More Bubbles Mean Better Mileage: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd's New Sustainability Report Shows How Innovation Drives Environmental Gains

MIAMI, Nov. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s (NYSE, OSLO: RCL) 2014 Sustainability Report, released today, documents the Company's commitment to environmental stewardship and showcases improved efficiencies across its fleet.  

At RCL, the same commitment to innovative design that creates crowd-pleasing consumer features like robotic bartenders and skydiving machines also leads to a dedicated search for improved environmental performance. New technologies like RCL's air lubrication system, which creates a reduced friction layer of billions of microscopic air bubbles on a ship's hull, have helped Royal Caribbean launch some of the lowest-emission ships in the industry. RCL's new Quantum-class ships, for example, emit about 20 percent less carbon dioxide than previous designs.

"At Royal Caribbean, we are working to ensure that sustainability remains at the heart of our business," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "We bring 5,000,000 guests to nearly 500 ports around the world every year, and we understand the need to act responsibly towards the oceans that we sail and the places we visit. Our mantra is continuous improvement and we constantly strive to find new and better ways to meet those goals."

In the report, the company noted the successful delivery of the breakthrough Quantum-class ships, the expansion of its Advanced Emissions Purification program and its plans to update its Save the Waves goals into the next decade.

Ambitious goals and innovative thinking resulted in the Company's Florida-based ships achieving a major milestone of not landing anything to a traditional landfill and a 114 percent increase in waste recycled across the fleet.

Royal Caribbean's commitment to promoting conservation and sustainable tourism is an important part of its plan for responsible and sustainable economic growth. In 2014, the company, together with the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Organization of American States, the US State Department, and Sustainable Travel International, launched the Sustainable Destinations Alliance for the Americas (SDAA) to focus on destination sustainability in the Americas – the largest scale partnership of its kind.

For the second year, the Company developed its sustainability report in accordance with the internationally recognized GRI G4 guidelines. Additional highlights from the report include:

• 2014 greenhouse gas emissions are 21.4 percent lower than the 2005 baseline.
• Royal Caribbean International became the first cruise line to launch a specialized autism initiative, in collaboration with Autism of the Seas, to make the ships a more welcoming environment for autistic guests and their families.
• The company increased responsible local sourcing in Europe, Asia and Australia and New Zealand, with a 20 percent increase in Australia and New Zealand.
• RCL also received a first-ever certification from RAINN, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the United States, recognizing the company's professionalism in preventing and responding to security incidents.

The full Sustainability Report may be viewed at www.RCLCorporate.com/environment.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.