From ship to shore (literally). Royal Caribbean Cruises is trying to turn the ship around & make cruising as clean as possible by introducing 1,400 sustainable tours around the world.
Announced on World Tourism Day, the collection of green shore excursions were created to provide Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara guests with responsible options, and reduce the line’s environmental impact.
Read on for more information:
DID ROYAL CARIBBEAN RELEASE THESE TOURS AT ONCE?
Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither were these tours.
The company has been hard at work creating sustainable shore excursions as part of its 2020 World Wildlife (WWF) project.
Initially, the aim was to offer 1,000 clean options by the beginning of the new decade, however, the company managed to reach and surpass its goal nearly one-year ahead of schedule.
HOW CAN WE BE SURE THESE TOURS ARE SUSTAINABLE?
Smart question.
All tours are operated by companies certified by the UN-created Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
In order to meet GSTC standards, operators need to tick off four boxes – effective sustainbility planning, maximising social and economic benefit for the local community, enhancing cultural heritage, and reducing negative impacts on the environment.
“GSTC commends Royal Caribbean for taking these important steps encouraging tour operators to adopt – and seek GSTC accredited certification for – sustainable tourism practices.”
Randy Durband, GSTC Chief Executive
“Royal Caribbean’s efforts to boost the global supply of certified sustainable shore excursions is a watershed moment for the cruise industry,” he added.
“Having almost 1,400 tours in Royal Caribbean’s portfolio is an important milestone, and we congratulate them for their ongoing efforts.”
Royal Caribbean also conducted informational sessions with independent tour operators to educate them of the company’s commitment and ensure they upheld their sustainability requirements.
WHAT TYPES OF TOURS ARE INCLUDED IN THE SUSTAINABILITY OPTIONS?
Well, there’s 1,400 of them, so probably won’t list them all here.
Some examples include kayaking in Mallorca’s west coast, exploring an underground Mayan River Cenote in Cozumel, and taking part in a grape harvest in Montevideo.
Click here for more options.