STX France has started construction of Royal Caribbean International’s fourth Oasis-class cruise ship with the steel cutting ceremony held at its shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
Royal Caribbean’s third Oasis-class vessel, which is as yet unnamed, is currently under construction at STX France shipyard and the cruise operator awarded the order for the fourth vessel in May last year.
Both the third and fourth Oasis-class ships will feature a split superstructure design, 16 decks with 2,700 staterooms, an 82ft-long zipline, a hand-crafted carousel, the Rising Tide elevating bar, the AquaTheater high-diving performance venue and a Central Park with more than 12,000 live trees and plants.
The vessels will also offer facilities such as twin FlowRider surf simulators, cantilevered whirlpools, an ice-skating rink and the H2O Zone kids aquapark.
In addition, passengers will benefit from the Royal Promenade, an interior boulevard with restaurants, lounges and boutiques, among others.
Delivery of the third ship is scheduled for early 2016, while the fourth vessel is expected in 2018.
Royal Caribbean’s first Oasis-class vessel, Oasis of the Seas, was delivered in 2009 and the second ship, Allure of the Seas, started operating in October 2010.
In October 2014, the cruise operator received the first Quantum-class cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, from German shipbuilder Meyer Werft.
The sister vessel of the cruise ship, Anthem of the Seas, is being built by Meyer Werft and is expected to be delivered this year.
Image: Royal Caribbean’s first Oasis-class vessel, Oasis of the Seas. Photo: courtesy of Baldwin040.
