Swimming pools on cruise ship?

[CRUISING71]

Hello,

My daughter asked me this question and I don't know the answer to her questions. Can you help?

She wants to know why all the pools on the ship are salt water? Are the water coming directly from the ocean?

Thank you,

[navybaby1113]

Yes, the water comes from the ocean.

[CapeCodCruiser]

But it is filtered & treated with chemicals.

[CalmCruiserNC]

Originally Posted by CRUISING71

Hello,

My daughter asked me this question and I don't know the answer to her questions. Can you help?

She wants to know why all the pools on the ship are salt water? Are the water coming directly from the ocean?

Thank you,

Let her know that the pools are emptied every night -- refilled every morning -- so that reduces chemicals that they don't want to end up in the ocean --- and that modern ships actually produce their own fresh water using a desalination process -- very expensive and time consuming -- filling the pools with that water would be rather wasteful.

[ChampionCruiser]

Not all ships use saltwater, though. Princess' pools are freshwater, which was AMAZING

But I guess saltwater might be more practical...

[CRUISING71]

Thank you

[OrdieJ]

Originally Posted by CalmCruiserNC

Let her know that the pools are emptied every night -- refilled every morning -- so that reduces chemicals that they don't want to end up in the ocean ---

If they are emptied every and refilled every day, doesnt that create more chemicals being released in the ocean?

And Royal Caribbean's Freedom class ships use fresh water in thier pools.

[rottiemom]

Originally Posted by CapeCodCruiser

But it is filtered & treated with chemicals.

I did not know that they used chemicals after being so happy to hear that the pools used saltwater. I am disappointed to hear that.

[sprockie]

I have to say I am thrilled to hear they are emptied often. One thing that makes me cringe is how much pee is in those pools!!!!

[CalmCruiserNC]

From what I understand, the salt water is filtered but not chemically treated, so no chemicals are being released into the sea.

[yst347]

Salt water does not require any additional chemical treatment.

Many home swimming pools use salt instead of chlorine today.

[CapeCodCruiser]

Funny what a little google will do:

http://shop.solardirect.com/product_...roducts_id=290

The Pool Pilot is so rugged and effective it was chosen exclusively
• to serve as Carnival Cruise Line's onboard pool purifier system!
• Designed to operate under the most demanding 24/7 high-volume
• use, the Pool Pilot units easily stand up to use with pure sea water!

WATER QUALITY
A Pool Pilot system will
eliminate the discomfort
and inconvenience of
harsh chemical reactions
like red eyes, green hair,
irritated skin or faded
swimwear. Pool water will
retain constant low-levels
of ph-balanced chlorine
that purifies the water
while making it soft and
silky to the touch.

[astropilot]

Originally Posted by rottiemom

I did not know that they used chemicals after being so happy to hear that the pools used saltwater. I am disappointed to hear that.

Ditto. I don't think they are treated. They are emptied and cleaned every night though.

[gill_boo]

I think Princess is the only one who uses freshwater. RCL is salt water as well.

[wxtrix]

HAL uses freshwater too, and I'm pretty sure that NCL did too on our cruise with them.

[Max Circus]

Originally Posted by yst347

Many home swimming pools use salt instead of chlorine today.

That is true. Although the systems I am familiar with use the salt to produce chlorine via chemical reaction. And these home salt pools are closer in saline content to contact lens solution - pretty mild. On a ship, it will vary since salt content is different around the world.

[Kurbanfan]

Originally Posted by Max Circus

That is true. Although the systems I am familiar with use the salt to produce chlorine via chemical reaction. And these home salt pools are closer in saline content to contact lens solution - pretty mild. On a ship, it will vary since salt content is different around the world.

This is correct........

[frayedend]

Would it be safe to assume there are fresh water showers next to the pools to rinse off. I don't mind swimming in salt water, it's the residue after that bothers me. If I can rinse off quickly, no problem.

[yst347]

The systems don't "produce" chlorine as the chlorine is already present in the salt. The system ionizes some of the chlorine in the salt making it available to sanitize the pool.

[yst347]

Originally Posted by frayedend

Would it be safe to assume there are fresh water showers next to the pools to rinse off. I don't mind swimming in salt water, it's the residue after that bothers me. If I can rinse off quickly, no problem.

Yes, a shower is available next to the pool for just this purpose.