Just one day after taking delivery of the new Icon-class vessel Legend of the Seas, RCI-Royal Caribbean marked another significant milestone in its newbuilding programme with the keel-laying of its 7th Oasis-class ship at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
The ceremony, held on June 11th, officially signalled the start of assembly work on the yet-to-be-named vessel, which is scheduled to enter service in 2028. Representatives from Royal Caribbean Group, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, project teams and invited guests attended the event as the first prefabricated steel block was lowered into position in the dry dock.
In keeping with long-standing maritime tradition, newly minted euro and U.S. dollar coins were placed beneath the keel to bring good fortune to the vessel, its future crew and passengers.
The shipyard noted that the placement of the first block marked the formal commencement of the vessel’s assembly phase, describing the occasion as a major milestone for all teams involved in the project.
Royal Caribbean first announced the order for the vessel in early 2024. Construction advanced with the steel-cutting ceremony in October 2025, and the project has now entered the stage where individual hull sections and modules will be assembled into the completed ship. Once delivered, the vessel is expected to feature more than 15 decks and will become the seventh member of the highly successful Oasis class.
Although the cruise line has not yet revealed the ship’s name or detailed specifications, the newbuild is expected to follow the design philosophy established by its sister vessels, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.
The vessel is expected to incorporate a range of entertainment venues, dining concepts, family-oriented attractions and the signature neighbourhood layout that has become a defining feature of the Oasis-class series. Royal Caribbean has indicated that the ship will introduce new experiences, dining venues and entertainment offerings while continuing to build upon the established success of the class.
The keel-laying represents the latest step in Royal Caribbean’s ongoing fleet expansion strategy, with the company simultaneously progressing new construction projects across both its Oasis and Icon-class programmes.