The US-based cruise giant has signed a maritime declaration with the Meyer Turku Oy shipyard in Finland and the country’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The agreement is designed to “advance innovation, strengthen competitiveness and bolster the maritime industry’s ecosystem”.

The company, which also owns the Celebrity Cruises and Silversea brands, said the new partnership “advances” its Destination Net Zero strategy, which has the goal to decarbonise its operations by 2050.

This agreement includes producing a roadmap for the building of climate-neutral ships in Finland, strengthening innovation at the Meyer Turku Oy shipyard, as well as piloting and testing new sustainable innovations and technologies on Royal Caribbean Group’s ships.

Jason Liberty, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean Group, said: “Our partners in Finland have helped us deliver some of the world’s most impressive and sustainable ships of their time, including our newest ship debuting in January 2024, Icon of the Seas.

“This new partnership sets the stage for future innovations and allows us and the maritime industry to continue pursuing sustainability at the highest level.”

As well as its net-zero ambitions, Royal Caribbean also has more pressing environmental targets, such as reducing its carbon “intensity” by double digits within three years compared to 2019 levels, as well as the goal of introducing a net-zero ship to its fleet by 2035.

Tim Meyer, chief executive of Meyer Turku Oy, said: “We recognise the need to continuously evolve and create strategies to reduce carbon emissions toward net zero. This commitment will set us up, as an industry, to innovate and adapt in how we design, build and operate ships.”