Royal Caribbean is supporting the recent decision by St. Kitts and Nevis to be a part of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council's network, a leader in environmental sustainability among the cruise industry.
Royal Caribbean, a GTSC patron, is helping sponsor implementation of the new Criteria for Destinations in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Royal Caribbean Vice President for Environmental Stewardship and Global Chief Environmental Officer, Jamie Sweeting, commented on why the cruise giant is helping sponsor the island, "We feel a responsibility in working with destinations to try to increase the positive and minimize the negative impacts of our visitations."
A cruise company can hold its ships to a high standard of environmental sustainability (Royal Caribbean’s vessels have advanced wastewater purification systems, for instance, and the company is installing exhaust gas scrubbers on some of its smokestacks).
When the final GSTC Criteria for Destinations are in place, they will provide another standard by which Royal Caribbean can judge ports of call.
St. Kitts and Nevis is a good place to start. Many of Royal Caribbean’s voyages to the Southern Caribbean stop at Basseterre, the country’s capital, where guests are able to ride the “sugar train,” visit an original plantation house, trek through lush jungle, or ride a catamaran over to Nevis for a beach barbecue.
