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
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Carnival Adjusts Minor Guest Policy In Potential Crackdown On Room Swapping & Drink Package Sharing
Carnival Cruise Line has made some under-the-radar adjustments to its minor guest policy that come into effect for all cruises from 1st February 2025. The policy changes the rules on…
Royal’s Most Loyal Passenger Hits 1,000th Cruise Landmark
In a milestone that few could imagine, Mario Salcedo, affectionately known as “Super Mario,” has celebrated his 1,000th cruise c- all with Royal Caribbean International. The achievement underscores his incredible…
2024 Sees 10-Year High Gastrointestinal Outbreak Statistics – 2025 Outbreaks Already Occuring
2024 saw the highest number of gastrointestinal (GI) illness outbreaks on cruise ships in over a decade. The CDC recorded 16 outbreaks aboard ships under its jurisdiction last year, marking…
Cruise Company Lifts Ban On Certain Dogs From Sailing
Cruise Tails has announced a significant update to the rules for its November 2025 inaugural “Tails of the Seas” dog-friendly cruise, expanding the weight limit for participating dogs from 20…
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