Construction Begins on Royal Caribbean’s 7th Oasis Ship

Royal Caribbean’s seventh Oasis Class cruise ship has moved from design drawings to dry dock reality, as construction formally begins at a French shipyard ahead of a planned 2028 debut.

Keel-Laying Ceremony Marks Start of Assembly

The latest milestone for the yet-unnamed Oasis Class ship was the traditional keel-laying ceremony held on June 11, 2026, at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, on France’s Atlantic coast. Publicly available coverage describes the event as the formal start of block assembly, when the first prefabricated steel section is lowered into the dry dock to form part of the ship’s backbone.

Reports indicate that the ship will measure around 236,900 gross tons, placing it among the world’s largest cruise vessels and broadly in line with the dimensions of current Oasis Class ships. The project follows an earlier steel-cutting ceremony in October 2025, which signaled that the major components of the hull and superstructure could begin to take shape in the yard’s fabrication halls.

Coverage from cruise industry outlets notes that the vessel remains unnamed and is currently referenced simply as the seventh Oasis Class ship. That naming decision is expected closer to the launch window, a pattern Royal Caribbean has followed with other recent newbuilds. For now, the focus at Saint-Nazaire has shifted from design work and steel cutting to joining hundreds of prebuilt blocks into a complete hull.

Images released through shipyard and industry channels show the first massive block being positioned in the dock, with shipbuilder and cruise line representatives observing as cranes maneuver the steel section into place. With the keel now laid, work will intensify above and below the waterline over the coming months as the ship’s profile becomes increasingly recognizable.

Part of a Growing Oasis Fleet

The seventh Oasis Class ship extends a program that reshaped the modern cruise market when the first vessels in the series entered service. The class is known for its open-air central neighborhoods, expansive pool decks, and multi-venue entertainment concept that effectively turns the ship itself into the primary destination for many guests.

Existing Oasis Class ships such as Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and the upcoming Utopia of the Seas collectively serve as floating resorts for thousands of passengers on voyages concentrated in the Caribbean and select European routes. The newbuild scheduled for 2028 will join that lineup, giving Royal Caribbean additional flexibility to redeploy older vessels, add capacity in established homeports, or test new itineraries.

Available fleet data shows that the seventh Oasis ship will be the second in the class designed from the outset to run on liquefied natural gas, following Utopia of the Seas. That shift aligns with broader moves across the cruise sector toward lower-emission fuels and more energy-efficient hull and propulsion designs, even as ship sizes push toward record levels.

Industry observers note that adding another Oasis Class vessel allows Royal Caribbean to further leverage its purpose-built private destinations, where large-scale infrastructure can support the high passenger counts associated with these megaships. The additional capacity is expected to be particularly relevant in warm-weather markets, where demand for resort-style, activity-focused cruises has remained strong.

Timeline to a 2028 Debut

From the first steel cut in October 2025 to the keel laying in June 2026, the project has followed a typical cruise newbuild timeline, with major structural work expected to continue through 2027. Public information from shipbuilding and cruise industry sources suggests that key milestones still to come include float-out from dry dock, initial sea trials, interior outfitting, and final commissioning.

The ship is currently scheduled to enter service in 2028, after completing a series of technical and operational tests in the Atlantic. During these trials, engineers and crew typically verify propulsion, navigation, safety systems, and hotel operations, including the extensive entertainment, dining, and accommodation facilities that define the Oasis Class experience.

Royal Caribbean is expected to reveal more concrete details about the ship’s onboard offerings and deployment plans closer to its launch. Early indications from trade coverage suggest that the vessel will continue the brand’s emphasis on high-intensity onboard entertainment, multi-generational amenities, and short-to-medium length itineraries that can be easily combined into longer vacations.

While the ship’s first homeport and route network have not yet been confirmed in public materials, analysts point out that recent Oasis Class deployments have focused heavily on short Caribbean cruises from major Florida ports, as well as seasonal European sailings. The seventh ship gives the line additional options as new terminals and infrastructure projects open in key markets.

Built in France Amid a Broader Newbuild Wave

The construction of the seventh Oasis Class vessel underscores the long-standing relationship between Royal Caribbean and Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The Saint-Nazaire yard has delivered multiple ships in the class, and its facilities are equipped to handle the complex block assembly and outfitting work required for vessels of this scale.

At the same time, the project is unfolding against a backdrop of intense global cruise shipbuilding activity. Royal Caribbean is simultaneously advancing its Icon Class program at a Finnish yard, with several ships in various stages of construction and planning. The decision to continue investing in both Oasis and Icon programs reflects the cruise line’s strategy to maintain a portfolio of very large, amenity-rich ships positioned at the top end of the mass-market segment.

Shipyard reports indicate that working on multiple megaships in parallel demands a careful balance of labor, logistics, and supplier capacity. Steel blocks, propulsion components, cabin modules, and entertainment installations must be delivered and installed in sequence to keep to a tight schedule that leads up to the 2028 handover date.

For Saint-Nazaire, the seventh Oasis project helps sustain a pipeline of high-value work and reinforces the yard’s position as one of Europe’s premier builders of large cruise ships. For Royal Caribbean, the collaboration extends a formula that has already produced some of the best-known vessels in contemporary cruising.

Positioning in an Expanding Global Cruise Market

The launch of another Oasis Class ship comes as cruise travel continues to rebound and expand, with capacity growth focused on large ships that can deliver a wide range of activities, dining options, and entertainment under one roof. Industry data suggests that these features appeal to families, groups, and new-to-cruise travelers seeking resort-style experiences at sea.

Analysts following the sector note that Royal Caribbean’s strategy rests heavily on scale, both at sea and ashore. Large ships such as those in the Oasis and Icon classes are often deployed alongside dedicated terminals and private island destinations, enabling the company to manage passenger flows and onboard spending more effectively than on older, smaller tonnage.

The seventh Oasis Class ship is expected to play a role in that broader network from 2028 onward, giving the line an additional high-profile platform for new shows, attractions, and branded experiences. Its entry into service will also contribute to the gradual reshaping of Royal Caribbean’s fleet, as newer ships take on core itineraries and older vessels are shifted into niche routes or secondary markets.

As steel continues to rise in Saint-Nazaire, the unnamed ship represents both a continuation of a proven concept and a further bet on the staying power of very large cruise vessels in the global travel landscape.