As a global vacation company sailing to more than 1,000 destinations, Royal Caribbean Group is deeply committed to connecting its guests with cultures and experiences in a way that respects the oceans and communities visited. Driven by SEA the Future, a vision for sustaining the planet, energizing communities and accelerating innovation, the Group made important progress on its sustainability journey in 2023.
The latest release of RCG’s annual Seastainability Report® details their environmental sustainability, social and governance strategy and performance across their industry-leading brands. With their most innovative fleet yet, Royal Caribbean Group reached important milestones towards the decarbonization of their operations through the successful biofuel trials in Europe and achieving more than half of their carbon intensity reduction target.
Together with the 2023 Seastainability Report, they also introduced their first Community Impact Report that digs deeper into the work they do to engage communities, celebrate their culture, and promote economic resiliency.
Highlights from this year include:
Sustaining the Planet
- 6.8% reduction in carbon intensity, reaching more than half of its double-digit carbon intensity reduction target
- An expanded energy portfolio following successful biofuel trials which confirmed that “drop in” percentages of the alternative fuel can be used without needing to modify engines or impact onboard technical systems
- Increased local sourcing globally, reducing miles traveled by 47% — supporting not only the communities it visits, but also reducing its Scope 3 emissions
- Helped protect marine species through Shellbank, an innovative genetic technology program, that matches DNA for critically endangered sea turtles to known locations in order to determine priority conservation sites and prevent illegal harvesting
Energizing Communities
- Launched Royal Caribbean International’s Artist Discovery Program, prominently highlighting up-and-coming local Caribbean artists on board the company’s newest ship Icon of the Seas
- Designed unique trainings for Bahamian entrepreneurs participating in the Small Business Development Centre’s (SBDC) Royal Caribbean Kickstarter Program, created to empower local tourism-related businesses
- Introduced their first accessible Star Class suite on Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas
Accelerating Innovation
- Introduced the first at-sea waste-to-energy systems which debuted on Silver Nova and Icon of the Seas
- Began construction on first tri-fuel methanol capable ship, Celebrity Xcel
- Renewed partnership with University of Miami’s OceanScope committing additional funds, building on two decades of ocean conservation and research aboard Royal Caribbean Group ships
Explore the pages of RCG’s reports for a more detailed view of their progress!
