Now that the fire-damaged Splendor is back on the docks, Carnival announced that the cruise ship will be out of service for the next two months.

All trips on the 3,006-passenger ship will be canceled until Jan. 9, 2011, USA Today reported.

This, unfortunately, throws off travel plans for several people who were hoping to spend their holidays on a cruise. All passengers whose trips got canceled, however, will receive a full refund on their cruise fare and air transportation costs, along with an additional 25 percent discount on a future cruise.

“We realize how much guests look forward to their vacations and know that they are very disappointed by this news,” Carnival president and CEO Gerry Cahill says in a statement. “We too are disheartened that we are not able to fulfill the dreams of those who have entrusted us with their important vacation plans.”

Splendor was originally towed back to San Diego after a fire occurred off the Mexican coast — and its residents were famously forced to eat spam and pop tarts (that in itself could be considered a holiday for some).

Though given that cruise ships emit nearly twice as much carbon dioxide than aircrafts, the canceled trips may be a blessing in disguise for the planet.

In 2008, Carnival’s 11 cruise lines, on average, released 712.kg of CO2 per kilometre, according to their annual report.

Telegraph adds, “Carnival’s ships carry, on average, a maximum of 1,776 passengers. This means that 401g of CO2 is emitted per passenger per kilometre, even when the boat is entirely full. This is 36 times greater than the carbon footprint of a Eurostar passenger and more than three times that of someone travelling on a standard Boeing 747 or a passenger ferry.”

Most ships run on ‘bunker fuel’, which is the cheapest and dirtiest fuel oil available — and that not only powers the vessel, but also all the amenities on board: restaurants, swimming pools and nightclubs among them, according to the NY Times.

What’s worse is that most people fly just to get to their cruise ships — adding to the carbon emissions.

The cruise industry argues that the issue is more complicated than comparing airlines to cruises, because cruise ships don’t just transport people. They also provide accommodation, food and entertainment.

But beyond the carbon emissions, there’s also the enormous waste. “A one-week voyage on a large ship is estimated to produce 210,000 gallons of sewage, a million gallons of gray water (runoff from sinks, baths, showers, laundry and galleys), 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water, 11,550 gallons of sewage sludge and more than 130 gallons of hazardous wastes, according to figures supplied by the environmental group Friends of the Earth”, reported the NY Times.

Cruise ships also have an impact on marine life, beaches and coral reefs, as well as the air in their destination cities because of their massive engines. In fact, a recent E.P.A. report on ships in Alaska found that 60 percent of the ships tested were discharging concentrations of bacteria, chlorine, nutrients, metals and other pollutants into the water.

Some changes are thankfully being made. Due to pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency, all ships now have to burn low-sulfur diesel fuel instead of the cheaper bunker fuel within 24 nautical miles of California’s coast.

There is also a separate proposal on the boards to “prohibit the discharge of raw sewage, gray water and oily bilge water within 12 miles of United States shores,” according to the same Times article.

Currently we have about 230 cruise ships out at sea, but we have to be more careful about our choices. Sure, everyone needs a vacation — but if you really enjoy the sea, go sailing. If you like seeing several different places at one time — take a tour. In the end, if you’re idea of a perfect vacation is still a cruise. Follow these EPA guidelines:

Review the cruise ship company’s environmental policies before booking a cruise.
Do not pour inappropriate wastes into sinks or toilets.
Do not toss litter overboard.
Minimize your use of water.
Participate in the cruise ship’s recycling program (if available).
Conserve energy by reducing unnecessary use of lights and appliances.