Arrivals & Departures The last straw for Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has revealed features of Spectrum of the Seas, which makes its debut in April. 

It will be the biggest and most expensive ship in Asia when it leaves Shanghai in June 2019. 

Royal Caribbean says it will deliver a more diversified line-up of cruises. 

These include longer journeys with “first-time destinations, weekend sailings for quick getaways, warm winter sailings to tropical destinations ... and special holiday and festival sailings to discover new cultures and traditions”.

Royal Caribbean Cruises chairman Richard Fain says healthy oceans are vital to the success of the company.

As part of its commitment to protecting the environment, the company’s fleet of 50 ships will be free of plastic straws from next year. 

Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, TUI Cruises and Pullmantur Cruceros are eliminating plastic straws “en route to comprehensive plastics-elimination” programs. 

“For over 25 years, our Save the Waves program has guided us to reduce, reuse and recycle everything we can. Eliminating single-use plastics is another step in that program,” Richard says. 

The company’s goal is zero landfill, which means all waste will be reused, recycled or incinerated. 

Fact File

• For more details: royalcaribbean.com.au