SEA the Future

SEA the Future is our commitment to sustain our planet, energize our communities, and accelerate innovation.

Sustaining our Planet

Beginning 30 years ago with our Save the Waves program, the first-of-its-kind environmental program in the industry, we continuously evolve and go beyond what is expected to deliver the best vacation experiences, responsibly for future generations to come.

Exploring future energy sources

We are committed to bringing to life the most innovative and sustainable ships. To do this we pioneer solutions, like fuel cells and biofuels, to reduce our emissions and bring us closer to net zero cruising.

Enhancing research

We promote and support healthy oceans and marine life through conservation and research projects across the world. For over 20 years we have partnered with the University of Miami, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and NASA, on the Oceanscope program, to equip several of our cruise ships to collect critical climate and ocean data for scientists around the world.

Partnering to protect

We funded World Wildlife Fund’s global DNA database for endangered sea turtles which aims to better understand their migration and help protect turtles from illegal trade. The bank has collected DNA samples from 18 locations across Asia Pacific.

Efficiently managing our waste

We recycle, reuse, or repurpose 90% of onboard garbage. Since 2010 we have recycled 400+ million pounds of garbage.

Keeping our water fresh

We purify every drop of water used on our ships. Using state-of-the-art systems, we produce more than 90% of our water onboard.

We take pride in connecting our guests to the world’s most beautiful places and cultures, while supporting the communities we visit by fostering a diverse workforce, inspiring education, celebrating local cultures, and expanding economic development opportunities.

Inspiring education

We conduct STEM for Oceans programs in the Caribbean and use our ships to educate students on career paths in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). To date, over 1,200 students have participated.

Celebrating communities

We sponsor and promote over 3,500 sustainable tours that provide one-of-a-kind excursions while also remaining respectful of the environment and communities we visit.

Creating opportunities

We invest in projects that reinvigorate marketplaces, boardwalks and natural areas in the communities we visit. The Royal Caribbean Kickstarter Program provides entrepreneurs in the Caribbean with training and funding opportunities.

Elevating our workforce

We gain breakthrough insights from our unique and diverse workforce. With over 100,000 people from more than 130 countries, 60% of the world’s nationalities are represented at Royal Caribbean Group.

Across our business we are imagining, pioneering and developing cutting-edge technologies that create best-in-class experiences and accelerate innovation, from marine technology to software and artificial intelligence.

Evolving connectivity

Our new partnership with Starlink provides enhanced internet connectivity for real-time communication and collaboration.

Harnessing the power of technology

We built a propriety app that leverages AI to monitor, predict and prevent food waste on our ships. Our WIN on Waste initiative aims to reduce our food waste by 50% by 2026.

Revamping safety protocols

We were the first to reimagine our guest safety drill making it partially digital to simplify and enhance the guest experience.

Envisioning new possibilities

Revolutionary ships across our brands, like Icon of the Seas and Celebrity Ascent are introducing sustainable ship designs like hybrid fuel cells and the parabolic bow to make our sailings more energy efficient.

How we’re advancing science

In partnership with the University of Miami, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Royal Caribbean Group provides critical funding for the Oceanscope which leverages a unique, comprehensive suite of oceanographic and meteorological instruments, to collect data from the ocean including the structure of currents, sea surface temperature,carbon dioxide concentrations, and salinity taken along ship routes, which allows scientists to monitor changes on scales of seasons, years, and even decades.

Today, four of our ships are equipped with instruments that collect troves of data while passengers are creating memories aboard our ships. OceanScope’s database is open and available to the global scientific community, helping inform institutions and organizations about the health and vitality of our oceans.

Our continued partnership ensures that monitoring and tracking of our oceans continues for years to come.

Dive deep with latest Sustainability Report

Visit our Seastainability Page