Barcelona, September 27 – On World Tourism Day, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced that 1,400 sustainable itineraries are now available for booking in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and beyond. Offered by certified sustainable tour operators, these special tours are available across all Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara. They feature unique experiences from around the world, ranging from kayaking along the west coast of Mallorca and exploring a cenote in Cozumel to visiting the grape harvest at Pizzorno Winery in Montevideo, Uruguay.
The initiative began as part of the company's 2020 goal with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to offer passengers 1,000 tours managed by tour operators certified as sustainable according to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) standard created by the United Nations. By reaching and exceeding the target almost a year ahead of schedule, RCL reinforces its commitment to operating sustainably and offering its customers responsible options while on land.
“Our guests are eager to explore and discover new cultures and places, and we want to do everything in our power to ensure that these destinations continue to develop,” said Roberta Jacoby, Managing Director of Global Tour Operations at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Achieving this goal was truly a collaborative process between our tour operators and the dedicated team at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.”
Engagement with its global portfolio of independent tour operators was a key part of the program. Together with GSTC, RCL's Global Tour Operations team conducted information sessions to educate its tour operators about the company's commitment, the importance of certification and sustainable operations, and the process for becoming certified by any of GSTC's accredited certification bodies.
The GSTC standards, known as GSTC Criteria, are organized around four main themes: efficient sustainability planning, maximizing social and economic benefits for the local community, enhancing cultural heritage, and reducing negative impacts on the environment.
“The scale and scope of Royal Caribbean Cruises’ commitment to sustainable shore excursions achieved to date are unprecedented,” says Jim Sano, Vice President of Conservation Travel at WWF. “This initiative not only helps advance WWF’s conservation mission, but also raises the bar for sustainability across the entire travel industry.”
The team collaborated with Travelife, a GSTC-accredited certification body, to provide access to educational materials and reporting tools to help tour operators obtain GSTC certification. Tour operators also had access to webinars and workshops at industry trade shows and are entitled to recognition on RCL websites and as a travel guarantee.
“GSTC greatly appreciates Royal Caribbean taking these important steps and encourages tour operators to adopt and pursue GSTC-accredited certification of sustainable tourism practices,” said Randy Durband, GSTC Executive Director. “Royal Caribbean’s efforts to expand its global offering of sustainably certified shore excursions are key to the cruise industry. Having nearly 1,400 voyages in Royal Caribbean’s portfolio is a significant milestone, and we commend them for their continued efforts.”
In 2016, RCL announced a partnership with WWF to take its sustainability performance to the next level. This partnership established ambitious targets in three key areas: emissions reduction, sustainable food supply, and destination protection. This effort means that the company, beyond its operations, supports sustainable travel and livelihoods in RCL's destinations.
