Royal Caribbean Orders Two Discovery Class Ships for 2029, 2032
By launching a new ship class years in advance, Royal Caribbean is locking in scarce European shipyard capacity and signaling the next phase of cruise innovation beyond mega-ships.
Royal Caribbean Group has signed new agreements with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique to build a new cruise ship platform called the Discovery Class, including two firm orders scheduled for 2029 and 2032 and options for four additional vessels.
Royal Caribbean Group announced the agreements on Jan. 29, saying the deals are subject to customary conditions, including financing arrangements. The ships will be built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique yard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
Order structure and delivery timeline
Royal Caribbean Group has positioned Discovery as its next-generation ship class, following its recent large-ship platforms. The company has not yet disclosed ship names, homeports, or itineraries for the first vessel’s 2029 debut.
- Discovery Class Ship 1: Scheduled to debut in 2029.
- Discovery Class Ship 2: Scheduled for delivery in 2032.
- Additional orders: The agreements include options for four more Discovery Class ships.
What Royal Caribbean has not confirmed yet
Royal Caribbean Group has not published technical specifications for the Discovery Class, including gross tonnage, passenger capacity, propulsion details, or a feature list. It also has not announced where the ships will sail.
Some coverage has described the ships as likely mid-sized and potentially suited to a wider range of itineraries, including Panama Canal transits and access to smaller ports, but Royal Caribbean has not confirmed those points. During investor discussions referenced in coverage of the announcement, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said much of the online speculation around “size” and “capacity” is “inaccurate.”
How executives are positioning the Discovery Class
Company and shipyard leaders framed the new class as a step-change concept rather than an incremental update to existing designs.
“These ships will be a showcase of what’s possible when design meets purpose,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, adding that the goal is “bringing the world closer to our guests.” Liberty also cited work with the Saint-Nazaire yard on new technology as part of the plan for the class.
Bayley said the platform is designed around a guest-first concept. “The Discovery Class introduces a bold new concept that puts our guests at the center of it all,” he said. Bayley added that the ships are intended to deliver “extraordinary, one-of-a-kind experiences,” ranging from design choices to “immersive moments.”
From the shipyard’s side, Chantiers de l’Atlantique Chief Executive Officer Laurent Castaing described the deal as a marker for future shipbuilding. “Together, we are shaping a new generation of ocean vacations,” Castaing said.
Chantiers de l’Atlantique’s track record with Royal Caribbean Group
The Discovery Class agreements extend a shipbuilding relationship that Royal Caribbean Group traces back to the 1980s. Chantiers de l’Atlantique built Royal Caribbean Group’s original Sovereign Class ships beginning in 1985, including Sovereign of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas, and Majesty of the Seas.
Over roughly four decades, the Saint-Nazaire yard has built 21 ships for Royal Caribbean Group across its brands, including vessels in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class and Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series. The shipyard is also currently building two more ships for Royal Caribbean Group: the seventh Oasis Class ship (often referred to as Oasis 7) and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcite.
How Discovery fits into broader investment plans
Royal Caribbean has linked the Discovery Class to a wider push that includes destination and digital investments designed to support end-to-end vacation experiences. On sustainability, executives have not announced specific technologies for Discovery, but the company has pointed to features used on newer ships such as LNG fuel systems, advanced waste treatment systems, and energy-efficient designs.
The group has also said it is expanding in river cruising through its Celebrity Cruises brand, with 10 additional river vessels ordered, bringing that fleet to 20 by 2031. The first ship, Celebrity Compass, is under construction and scheduled to debut in 2027, with itineraries that the company said are already selling out in record time.
With the first Discovery Class debut still several years away, Royal Caribbean Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique are expected to release initial design details, including size, capacity, technical systems, and the first itinerary and homeport announcements, as the program moves from contract to confirmed specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many Discovery Class ships has Royal Caribbean Group ordered?
Royal Caribbean Group has placed two firm orders for the Discovery Class and secured options for four additional ships.
When will the first Discovery Class ship enter service?
The first Discovery Class ship is scheduled to debut in 2029, followed by a second ship scheduled for delivery in 2032.
Where will the Discovery Class ships be built?
The ships will be built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique at its shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
Has Royal Caribbean announced ship size, passenger capacity, homeports, or itineraries?
No. Royal Caribbean Group has not released technical specifications, passenger capacity figures, ship names, homeports, or itineraries for the Discovery Class so far. Bayley has also said online speculation around “size” and “capacity” is “inaccurate.”
What sustainability features can we expect from the Discovery Class?
Royal Caribbean Group has not announced specific sustainability technologies for the Discovery Class. The company has pointed to features used on newer ships, including LNG fuel systems, advanced waste treatment systems, and energy-efficient designs, but it has not confirmed what will be included on Discovery.
