Surprisingly, Royal Caribbean Group has entered into an agreement with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique to order a seventh Oasis class ship for delivery to its Royal Caribbean International fleet in 2028.
This announcement comes just months before the debut of Utopia of the Seas which many believed to be the sixth and final Oasis-class ship. Instead, Royal Caribbean Group surprised the fans of the Oasis-class ships with the announcement of a newbuild sister ship.
“While we eagerly anticipate the debut of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas this summer, we’re already dreaming up her sister ship and the next installation in the brand’s extremely popular Oasis Class,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “Across our three brands, we are focused on continuously challenging ourselves to deliver the ultimate vacation experience.”
The Oasis-class ship was introduced in 2009 with the debut of Oasis of the Seas. She offered new layouts, designs, features, amenities and size. She was quickly followed by Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas, with Utopia of the Seas arriving soon. Millions of families have sailed the Oasis-class ships which debuted the neighborhood concept, the split superstructure design and unparalleled entertainment that encompasses air, ice, water and traditional staging.
“These are exciting times for Royal Caribbean, and we have an incredible partner in Chantiers de l’Atlantique to bring to life the lucky seventh Oasis Class vessel of what is a remarkable class of ships,” added Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
As Royal Caribbean Group pursues its next Oasis-class ship, it has also recently added Silver Nova to Silversea, Celebrity Ascent to Celebrity Cruises and Icon of the Seas to Royal Caribbean International. With the popularity of Icon of the Seas and two Icon-class ships already under construction, it was thought the cruise line would focus solely on that new class. Instead, Oasis-class fans will soon have another ship to sail.
“This order signals Royal Caribbean Group’s continued confidence in our partnership that has delivered some of the most innovative ships at sea,” said Laurent Castaing, general manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique. “We look forward to building upon this relationship as we help bring this ship to life.”