Construction begins on the sixth ship of the Oasis class, which will be ready in the spring of 2024 and will be the first of its class powered by LNG
Royal Caribbean International has begun construction of the newest ship in its revolutionary Oasis class, with a steel-cutting ceremony held at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The sixth ship in the Oasis class will be named Utopia of the Seas and is scheduled to make its commercial debut in spring 2024. It will be the first of its class to operate on LNG (liquefied natural gas).
“We are very excited about the start of construction on Utopia of the Seas,” explained Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “On what will be the sixth ship in the Oasis class, travelers will be able to enjoy the unique combination of Royal Caribbean experiences and new attractions that have made, and will continue to make, ships of this class the best cruises for travelers of all ages.”.
At the ceremony, the first piece of steel for Utopia of the Seas was cut, marking the start of the 30-month construction process. Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, and Laurent Castaing, CEO of Chantiers de l'Atlantique, attended the event, along with other company representatives.
Royal Caribbean's revolutionary Oasis class redefined the cruise industry with the introduction of Oasis of the Seas in 2009. Today, these ships are recognized as the best for family vacations and travelers of all ages. With the recent introduction of Wonder of the Seas, a series of architectural innovations continue to enhance the cruise experience in every aspect, offering unparalleled attractions, entertainment, and excitement, now complemented by a transition to cleaner energy.
By introducing the first LNG-powered Oasis-class ship, the cruise line will take another step toward this clean energy future after its first LNG-powered ship, Icon of the Seas, begins sailing in the fall of 2023. The use of the cleanest fossil fuel currently available for cruise ships and the environmentally friendly applications that Utopia of the Seas will feature onboard will boost energy efficiency and further reduce emissions.
