Besides the increasing number of companies which are following the trend of decarbonizing their business, Royal Caribbean, one of the biggest cruise brands shouldn’t miss the opportunity to take a place in establishing those ambitious goals. Destination Net Zero - is in fact the company’s slogan for its decarbonization plan, a long-term one that has the year 2050 as its deadline. But more immediate goals have also been made public. Royal Caribbean aims to deliver a net-zero cruise ship by 2035 and intends to rely on partners such as various suppliers, shipyards, and governments to achieve that, by developing alternative fuels and technology.
“Decades ago, we set out on a course to advance sustainability; our vision now is to realize carbon-free cruising over the next two decades,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “Today we are announcing the most important destination of all in our company’s history – ‘Destination Net Zero’ – an ambitious strategy to cut emissions, protect our oceans, and ensure the viability of the hundreds of destinations that our guests and crew members care deeply about.”
The cruise company boasts of its record of designing and operating some of the most energy-efficient ships. They come with an optimized hull design and system upgrade such as AC chillers that use up to 40 percent less energy, with this generation of vessels being 20 to 25 percent more efficient than its predecessors.
Royal Caribbean’s Destination Net Zero strategy includes four main parts: to modernize its fleet by introducing 13 new energy-efficient and alternatively fueled vessels, including the recently announced Project Evolution, to continue investing in energy-efficient programs, to develop alternative fuel and power solutions, and to optimize the deployment and integration of shore-based supply chains.
Another thing worth mentioning, besides its Destination Net Zero strategy, the company is also focusing on its Ultimate World Cruise, which it claims will be the world’s longest one ever. The epic voyage will kick off in December 2023 in Miami and will last 274 nights. Passengers will get to visit all seven continents, with Royal Caribbean targeting 150 of the most exciting destinations in the world. Casablanca, Morocco, Greenland, Japan, the Taj Mahal in India, and Machu Picchu in Peru are just a few examples.
