Royal Caribbean Trims Services to Improve Sustainability

According to Cruise Industry News, Royal Caribbean International cruise line has recently elected to reduce the number of times it services most cabin rooms to just one time per day, citing a desire to improve sustainability as the reason.

“In an effort to be more sustainable and to align with global hospitality trends, we will be adjusting our stateroom services to one per day,” the company stated via a daily cruise bulletin.

The document also stated that passengers are encouraged to work with the ship’s housekeeping to ensure that their needs are fully met. Passengers can receive the services either in the morning or in the evening, per their own preference.

While the majority of the cabins will be switching to once-a-day services, junior suite staterooms and better will retain housekeeping twice a day. The change in schedule has already been observed on the following Royal Caribbean vessels within its 26-ship fleet: Quantum of the Seas, the Spectrum of the Seas, the Independence of the Seas, the Ovation of the Seas, and the Harmony of the Seas.

The article also noted that Norwegian Cruise Line made a similar move in 2022 by also reducing its housekeeping services to once a day. In a letter sent to crew members, Norwegian stated that it had done so to consolidate workers’ roles, while saving energy and water. Other cruise lines currently using a once-a-day housekeeping schedule include Carnival Cruise Line and Costa Cruises.