Royal Caribbean International’s new ship, “Icon of the Seas”, set sail out of Miami last month as the world’s largest cruise ship yet, voyaging with nearly ten thousand passengers and crew aboard. But not everyone celebrates with drinking and dancing. Although it has been pitched as a climate-friendly vessel, environmentalists have voiced their concerns about the huge amounts of uneaten food that are wasted on cruises in general. Now, for most travelers, food is an important—if not the most important—part of the cruising experience, with what seems to be an unlimited number of options included in the fare. But with such versatility in choices comes a large amount of food that is left uneaten. Royal Caribbean’s goal is to make sure consumers have the option to eat whatever they want while also reducing food waste. According to the Wall Street Journal, Royal Carribean Group ships produced over 53,656 cubic meters of waste in 2022, which is equal to about 13 Olympic-sized swimming pools filled with compressed trash. So, what makes “Icon of the Seas” different? Royal Caribbean created an artificial intelligence system to tackle this food waste problem on its latest and largest vessel. Let me tell you what I think of it.
Now, when I think of cruise ships, I think it can be rough trying to figure out how to balance endless buffets with minimal food waste. But, looking deeper into this new AI take on the issue, Royal Caribbean is doing quite well—in theory. The cruise line hopes to cut waste in half by 2025 thanks to its new development, which sounds too good to be true since “Icon of the Seas” left Miami with over 130,000 lbs. of food for its 40 restaurants, bars and lounges. The new AI system is there to help better predict how much food and ingredients a vessel will need for a specific cruise. Royal Carribean has been collecting data for a few years now on the weight amounts of food collected after a voyage, which helps give a forecast for how much food to bring. The system is not just simply weighing a plate and taking the amount left uneaten, but rather collects data based on where the ship is going, the historical data related to guests, the demographics behind guests, and more. I mean, this is an extremely detailed system to figure out the number of strawberries needed for a trip!
During its preview sailings, an early sail before the official opening to the public, “Icon of the Seas” has been using around 86% of its food, which is well inside its goal, but still means thousands of pounds of food are not being eaten. Royal Caribbean sees this issue and is trying to prevent the food from just being thrown away. “Icon of the Seas” is home to the first- ever floating water park, which is partly powered by food waste, old cardboard and biowaste. The waste is converted into pellets that are then used to generate steam, which in turn generates power. According to Royal Caribbean, it has already reduced food waste by around 33% across its fleet of 28 ships. That means they are literally saving tons of food.
It is actually insane when you take in all these numbers and realize just how much food is wasted on cruise ships alone, but it is also remarkable how today’s technology is helping us cut back and recycle food waste into something else. Now, this AI is not perfect; as said before, Royal Caribbean is not using 100% of its food. But this is a system that takes time to study and understand the necessary amounts of food brought aboard. It may take years until the AI can predict down to the last grain of salt, but at least they are doing something about it.
I won’t sugarcoat it—humans have a knack for embracing their inner gluttony. Picture this: a sea of passengers aboard a cruise ship, plates piled high with culinary indulgences. The vessels practically float on an ocean of excess, and why? To ensure you sail away with a smile, even if it means consuming a week’s worth of calories in a day. It’s a feast fit for kings, but are we, the consumers, the ones letting the feast go to waste? Sure, you’ve shelled out a small fortune for the privilege of being pampered on the high seas, but does that grant a license to discard enough food to rival a small village’s intake? Are cruise lines intentionally luring us in with extravagant food options, knowing we’ll fork over our savings just for a taste? And let’s not even think about whether a 20% reduction in food choices would sway your decision to set sail—that’s a story for another day.
Yet, amidst this culinary excess, the issue at hand is the staggering amount of food left to rot. It’s a cash cow for the cruise industry, sure, but does anyone really care? Well, here is a “thank you” to Royal Caribbean for doing this, not just for the green in its pockets but for a green planet. It embraces technology, with AI taking center stage to predict and prevent the very waste we, mere humans, can’t. It’s a beacon of hope in a sea of indulgence. I’m genuinely grateful that someone is tackling this issue head-on. Here’s to hoping that as the AI-driven initiative gains momentum, we can wave goodbye to food waste on cruises. We’re not there yet, but every plate cleaned brings us one step closer. So, the next time you embark on a cruise, savor every morsel; the future of waste reduction is counting on everyone. Bon appétit, with a side of environmental responsibility!
Presley Zimmerman can be reached at [email protected]
Ron C Reynolds
10000 passengers? Sounds like a nightmare.