Saint-Nazaire Shipyard in France Begins Construction of New Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship, Everything You Need to Know

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An important construction achievement has been made by Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard located in Saint-Nazaire, France, with the start of the keel laying of the seventh Oasis-class cruise ship ordered by Royal Caribbean. This project represents the official launch of building one of the biggest cruise ship families in the world, confirming France as one of the leading destinations in Europe for the manufacturing of cruise ships.

This vessel will be delivered to its owner in 2028 and represents a part of the expansion strategy of Royal Caribbean Group’s fleet in order to develop long-distance cruising around Europe, North America, and around the world.

Cruise Fleet Expansion Strengthens Global Tourism Connectivity

The new Oasis-class ship forms part of a wider cruise industry expansion that directly influences international travel patterns across the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe. Cruise tourism remains a major driver of leisure travel, with large vessels serving as floating resorts that connect multiple destinations across continents.

Once operational, the ship will expand capacity for international cruise passengers departing from major ports in North America and Europe, including itineraries across the Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean region, and Atlantic crossings linking the United States and Europe.

For global travellers, the expansion of Oasis-class vessels increases access to large-scale cruise holidays offering multi-destination itineraries without the need for frequent hotel changes or complex air travel routing.

Saint-Nazaire Shipyard Reinforces France’s Role in Cruise Manufacturing

The construction activity in Saint-Nazaire, located on the western coast of France in Europe, highlights the strategic importance of French shipyards in global cruise ship production. Chantiers de l’Atlantique remains one of the leading shipbuilding facilities in Europe, responsible for producing some of the world’s largest cruise vessels.

France’s Atlantic coast has become a critical industrial zone supporting cruise tourism infrastructure worldwide, with ships built in Saint-Nazaire later deployed across international waters serving passengers from the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America.

The keel laying marks the transition from early fabrication to full-scale modular assembly, where hull sections are progressively combined into a completed vessel structure.

Oasis-Class Cruise Ships Drive Large-Scale Tourism Demand

The Oasis-class cruise segment is one of the most influential categories in global leisure tourism, known for its high passenger capacity and destination-style onboard environments. These ships are designed to function as floating tourism cities, featuring entertainment districts, dining zones, leisure parks, and family-oriented attractions.

The addition of a seventh Oasis-class vessel expands overall cruise tourism capacity, supporting rising demand from international travellers seeking multi-destination travel experiences across the Caribbean, Europe, and North America.

Ports in Florida, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe are expected to benefit from increased passenger volumes once the vessel enters service, supporting local tourism economies through port calls, excursions, and overnight stays.

Cruise Tourism Impact on Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Transatlantic Routes

The expansion of Royal Caribbean’s fleet continues to influence key global cruise corridors. In the Caribbean region, cruise tourism remains a dominant sector for island economies such as the Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic, where large cruise ships contribute significantly to visitor arrivals.

In Europe, Mediterranean destinations including Spain, Italy, and Greece benefit from cruise itineraries that connect multiple coastal cities in a single journey. Saint-Nazaire-built vessels frequently operate in these waters during peak summer travel seasons, supporting regional tourism flows across Southern Europe.

Transatlantic routes linking Europe and the United States also remain an important segment of cruise travel, offering long-haul leisure journeys between major ports such as Barcelona, Southampton, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale.

Construction Timeline Reflects Long-Term Cruise Industry Growth

The ship’s development follows a structured timeline, beginning with initial order placement in 2024 and steel-cutting in 2025, before entering full assembly following the keel laying in 2026. This multi-year construction process reflects the scale and complexity of modern cruise ship engineering.

By 2028, the vessel is expected to enter service, contributing additional capacity to one of the fastest-growing segments in global tourism. Cruise operators continue to invest in larger and more technologically advanced ships to meet increasing demand for immersive travel experiences.

Onboard Tourism Experience Designed for Global Travellers

Oasis-class ships are designed to function as destination environments, offering passengers a wide range of entertainment, dining, and leisure options onboard. These vessels typically include multi-deck entertainment zones, themed neighbourhoods, dining districts, and family activity areas.

For international tourists, particularly those from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada, cruise travel provides an accessible way to explore multiple destinations across the Caribbean and Europe within a single itinerary.

The continued expansion of this ship class reflects growing demand for integrated travel experiences that combine accommodation, transport, and entertainment in one environment.

Global Cruise Industry Outlook and Tourism Expansion

Cruise and tourism grows in destinations across France, Spain, Italy, the United States, and island nations in the Caribbean are expected to see continued increases in visitor arrivals driven by large-scale cruise itineraries.

The development of new Oasis-class vessels highlights the long-term investment being made in maritime tourism infrastructure and the sustained demand for cruise-based travel experiences worldwide.