The long-standing rumor whispered through social media and onboard some of the world’s largest cruise ships is now confirmed: Royal Caribbean has officially announced the new Discovery Class of ships in agreement with the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France.

Two orders have now been made with the first of the new class to debut in 2029, followed by her sister ship with delivery in 2032. The orders are subject to standard conditions, including financing arrangements.

“The Discovery Class represents our continued commitment to shaping the future of vacations,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “These ships will be a showcase of what’s possible when design meets purpose, ultimately bringing the world closer to our guests.”

The agreements include options for four additional ships, but no expected dates are yet announced for those future vessels because they are not officially ordered.

No further details have been announced about the class, but rumors abound. With Royal Caribbean having focused on bigger-is-better ships since the Oasis Class debuted in 2009, the most prevalent expectation is that the Discovery Class will be smaller both in gross tonnage and guest capacity.

This idea is supported by the language being used to describe the new class, including the name itself: allowing guests to better “discover” the world, ports of call, and amazing cruise memories.

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

“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.”

The shipyard itself confirms just how different the new ships will be from vessels currently in the fleet.

“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.”

Discovering More Itinerary Options

It is likely that if the new class is a smaller, more intimate ship, Royal Caribbean may introduce more port-forward itinerary options to unique destinations or entirely new sailing regions.

The great success of the 274-night World Cruise in 2023-2024 aboard Serenade of the Seas showcased just how eager cruisers are for more unique opportunities and unusual destinations. For context, the 90,090-gross-ton Serenade of the Seas is one of the smaller ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet and first debuted in 2003.

Loyal-to-Royal guests are reacting eagerly to the announcement, hopeful for new ports to explore.

“Great news, hopefully starting a trend of returning to smaller ships that can get into smaller and more interesting ports,” one guest commented.

“This is very exciting news. Cant wait to see what this means for cruising in Asia, Australia and the Pacific,” another hoped.

Long History With Chantiers de l’Atlantique

What is not a surprise about the new class announcement is the partnership with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to design and build the new vessels.

In 1985, Chantiers de l’Atlantique built Sovereign of the Seas, and in the past 40 years, the shipyard has added 21 ships to the Royal Caribbean Group, including Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas as well as Celebrity Xcel and Celebrity Ascent.

Read Also: What Are the Different Royal Caribbean Ship Classes?

“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,” said Liberty.

Reimaging will be key, as Royal Caribbean is well known for adding new features and design elements to make its vessels truly one of a kind.

“These ships are going to change everything!” Bayley confirmed.

In addition to their vessels with Royal Caribbean Group, Chantiers de l’Atlantique has also constructed unique and innovative ships for other cruise lines, including MSC Cruises’ MSC World America and Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2.

New details about the exciting new class are sure to be announced in the months to come; stay tuned to Cruise Hive for all the updates!

Royal Caribbean Officially Orders New Discovery Class Cruise Ships