Royal Caribbean Orders Sixth Oasis-Class Vessel
Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited (RCL) has ordered a sixth Oasis-class cruise ship from French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique for delivery in the fall of 2023.
She is the 23rd cruise ship that RCL has ordered from the yard. Chantiers de l’Atlantique has already built Harmony of the Seas, delivered in May 2016, and Symphony of the Seas, delivered in March 2018, and will deliver the third vessel in spring 2021. The first two ships in the class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, were delivered in 2009 and 2010 by STX Europe Turku Shipyard, Finland.
The order is contingent upon financing, which is expected to be completed in the second or third quarter of this year.
In November last year, Chantiers de l’Atlantique's pre-assembly area was expanded by 17,000sqm, a 30 percent increase. The rail of the 1,400-ton gantry crane which is used to assemble the hull of the large vessels was extended by 135 meters (443 feet). This €16 million ($18 million) investment allows the yard to move to a simultaneous construction capacity of 22 blocks, compared to 16 previously.
Main characteristics of the new vessel
Length overall: 362 meters (1,188 feet)
Breadth overall: 66 meters (217 feet)
Gross tonnage: 231,000 GRT
Passenger cabins: 2,857 / 6,700 passengers