True to its name, Royal Caribbean is a Caribbean-inspired cruise line that wants to remain connected to the region. 

While the cruise line sails ships all over 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 Caribbean Tourism: An Iconic Summit” to discuss key topics such as the cruise industry’s role in creating employment and opportunities in the Caribbean.

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‘The Caribbean is the soul of Royal Caribbean’

During the discussion, Bayley stressed that “the Caribbean is the soul of Royal Caribbean.” He emphasized that everything the cruise line does reflects Royal Caribbean’s connection to and association with the Caribbean, from the colors and designs of its ships to the company’s warm, friendly culture.

Bayley underscored Royal Caribbean’s ongoing 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 strong supply chain systems are vital to cruise lines’ local sourcing initiatives. “It does require a lot of cooperation from the Ministry of Agriculture to work with the cruise lines to try and figure out how to create cooperatives to aggregate product so that we can purchase it … It takes time, commitment and focus, but we’re very open to that,” Bayley said.

Discussing cruise industry employment opportunities for Caribbean nationals, Bayley also spoke about the potential for Caribbean governments to develop frameworks similar to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). A government agency, the POEA protects the rights of Filipino workers abroad and regulates the recruitment of Filipino workers in the cruise industry and other sectors.

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Bayley praised the American Caribbean Maritime Foundation cadet program, sharing a recent success story of a female Bahamian second officer who brought Icon of the Seas into Nassau during its inaugural season.

When the discussion turned to the topic of sustainability, Bayley touched on 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 ship powered by LNG as the cruise line works toward introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

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Caribbean tourism officials appreciate Royal Caribbean’s collaboration

CTO Chairman 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 CTO reimagines the future of Caribbean tourism, the summit initiative demonstrates its commitment to building successful partnerships that benefit economies and communities.

Minister Gooding-Edghill recognized Royal Caribbean’s role in providing economic opportunities across the region. “It is a wonderful story … it says something about your leadership, it says something about your company,” he said, thanking Royal Caribbean for its longstanding commitment to the Caribbean.

CTO Secretary-General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper also expressed her gratitude to Royal Caribbean for its collaborative efforts: “This iconic summit underscores the power of partnerships and collaboration as we reimagine our approach to tourism development and deepen our engagement with 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 Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, Fla., beginning in August 2025.

CTO has pledged its commitment to strengthening partnerships with Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines. As the Caribbean’s tourism development agency, CTO intends to sponsor opportunities for open dialogue between the cruise industry and Caribbean stakeholders, and to pursue opportunities for sustainable growth and mutual benefit.

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