New Oasis-class cruise ship order announced

After Harmony of the Seas delivered in 2016, Symphony of the Seas in 2018, Wonder of the Seas in 2022 and Utopia of the Seas, which will leave Saint-Nazaire in June 2024, Chantiers de l’Atlantique will build the seventh ship of the Oasis class. It will be the fifth ship in the series built in Saint-Nazaire.

"As we prepare for the launch of Utopia of the Seas, we are already imagining its sister ship and positioning within the famous Oasis series. Our three flagship brands are constantly looking to innovate to offer cruise passengers a sublime and responsible holiday," said Royal Caribbean Group, chairman and chief executive Jason Liberty.

In a statement, the French shipyard said this new vessel will carry the “latest technical solutions developed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, solutions that will constantly improve the environmental performance of ships”.

"We are proud of the strong ties between Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Royal Caribbean Group. Thanks to more than 10 years of joint efforts, particularly on energy efficiency, this vessel will be one of the lowest greenhouse gas emitters per passenger per day in the world’s fleet," added Chantiers de l’Atlantique chief executive Laurent Castaing.

This order will be finalised with financing by the end of the year.

Mr Liberty said on a post on LinkedIn that the announcement comes on the heels of launching Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Ascent, Silversea Cruises’s Silver Nova and Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas.

He added in a post, “These new ships represent a wave of innovation at Royal Caribbean Group as we continue our pursuit of creating and delivering the best holiday experiences responsibly.”