In a significant move for the global cruise industry, Royal Caribbean Group has officially confirmed the development of its new Discovery class of ships, while simultaneously announcing a major expansion of its river cruise operations under the Celebrity brand.
A New Era of Ocean Travel: The Discovery Class
Committing to a new class of vessel represents a monumental decision for any cruise line, involving years of meticulous planning, innovative design work, and substantial financial investment. Royal Caribbean Group has now taken this step, ending much speculation by confirming the Discovery class, though specific details about the ships remain closely guarded.
The company has placed firm orders for two ships with its long-standing shipbuilding partner, Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France, with options for four additional vessels. The first Discovery class ship is scheduled to debut in 2029, followed by a second delivery in 2032.
Speculation on Size and Design Philosophy
Industry observers are actively debating whether this new class will be smaller than the colossal Icon class – currently the world's largest at 248,000 gross tonnes – or if Royal Caribbean intends to push the boundaries of scale even further. Clues within the company's official statements suggest a potential shift towards a more intimate, experience-focused design.
The language emphasises "redefining how Royal's guests experience the world" and "bringing the world closer to our guests." Laurent Castaing, CEO of Chantiers de l'Atlantique, described the project as "shaping a new generation of ocean vacations."
Royal Caribbean president and CEO Michael Bayley elaborated, stating, "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."
A Four-Decade Shipbuilding Partnership
This announcement reinforces a partnership spanning over four decades, beginning in 1985 with the construction of Royal Caribbean's original Sovereign Class ships. To date, Chantiers de l'Atlantique has built 21 ships for the group, with two more – Oasis 7 and Celebrity Xcite – currently under construction at their Saint-Nazaire shipyard.
Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO Jason Liberty highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration, saying, "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."
Celebrity River Cruises: A Rapidly Expanding Fleet
Concurrent with its ocean-going ambitions, Royal Caribbean Group is aggressively expanding its presence on European waterways through its subsidiary, Celebrity Cruises. The company has announced an order for 10 new river ships, which will bolster its fleet to 20 vessels by 2031.
This expansion is poised to establish Celebrity River as one of Europe's largest river cruise operators. The strategy is designed to offer holiday-makers new avenues to experience the Celebrity brand, thereby retaining them within the company's broader travel ecosystem.
Innovative Design and Overwhelming Demand
The new river ships will feature open decks offering uninterrupted 360-degree views of Europe's picturesque riverside scenery. They will also incorporate innovative design elements from Celebrity's Edge series, such as the Magic Carpet – cantilevered dining pods that float above the river, claimed as an industry-first feature.
Demand for this new venture has been extraordinary. The inaugural 2027 season for Celebrity River Cruises sold out in under six minutes, which the company described as "exceeding expectations." Celebrity president Laura Hodges Bethge noted, "Our inaugural 2027 Celebrity River Cruises season sold out in under six minutes — a testament to how much guests value the unmatched hospitality and service Celebrity delivers."
With three new ships – Celebrity Wanderer, Celebrity Roamer, and Celebrity Boundless – coming online in 2028, the company has already opened bookings for that season's European itineraries.
Diverse European Itineraries for 2028
The expanded 2028 program will offer more than 160 voyages to over 50 destinations across Europe. Highlights of the curated itineraries include:
- Lower Danube Cruises: Journeying from Bucharest through the dramatic Iron Gates gorge, with each cruise featuring an overnight land stay in Romania's vibrant capital city.
- Dutch Tulip Season Cruises: Leisurely voyages between Brussels and Amsterdam during the peak spring bloom, visiting the world-renowned Keukenhof gardens, the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk, and the charming city of Maastricht.
- Christmas Markets Cruises: Experiencing the atmospheric European tradition on cruises between Basel and Amsterdam, with stops at enchanting, candlelit Rhine Valley villages including Mainz, Strasbourg, and Heidelberg.
Celebrity River Cruises will launch in 2027 with its first two vessels, Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker.
A Comprehensive Travel Portfolio Strategy
These announcements are part of Royal Caribbean Group's broader strategy to reveal a multiyear portfolio of new offerings spanning ocean, river, and land-based vacations. A key element of this plan is the significant expansion of its private island destination portfolio, which is set to grow from two to eight exclusive locations by 2028.
Jason Liberty summarised the integrated approach, stating, "With Celebrity's expansion into river, we're strengthening our connected holiday ecosystem, offering more choice, more access, and more reasons for guests to stay with us." This dual focus on groundbreaking ocean liners and expansive river operations underscores the group's ambition to dominate multiple facets of the global travel and tourism market.
