Carnival Cruise Line Welcomes Grand Turk Students and Officials Aboard Mardi Gras for Earth Day Environmental Tour

Carnival Cruise Line partnered with the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) to welcome a group of students from Grand Turk’s H.J. Robinson High School and government leaders aboard Mardi Gras for an environmental ship tour in honor of Earth Day.

Held as part of the TCHTA’s TCI Shines initiative, the tour included a look inside the ship’s engine control room, where visitors learned about the efficiency of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Inside the ship’s galleys, the group saw firsthand how food digestors are used to break down food waste. At the onboard recycling center, where waste is sorted and processed, the group witnessed the crew’s work that ensures as many items as possible are recycled and diverted from landfills. Last year, Carnival Cruise Line processed 11 million pounds of recyclables fleetwide. To watch a video highlighting these efforts, click here.

“At Carnival Cruise Line, we have many proactive initiatives to manage the environmental impact of our fleet and preserve important natural resources,” said Richard Pruitt, vice president of environmental operations for Carnival Cruise Line, who led the tour. “It was our pleasure to welcome members of the Grand Turk community to witness many of those practices first-hand. We hope they came away with a better understanding of the importance we place on environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of the people in the communities we touch and serve.”

Carnival’s initiatives meet and often exceed all international and domestic environmental regulations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. Every Carnival ship employs an environmental officer who oversees shipboard environmental programs and conducts all environmental training. All efforts combined are advancing Carnival Corporation’s goal to achieve a 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.

“For the last 15 years, the TCI Shines initiative has promoted the preservation of the country’s environment and we were so pleased to incorporate this educational visit aboard Mardi Gras into this year’s program,” said Stacy Cox, chief executive officer for TCHTA. “Carnival’s various efforts to protect and respect the environment serve as a shining example of how members of our tourism industry can be proactive and responsible members of the Turks and Caicos community.”

Government leaders in attendance at the Mardi Gras environmental tour included Acting Governor H.E. Anya Williams; the Honorable C. Washington Misick, Premier; the Honorable Rhondalee Knowles, Attorney General; and the Honorable Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Gaming and Disaster Management.

“The natural beauty of Turks and Caicos Islands is what sets us apart as an international destination and fuels the tourism that is our nation’s leading economic driver,” said Minister Connolly. “When global companies like Carnival prioritize the protection of our precious natural resources, it is a win-win for our sustainability goals and for the positive economic impact of tourism to our islands. We are grateful to Carnival for inviting us to see their sustainability initiatives onboard Mardi Gras and for their ongoing environmental efforts.”

Carnival Corporation, parent company of Carnival Cruise Line, recently released its latest sustainability report, detailing industry-leading initiatives and momentum across environmental, social and governance focus areas. The full report is available on the company’s sustainability website at http://www.carnivalsustainability.com.