RCG-Royal Caribbean Group has advanced its fleet development strategy with the signing of agreements for a new class of cruise ships to be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France. The programme, designated Discovery Class, comprises two firm orders with contractual options that could expand the series by as many as four additional vessels.
The first ship of the class is scheduled for delivery in 2029, with a second vessel planned to follow in the early years of the next decade. Company leadership has characterized the project as a departure from existing design lineages, indicating that Discovery Class is intended to stand apart from earlier Royal Caribbean vessels rather than serve as a refinement of established platforms. The ships are positioned as purpose-built for destination-focused itineraries, with design and onboard features intended to support more immersive travel experiences.
At the corporate level, the new class has been presented as an expression of Royal Caribbean Group’s longer-term approach to cruise development, combining functional design objectives with emerging technologies. The decision to again engage Chantiers de l’Atlantique reflects the group’s continued reliance on the Saint-Nazaire shipyard’s technical capabilities and integrated shipbuilding infrastructure, particularly for complex, large-scale passenger vessels.
The relationship between Royal Caribbean Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique spans nearly four decades. The yard constructed the line’s Sovereign Class ships in the mid-1980s, marking Royal Caribbean’s early expansion into purpose-built modern cruise tonnage. Since then, the partnership has produced many of the group’s most significant ships, including the Oasis Class for Royal Caribbean International and the Edge Series for Celebrity Cruises. To date, Chantiers de l’Atlantique has delivered 21 vessels to Royal Caribbean Group and continues to work on additional newbuilds currently in the orderbook.
From the shipbuilder’s perspective, the Discovery Class project represents an opportunity to apply new construction methods and technologies in response to evolving operational and passenger expectations. The class is framed as a platform through which future shipbuilding concepts can be tested and refined within a commercial cruise context.
The introduction of Discovery Class aligns with Royal Caribbean Group’s wider growth strategy, which encompasses further investment in ocean-going and river vessels, the development of additional private destinations, and expanded use of digital systems and sustainability initiatives across its brands.