Royal Caribbean Group to Build New Discovery Class Ships in France

Royal Caribbean Group has announced a series of agreements with the Chantiers de l’Atlantique (CdA) shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France to secure the construction of the new Discovery Class ships that Royal says will redefine how its guests experience the world. 

The agreements include two firm ship orders with options for four more. The first ship in the class is set to debut in 2029, while the second is scheduled to be delivered in 2032.

“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.”

One of the world’s most renowned shipyards, Chantiers de l’Atlantique has a long history with Royal Caribbean Group. Over the past four decades, the shipyard has built a total of 21 ships for the cruise giant, and the yard is currently building two more ships — Oasis 7 and Celebrity Xcite.

“The Discovery Class introduces a bold new concept that puts our guests at the centre 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,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean.

“Royal Caribbean Group has been keenly focused on disrupting the vacation industry with their innovative and bold vacation offerings,” said Laurent Castaing, Chief Executive Officer, Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

“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.” 

Royal Caribbean Group is in the midst of revealing a multiyear portfolio of new vacation offerings that span ocean, river and land based vacations. The company boasts a pipeline of multiple ocean and river ships coming over the next three years plus eight total land based destinations by 2028.