Royal Caribbean Group has launched its new Discovery Class cruise ship construction program and doubled the size of its river cruise fleet across its cruise brands.
On January 29, Royal Caribbean Group announced via its official website that it has signed an agreement with Chantiers de l’Atlantique (CdA) shipyard to formally launch the construction of its Explorer-class cruise ships, redefining the global vacation experience for Royal Caribbean guests.
Under the agreement, Chantiers de l’Atlantique will be responsible for building 2+4 Discovery Class cruise ships, with the first two vessels scheduled for delivery in 2029 and 2032, respectively. The ship order remains subject to customary conditions. This marks Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s first cruise ship order announced in 2026, and Royal Caribbean Group stated that this order will further strengthen its global shipbuilding network.
On January 28, Celebrity Cruises, a cruise brand under Royal Caribbean Group, announced plans to order 10 river cruise ships, aiming to expand its European river cruise fleet to 20 vessels by 2031. The first vessel in this series, the Celebrity Compass, has officially commenced construction and is scheduled for delivery in 2027.
It is understood that the design of Royal Caribbean’s Discovery Class cruise ship has been under public discussion for over two years, but in accordance with the company’s practice, specific details have not been disclosed, with the company only stating that most industry speculation about the ship type is “inaccurate”.
The group previously indicated that the Discovery Class cruise ships will be smaller than the Icon Class luxury vessels (250,000 GT), yet offer greater flexibility. Designed to navigate the Panama Canal, they will enable operations on Alaska itineraries while also expanding port coverage beyond that of ultra-large cruise ships.
Industry observers speculate that the Discovery Class cruise ships will have a gross tonnage of approximately 100,000 to 150,000 tons, and believe this class is intended to replace the Vision Class ships launched in the late 1990s.
“The Discovery Class represents our continued commitment to shaping the future of vacations. These ships will be a showcase of what’s possible when design meets purpose, ultimately bringing the world closer to our guests,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “Through our partnership with Chantiers de l’Atlantique, we are leveraging France’s world class shipbuilding ecosystem and new technology to, once again, reimagine the industry for decades to come.”
This partnership builds on a legacy that began in 1985, when Chantiers de l’Atlantique constructed Royal Caribbean Group’s original Sovereign Class ships – Sovereign of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas – and continues today with groundbreaking ship classes, including Oasis Class, from game changing Harmony of the Seas, as well as Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series, and now, Royal Caribbean’s new Discovery Class.
“The Discovery Class introduces a bold new concept that puts our guests at the center of it all. It will deliver extraordinary, one-of-a-kind experiences — from cutting edge design to immersive moments — every detail crafted to surprise and delight guests in ways they’ve never imagined, all while visiting truly breathtaking destinations around the world,” added Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean.
Chantiers de l’Atlantique, one of the world’s most renowned shipyards, has a long history of building industry leading ships. Over the past four decades, the shipyard has built a total of 21 ships for Royal Caribbean Group, and the yard is currently building two more ships with Oasis 7 and Celebrity Xcite.
“Royal Caribbean Group has been keenly focused on disrupting the vacation industry with their innovative and bold vacation offerings. Partnering with Jason and Michael to bring the Discovery Class to life is an opportunity to showcase the future of shipbuilding. Together, we are shaping a new generation of ocean vacations that will lead the industry toward a more innovative future,” said Laurent Castaing, Chief Executive Officer, Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
It is understood that Chantiers de l’Atlantique has a decades-long partnership with Royal Caribbean Group. Since 1985, the two parties have collaborated on the construction of 21 cruise ships, including Royal Caribbean’s first Sovereign Class vessels. The seventh Oasis Class cruise ship scheduled for delivery in 2028 and the Edge Class cruise ship “Celebrity Xcite” (operated by Celebrity Cruises) are currently under construction at the shipyard. The newly contracted Explorer-class cruise ship represents the latest shipbuilding collaboration between the two parties.
Currently, Royal Caribbean Group has four ultra-large cruise ships under construction: the Legend of the Seas being built at Meyer Turku in Finland, two sister ships of the Icon Class, and the seventh Oasis Class vessel being constructed at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France. Regarding option orders, the group holds four Explorer Class ships and two Icon Class ships.
For Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the first two Explorer Class cruise ships for Royal Caribbean Group will fill a gap in its order book. The second ship in the series is scheduled for delivery in 2032, while construction of France’s new 78,000-ton displacement aircraft carrier will commence at the shipyard in 2032. This carrier project will sustain the shipyard’s workload through 2038.
Additionally, France’s Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard secured an order in November 2025 from MSC Cruises for 2+4 World Class cruise ships. The first two vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2031, respectively, with the order valued at €3.5 billion. The shipyard will also build two luxury sailing yachts for Orient Express.
Prior to Royal Caribbean Group’s announcement of its bulk order, the total value of global cruise industry orders had already surpassed $70 billion, encompassing 75 ocean-going cruise ships. The majority of this growth stems from the mass-market segment, where 34 cruise ships are currently under construction, offering approximately 165,000 passenger berths.