Royal Caribbean is making waves in the cruise industry with big plans for the next several years, including a new class of oceangoing ships and 10 new river ships.

Royal Caribbean Group announced a series of agreements with the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France to secure the construction of its new Discovery class. Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean’s chief product innovation officer, previously noted that the new ships would be smaller than the cruise line’s gigantic Icon class ships.

The news confirms two firm ship orders with options for four additional ships. The first ship in the class is set to debut in 2029, while the second ship is scheduled for delivery in 2032.

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

While details on the new ships are scant, Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley said the new Discovery class will put guests “at the center of it all.”

“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,” he said in a news release. “This is a completely new class and it’s going to be like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”

The confirmation of the Discovery class comes on the heels of an announcement of more vessels for Celebrity River Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. Last September, Celebrity first shared its foray into the world of river cruising with two new ships debuting in 2027.

Now Celebrity River Cruises is unveiling a commitment for 10 new ships that will expand its European river cruise fleet to 20 vessels by 2031. The announcement coincides with the first steel cut for Celebrity Compass, the line’s debut river ship.

The 2028 season is now open for booking with an 80% increase in European destinations compared to the brand’s inaugural 2027 deployment. The 2028 season offers more than 160 sailings to 50 destinations across Europe with 24 new ports on the lineup.

Itineraries include the Danube River, Rhine River and Christmas markets cruises.

“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,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, in a news release.

In addition to the new oceangoing ships and river vessels, Royal Caribbean is slated to debut its third Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, this November with a fourth Icon-class ship on the way for 2027. A seventh Oasis class ship is under way and expected to join the fleet in 2028.

Over the past four decades, the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard has built a total of 21 ships for Royal Caribbean Group, and the yard is currently building two more ships with the seventh Oasis class ship and Celebrity Xcite.

Royal Caribbean Group said that since its last earnings call it has enjoyed the highest seven booking weeks in its history, according to Barron’s. In addition, the outlet reports that Royal Caribbean’s stock jumped 15% in early trading on Thursday, putting the stock up by 20% so far in 2026.

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