True to its name, Royal Caribbean is a Caribbean-inspired cruise line that wants to stay connected to the region.
While the cruise line sails around the world, about 60% of its business is the Caribbean, according to Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Michael Bayley.
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Bayley recently met with Caribbean tourism officials aboard Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas during Caribbean Weekend in Miami this month to explore the potential for economic growth, sustainability and deeper community engagement in the region.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) partnered with Royal Caribbean for “Envisioning Tourism in the Caribbean: An Iconic Summit” to discuss key topics such as the role of the cruise industry in creating jobs and opportunities in the Caribbean.
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'The Caribbean is the soul of Royal Caribbean'
During the conversation, Bayley highlighted that “the Caribbean is the soul of Royal Caribbean.” He emphasized that everything the cruise line does reflects Royal Caribbean's connection and association with the Caribbean, from the colors and designs of its ships to the company's warm and friendly culture.
Bayley underscored Royal Caribbean's continued commitment to supporting the success of all stakeholders within the Caribbean cruise tourism ecosystem. He highlighted the cruise line's focus on creating employment opportunities and its efforts to boost local sourcing in the region.
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He also explained how robust supply chain systems are vital to cruise lines' local sourcing initiatives. “It takes a lot of cooperation from the Ministry of Agriculture to work with the cruise lines to try to figure out how to create cooperatives to aggregate products so we can buy them… It takes time, commitment and focus, but we are very open to that” Bayley said.
Discussing employment opportunities in the cruise industry for Caribbean nationals, Bayley also spoke about the potential for Caribbean governments to develop frameworks similar to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). The POEA, a government agency, protects the rights of overseas Filipino workers and regulates the hiring of Filipino workers in the cruise industry and other sectors.
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Bayley praised the American Caribbean Maritime Foundation's cadet program and shared the recent success story of a second officer from the Bahamas who brought the Icon of the Seas to Nassau during her inaugural season.
When the discussion turned to the topic of sustainability, Bayley referred to Royal Caribbean's waste reduction initiatives and investments in innovative energy solutions such as biofuels and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Icon of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's first LNG-powered ship as the cruise line works to introduce net-zero emissions cruising by 2035.
Caribbean tourism officials appreciate Royal Caribbean's collaboration
CTO President Ian Gooding-Edghill, who also serves as Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport, shared his reflections on the importance of collaboration with the cruise industry, noting that as the CTO reimagines the future of Caribbean tourism, the summit initiative demonstrates its commitment. to build successful partnerships that benefit economies and communities.
Minister Gooding-Edghill recognized Royal Caribbean's role in providing economic opportunities throughout the region. “It's a wonderful story… it says something about your leadership, it says something about your company,” he said, thanking Royal Caribbean for its long-standing commitment to the Caribbean.
CTO Secretary General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper also expressed her gratitude to Royal Caribbean for their collaborative efforts: “This iconic summit underscores the power of partnerships and collaboration as we reimagine our approach to development.” tourism and deepen our commitment to the cruise industry. “
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During the summit, Bayley assured CTO members that the Caribbean will remain central to the cruise line's operations as Royal Caribbean prepares to launch its next Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, which will sail itineraries around the Caribbean from Port Canaveral, Florida, starting in August 2025.
CTO has pledged its commitment to strengthening partnerships with Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines. As the Caribbean tourism development agency, the CTO intends to sponsor opportunities for open dialogue between the cruise industry and Caribbean stakeholders, and seek opportunities for sustainable growth and mutual benefit.
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