyone else trying to use nearby surroundings.
You-eat too much, drink too much, exposure to too many people.
Environment- burnt hydrocarbons, sewage, garbage, toxins released
Locals- take away income from local restaurants/bars, saddle locals with the debt it takes to build cruise ship capable piers and infrastructure with only cruise ship lines and upper echelon of 1%ers of the island benefiting.
Crew- living conditions maybe difficult.
Others using area- impact is so deleterious that unless situation demands cruisers avoid the island. Particularly when there’s cruise ships in.
There’s several ways to enjoy an island or destination. Bring your culture, micro environment and idiom with you. Be on a cruise ship. Maybe be on a tour or three. No meaningful contact or interaction with the locale or locals. Resorts are a bit better in at least locals are employed.
Find my kids and their friends have no interest in utilizing cruise ships with a few exceptions. Galapagos, northern Alaska, European rivers. But the mega cruise ships-no. Wonder what is the average age of folks booking on them. Can see it as an easy, low stress vacation for a family but also see increased social and environmental awareness in our descendants. If if the major threat to cruise ships is whether the demographic that books cruses will diminish to a point the economics no longer justify their existence.