For the thousands of guests who visit Cozumel, Mexico, each year, its turquoise waters and white sand beaches create unforgettable memories. For Royal Caribbean Group, those same shores represent something more: a responsibility to help protect the destinations that welcome their guests. 

That sense of responsibility came to life over the past year at Ixpalbarco Beach in Cozumel, where crew members from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises joined forces to restore and preserve a stretch of coastline through a long-term environmental stewardship initiative. 

In August, Royal Caribbean Group celebrated the successful completion of a 12-month collaboration led by Environmental Stewardship, Royal Crew Cares, Celebrity Crew Cares and Maritime Procurement Services (MPS). Royal Crew Cares and Celebrity Crew Cares mobilized crew member volunteers across both brands, while MPS, through its SAVE program, provided the local infrastructure, coordination and operational continuity needed to sustain the initiative throughout the year. 

Over the course of the program, 214 volunteers representing 12 vessels across both brands removed 5,800 pounds of debris and helped restore 7,874 feet of coastline. Every bag of waste collected, every piece of debris removed, and every hour volunteered contributed to a healthier environment for local communities and marine life. 

“It’s rewarding to be part of something that makes a real difference. I think every company should do its part to care for the environment. The ocean isn’t just where we work; it’s our community. We depend on it every day, and protecting it means protecting the people and places connected to it,” said Joy Naral, environmental officer, Radiance of the Seas, Royal Caribbean. 

 

Moments like these reinforce an important reality: protecting the environment is not the responsibility of any one person, organization, or community. It requires partnership and a shared commitment to preserve natural resources for future generations. 

“SAVE was created around a simple idea: one action can create a wave, and many waves can change the sea. What makes this collaboration with Royal Caribbean Group powerful is its ability to turn that idea into sustained, measurable action. Month after month, crew members became part of a locally rooted effort in Cozumel, demonstrating how global companies and local partners can work together to protect the destinations and communities that sustain our oceans,” said, Alejandro Trillo, CEO, Maritime Procurement Services. 

As a company that operates across some of the world's most beautiful coastal destinations, Royal Caribbean Group recognizes the important role it plays as an environmental steward. Through its SEA the Future platform, the Group advances its sustaining the planet pillar by investing in initiatives like the Ixpalbarco Beach restoration to help strengthen the health and resilience of local ecosystems while supporting the communities that depend on them. 

The restoration of Ixpalbarco Beach demonstrates what’s possible when passionate crew members, local partners, and company resources come together around a common goal. It’s a reminder that meaningful environmental stewardship happens when collective action turns commitment into impact.