Heading to Zero Landfill: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd's New Sustainability Report Highlights 10-Year Save the Waves Goals

MIAMI, Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s (NYSE: RCL) latest Sustainability Report, released today, documents the Company's commitment to environmental stewardship and showcases improved efficiencies across its fleet. 

For RCL, 2015 marked the completion of its 10-year Save the Waves goals, which focused on emissions and waste reduction,  as well as increasing the number of shore excursions that met an internationally recognized sustainability standard. 

In line with these goals, over the past decade RCL built its most efficient cruise ships and reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 25 percent. In 2015, 17 ships reported 100 percent re-purposed waste on certain itineraries.  

"At Royal Caribbean, we are working to put sustainability into 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 our responsibility to do so in a way that protects the oceans that we sail every day. Our mantra is continuous improvement, and that especially applies to our environmental performance."

In the report, the company noted the expansion of its Advanced Emissions Purification program, as well as a new set of goals for the year 2020 that were established with input from the company's global conservation partner, World Wildlife Fund.

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

The company achieved a daily water consumption average of 55 gallons/day – nearly half of the U.S. average of 100 gallons/day

An industry-first software, seven years in the making, is optimizing ship speeds and routes to achieve the best possible fuel efficiency

The company was named to the 2016 World's Most Ethical Companies list – a distinction granted to only 130 companies in 21 countries

The company has committed to only sourcing cage-free eggs and gestation-crate-free pork by 2022

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

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that owns and operates three global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.  We also own a 50 percent joint venture interest in the German brand TUI Cruises and a 49 percent interest in the Spanish brand Pullmantur and have a minority interest in smaller regional brands.  Together, these brands operate a combined total of 49 ships with an additional 13 on order.  They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 490 destinations on all seven continents.  Additional information can be found on www.rclcorporate.com.                                                                  

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SOURCE Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.