By
Cherie Rowlands |
Royal Caribbean International (RCI) signed a contract with STX France on 27 December 2012 for the Saint-Nazaire shipyard to build its third Oasis-class ship.
The newbuild will be a sister ship to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL)-owned brand’s 16-deck, 2,700-stateroom, 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.
“The Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have fundamentally transformed the cruise experience for our guests,” said RCCL chairman and CEO Richard Fain. “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.”
The agreement comes after it was reported that STX Finland feared the Finnish Government had not offered sufficient financial support to secure the order for the Turku shipyard.
RCI's contract with STX France includes the transfer of the RCCL-owned Pullmantur's Atlantic Star as part of the consideration. STX France has also provided the company with a one-year option for the mid-2018 delivery of a fourth Oasis-class vessel at similar pricing.
Studies are scheduled for January 2013 and production is planned for September 2013. STX France CEO Laurent Castaing said: “STX France is proud to partner with Royal Caribbean again and continue our decades-long relationship by building the third Oasis-class ship. Royal Caribbean has always been an important part of our shipyard's success and we are delighted to add this highly innovative and spectacular ship to the list of vessels we have built together.”
Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas – debuted in November 2009 and November 2010 respectively – with a range of industry ‘firsts’. These include a neighbourhood concept with seven themed areas for guests to seek experiences based on their personal style, preference or mood, the first park at sea, a zip line that races diagonally nine decks above an open-air atrium, an original handcrafted carousel, 28 multilevel urban-style loft suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and an aquatic amphitheatre.
“As the cruise line that revolutionised the industry with the FlowRider surf simulator, ice-skating rinks, cantilevered whirlpools and rock climbing walls, we are eager to add this third award-winning Oasis-class ship to our brand portfolio. This addition will allow us to showcase our legacy of innovation and imagination to even more guests around the world,” said RCI president and CEO Adam Goldstein.
Following the success of its Oasis-class ships, RCI is undertaking a fleetwide revitalisation to bring the latest innovations and highest guest-rated programmes from Oasis and Allure to the rest of its vessels.