An impressive 90% of all water onboard Royal Caribbean Group’s vessels is made directly on its ships, using advanced technologies to transform seawater into potable water suitable for guest use. 

 

One water creation method is reverse osmosis. This system pushes seawater through specialized membranes that filter out salt, minerals, and contaminants, resulting in clean, fresh water. The other method, steam evaporation, utilizes heat generated from the ship’s engines. The seawater is boiled, and the resulting vapor condenses into fresh water, with salt as a by-product. 

Before it is distributed across the ship, this newly purified water is mineralized to enhance its flavor, meeting or exceeding public health standards. This on-demand water creation model allows the Group to operate sustainably without needing to source water locally at the destinations they visit. 

 

Conservation efforts continue in how the Group moves water around, reducing water consumption through smart design and operational practices. Instead of relying on high-volume water flow, the Group’s ships use aeration systems that generate pressure, decreasing water usage during daily activities, such as showers, handwashing, and toilet usage, while still providing a comfortable experience for guests.   

 

Another way of conserving water is by repurposing it. The condensation collected from air conditioning units is repurposed for washing laundry, reducing freshwater demand.   

Royal Caribbean Group’s onboard state-of-the-art wastewater treatment goes above and beyond compliance; the Group’s advanced systems treat water to standards twice as strict as local municipality standards. These four-steps systems, like land-based facilities, filter the water to remove solids in a pre-screening process; then, bioreactors are employed to break down biological components in a process called biomass reduction; remove solids using dissolved air and polishing filters; and disinfect the water using ultraviolet (UV) light, allowing for the water to be safely treated. 

 

At their private destinations, like Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, treated wastewater is carefully managed and repurposed to water plants and a dedicated water specialist oversees systems like Thrill Water Park’s irrigation, as well as the island landscaping. 

Royal Caribbean Group’s water management, from creation and conservation to treatment and reuse, embodies its dedication to responsible stewardship of natural resources. Through cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices, the company aims to SEA the Future, ensuring that their voyages remain enjoyable and environmentally responsible for generations to come. 

 

Royal Caribbean Group leverages innovative onboard systems like reverse osmosis and steam evaporation to produce fresh water, employs water-efficient operations such as aeration, and reuses wastewater through advanced purification methods. These efforts reinforce the Group’s deep commitment to environmental sustainability, caring for the oceans while delivering unforgettable vacations. 

 

To see Royal Caribbean Group’s water conservation and treatment efforts, check out this video on the process. And to learn more about the SEA the Future efforts, visit https://www.royalcaribbeangroup.com/corporateresponsibility.