Two new ships for the Royal Caribbean Group will feature new technology that will transform how the ships manage waste.
Icon of the Seas, for the Royal Caribbean cruise brand, and Silver Nova, for the Silversea Cruises brand, will have two new systems installed – Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis (MAP) and Micro Auto Gasification (MAG).
These clever technologies take the waste products produced by the ship and convert them into synthesis gas, which can then be used as energy onboard the ship.
These are the first ocean cruise ships to make use of these technologies, helping to turn the solid waste from the cruise ship into something useful, and reducing the need for other forms of energy on the ships.
I am proud of Royal Caribbean Group’s drive to SEA the Future and be better tomorrow than we are today. Pioneering the first waste-to-energy system on a cruise ship builds on our commitment to remove waste from local landfills and deliver great vacation experiences responsibly.
Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group
The Royal Caribbean Group is also implementing other plans and tools across the fleet in order to reduce food waste by 50% by 2025. These include:
- Developing its own software system to monitor food supplies and better estimate food preparation and ordering
- Using AI to help make changes to food production in real time
- Launching a new role to look after food waste, and to train crew
- Tracking how popular certain foods/dishes are, and adjusting production accordingly
- Starting a campaign targeted at crew in their own dining areas, focussing on waste awareness.
These are the only new features that the ships will offer that are focussed on making the fleet more eco-friendly. Both are among the first LNG-powered cruise ships, using a cleaner fuel type.
To read more about how cruise ships manage waste currently, check out this article next: Cruise Ship Waste Management Explained
Meat Loaf Tribute Cruise Returns in 2026 With Bigger Rock Experience at Sea
The theatrical spirit of Meat Loaf will once again take to the ocean waves in 2026, as Steve Steinman’s rock spectacular returns for a second high-octane sailing following its sell-out…
Man Arrested After Jumping Into Port Waters Near Enchanted Princess
Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess was forced to initiate a brief man-overboard response in Martinique after a man jumped into the water beside the ship on Saturday, 29th November 2025. The…
Carnival Quietly Raises Service Charge Across Drinks and Dining
Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new price rise that will affect most guests onboard, increasing the automatic service charge applied to many onboard purchases. The fee, long set at…
Virgin Voyages Launches Adults-Only Season Pass to Alaska
Virgin Voyages is introducing a month-long season pass for Alaska in summer 2026, giving guests the chance to spend 30 days exploring the Last Frontier aboard Brilliant Lady on an…
Hi Jenni,
I’m Helen at BBC 5live. Please can i ask if you have an email address or phone number i can use for press requests?
Many thanks
Helen
Hi Helen. You can contact me at [email protected]. Thanks. jenni