Royal Caribbean is making waves in the cruise industry with big plans for the next few years, including a new class of ocean-going ships and 10 new river ships.
Royal Caribbean Group has announced a series of agreements with France’s Chantiers de L’Atlantique shipyard to secure the construction of the new Discovery class. Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean’s chief product innovation officer, previously said the new ships would be smaller than the cruise line’s massive Icon class ships.
This news confirms a firm order for two ships with options for an additional four ships. The first ship of this class is scheduled to debut in 2029, with the second scheduled for delivery in 2032.
“Discovery Class represents our continued commitment to shaping the future of vacation,” Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty said in a news release. “These ships will be a showcase of what is possible when design is fit for purpose, ultimately bringing the world and our customers closer together.”
Details about the new ship are scarce, but Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bailey said the new Discovery class will put guests “at the heart of everything.”
“From cutting-edge design to immersive moments, we will deliver special and unique experiences where every detail is crafted to surprise and delight our guests in ways they never imagined while visiting truly breathtaking destinations around the world,” he said in a news release. “This will be a completely new class, a class we’ve never seen before.”
The decision to create the Discovery Class comes on the heels of further vessel announcements from Celebrity River Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. Last September, Celebrity first shared its foray into the world of river cruising with two new ships set to debut in 2027.
Now, Celebrity River Cruises has announced a commitment of 10 new ships to expand its European river cruise fleet to 20 ships by 2031. The announcement coincided with the first steel cut for the company’s debut riverboat, Celebrity Compass.
The 2028 season is now available for pre-order and has seen an 80% increase in European destinations compared to the brand’s first rollout in 2027. The 2028 season will feature 24 new ports in the lineup, offering more than 160 voyages to 50 destinations across Europe.
The itinerary includes cruises on the Danube, Rhine and Christmas markets.
“The first season of Celebrity River Cruises in 2027 sold out in less than six minutes, a testament to how much our guests value the unparalleled hospitality and service that Celebrity offers,” Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, said in a news release.
In addition to the new ocean-going and river vessels, Royal Caribbean is set to debut its third Icon-class vessel, Legend of the Seas, this November, with a fourth Icon-class vessel planned for 2027. A seventh Oasis-class ship is underway and is expected to join the fleet in 2028.
Over the past 40 years, the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard has built a total of 21 ships for the Royal Caribbean Group, and the shipyard is currently building two more with the seventh Oasis-class ship and Celebrity Excite.
According to Barron’s, Royal Caribbean Group announced that since its last earnings release, it has recorded seven weeks of bookings, the highest in the company’s history. Additionally, the outlet reported that Royal Caribbean’s stock price soared 15% in early trading Thursday, putting the stock up 20% by 2026.
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