Royal Caribbean Cruise Line promises to go plastic-free

Friday, February 2, 2018

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, the world’s largest cruise company is promising to eliminate single-use plastics from the fleets of its three cruise lines.

Michael Bayley who is the CEO and President of Royal Caribbean mentioned to the media that his line had joined forces with sister brands Azamara Club Cruises and Celebrity Cruises to investigate how they can minimize the amount of plastics used in daily operations of their 38 cruise ships thereby eliminating all single-use plastic.

He said that they have developed a newly-formed plastics team within the corporation and that they manage their waste very well.

But then they had an exciting opportunity to play a significant role in the overall reduction of plastic as it has already have been making its negative impacts felt on the oceans.

Then, Michael Bayley also stated that there would be three elements to the plan.

First of all they are keen to eliminate single-use, disposable plastic like drinks bottles and straws and reduce the amount of plastic in the operations of the business including staff belts, shoes , bags and chairs, for instance.

He then mentioned that they were also aiming to influence their supply chain since they need to cooperate with one another to achieve this goal.

The company has not promised any deadlines as yet. And, Bayley mentioned that the new team was still working to understand the scale of challenge. HHe then admitted that it would not happen in three months but then by the end of this year they are optimistic of having clearer positions on this plan.

The core members of the plastics team is yet to have an official name.

They represent the staff members of the three cruise lines’ environmental, health and safety departments. But then it would also be expanded to include people from various areas of the company and those who work onboard the cruise vessels.

Bayley said that they would try bringing together people who are passionate about this topic.

Royal Caribbean is the world’s largest cruise line with 24 ships and a 25^th Symphony of the Seas that would be launched in April when it would take the title of the largest cruise ship of the world. Celebrity Cruises has 12 cruise ships that are soon going to be 13.

Azamara Club Cruises is expected to take delivery of a third ship ‘Azamara Pursuit’ this August and Celebrity Edge would be arriving in November.

Following the launch of Symphony, Royal Caribbean would unveil new features on one of the most popular ships with the Brits – Independence of the Seas that sails out of Southampton to the Mediterranean throughout the entire summer season.

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