An
order for a third 5,400-passenger Oasis-class mega cruise ship has
been confirmed by Royal Caribbean Cruises.
The
sister-ship to Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas is due to
enter service in summer 2016.
The
company indicated in October that it was planning to place an order
for a third of the type. The new vessel is to be built at the STX
France ship yard and not Finland as the original two in the class.
STX
France has also provided the company with a one-year option for
delivery of a fourth Oasis-class vessel in 2018 at similar pricing.
The
contract for the third vessel and existing ship orders means that
projected capital expenditure for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 are
$1.3 billion, $700 million, $1.2 billion, $1.2 billion and $1.3
billion, respectively, according to the company.
The
Royal Caribbean Cruises’ annual capacity growth rate from 2012 to
2016 remains at a historically low rate of 3.5%.
The
16 deck Oasis of the Seas was introduced in 2009, followed by Allure
of the Seas a year later, both sailing in the Caribbean from Port
Everglades in Florida.
Chairman
and chief executive Richard Fain said: “The Oasis of the
Seas and Allure of the Seas have fundamentally transformed the cruise
experience for our guests,
“We
are thrilled to be adding a sister to this extraordinary class of
vessels at a compelling price.”
Royal
Caribbean International president and chief executive Adam Goldstein
added: “As the cruise line that revolutionised the industry with
the FlowRider surf simulator, ice-skating rinks, cantilevered
whirlpools and rock climbing walls, we are eager to add this third
award winning Oasis-class ship to our brand portfolio.
“This
addition will allow us to showcase our legacy of innovation and
imagination to even more guests around the world”
