It’s official. Royal Caribbean International will welcome a third Oasis-class ship to its fleet. Until now, the introduction of a sister to the Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas (seen in the header image) – currently, the two largest cruise ships in the world – was uncertain due to financing concerns. With yesterday’s announcement, however, construction of a third vessel has been scheduled at STX France, and there is even an option with the shipyard for a fourth one.
“The Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have fundamentally transformed the cruise experience for our guests,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “These ships have consistently generated outstanding guest satisfaction ratings and continue to produce superior financial results. We are thrilled to be adding a sister to this extraordinary class of vessels at a compelling price. Being back building in France just adds to the pleasure.”
What has yet to be announced is the name for this next ship. Among the original naming contest finalists for the first Oasis-class ships was Utopia of the Seas as reported by Gene Sloan at USA Today. Will this name be reconsidered or will a new contest be launched for the next vessel? Only time will tell. The ship is set for delivery in mid-2016 behind the launch of Royal Caribbean’s two other new Sunshine-class vessels in 2014 and 2015 respectively that will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
Feel free to please give us us your opinion. What would you name a third (and possibly a fourth) Oasis-class ship or Sunshine-class ship for that matter? Does Utopia of the Seas ring a bell for you? Tell us in the conveniently relocated comments section immediately below…
SOURCE: ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LIMITED
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