Luxury Liners Go Green

This article reviews that twenty-first century passengers on the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises are set to make history in style. Up to six of Royal Caribbean’s Voyager- and Millennium-class vessels will be the first cruise ships ever powered by General Electric’s gas turbines. In addition to reducing engine-room noise and vibration and cutting emissions, this propulsion system—a departure from the traditional diesel engine—will make it possible for ships to set sail with a reduced maintenance crew and smaller parts inventory. Royal Caribbean International currently operates a fleet of 12 ships. In the Royal Caribbean application, the GE gas turbine will be used to drive generators that will provide electricity to propeller motors. The steam turbine will recover heat from the gas turbine exhaust for other uses. This combined gas turbine and steam turbine integrated electric drive system represents a departure from diesel engines in more than one respect.