I mean, the cruise ship and its inhabitants are "guests" so I'm not sure where they get off telling the locals what to do?

While I certainly don't condone hunting and killing whales (I also don't eat meat for the same reasons, ie. animals shouldn't have to suffer just so they can tantalize our taste buds), if these are local customs and it's not harming the environment then maybe people shouldn't be all high-and-mighty about it. Especially if they are chowing down on veal, lamb, or any meat for their meals.

Considering where these people live, I'm guessing historically speaking being fully vegetarian may not have been an option, so I wouldn't really judge them too harshly for customs that were likely built around survival as much as anything else. But maybe I'm off base, just guessing really.