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Credit: DisneyDisney Cruise Line guests must rethink their vacation plans if they don’t have a specific item in possession, as lawsuits begin to stack up.
Disney Cruise Line Attempts To Avoid Scandal as Lawsuits Begin To Stack Up
It’s the first thing most travelers toss into their beach bag—sunscreen. But what if the very thing meant to protect your skin was damaging the ocean around you? For families boarding a Disney Cruise Line voyage to stunning locales like Castaway Cay or Lighthouse Point, it’s a question worth asking before you slather up for fun in the sun.
As environmental awareness continues to surge, many cruise passengers take pride in choosing reef-friendly sunscreen options, believing their choices support the delicate ecosystems they’re visiting. But recent courtroom revelations suggest many of those choices may not be as safe—or as honest—as they seem. Could your favorite brand be part of a growing legal and environmental controversy?
Let’s dive in.
Behind the Label: The Lawsuits Making Waves
In recent months, a major environmental reckoning has swept through the sunscreen industry, ignited by civil lawsuits filed by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office in California.
Several companies, including popular names like Supergoop and Sun Bum, have already settled for hundreds of thousands of dollars after it was determined their advertising misled consumers into believing their chemical sunscreens were safe for coral reefs and marine life.
Supergoop agreed to pay $350,000. Sun Bum followed suit with $300,000 in civil penalties. But the fallout doesn’t stop with money. Both companies must now stop advertising that their products are reef-safe, and they’re being required to notify every California retailer to sticker over any “reef friendly” claims on existing inventory.
Now, the spotlight is shining even brighter on Edgewell Personal Care, the company behind household sunscreen names like Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic.
Disney Cruise Line Guests, Take Note
Disney Cruise Line prides itself on environmental stewardship and offers unique tropical experiences that bring families face-to-face with breathtaking marine environments.
Destinations like Castaway Cay and the new Lighthouse Point in the Bahamas aren’t just backdrops—they’re ecological treasures. Guests often swim, snorkel, and explore reefs teeming with life. That makes the sunscreen issue deeply relevant to passengers striving to make eco-conscious decisions.
Edgewell is currently being sued for advertising its products as “reef friendly” while containing avobenzone, a UV filter that shares structural similarities with oxybenzone—a chemical banned in Hawaii in 2018 for its devastating effects on coral reefs.
According to the Santa Clara lawsuit, not only were these reef-safe claims unsupported by science, but “actual scientific evidence and public legislation pointed strongly to the opposite conclusion.”
Why It Matters: Consumer Trust and Environmental Impact
What started as a legal battle is fast becoming a public education campaign. Santa Clara Deputy District Attorney Christopher Judge explains, “If a consumer goes into Google and types ‘Is x-y sunscreen reef safe and friendly?’… there’s going to be a lot of information there.”
The deeper impact? Consumer trust is eroding, and that could influence how sunscreen is marketed and regulated going forward. With legislation in Hawaii setting a precedent and California now cracking down, a national—or even global—shift in sunscreen standards could be on the horizon.
In the meantime, cruise passengers are left with an urgent question: What should I pack?
What You Can Do Before You Sail on a Disney Cruise Line
For travelers looking to protect both themselves and the reefs, mineral-based sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (without nano-particles) are generally considered safer alternatives. Look for brands that are certified by independent environmental groups, rather than relying solely on marketing claims.
Disney Cruise Line has not yet issued official guidance regarding which sunscreens to bring aboard, but in an era of growing eco-consciousness—and legal accountability—it’s only a matter of time.
As this story continues to develop, it’s clear that sunscreen is no longer just a beach essential—it’s become a symbol of corporate responsibility and consumer awareness. Will your sunscreen pass the test?
Stay tuned for more updates on this story and how it may shape future Disney Cruise Line policies.