Key Aspects:
- The keel has been laid for the seventh Oasis-class ship at the Chantiers de L’Atlantique shipyard in France.
- Construction is expected to take two years and the ship will debut in 2028, but few other details have been confirmed.
- Oasis 7 was first announced in February 2024 and steel was cut for the ship in October 2025.
It’s a momentous week for the Royal Caribbean fleet as just one day after the cruise line has taken delivery of the next Icon-class ship, Legend of the Seas, assembly construction has now begun on the seventh Oasis-class ship.
The as-yet-unnamed ship is being built at the Chantiers de L’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire in western France (Legend of the Seas was built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland). Construction is expected to take roughly two years for the 236,900-gross-ton vessel, which is scheduled to debut in 2028.
Royal Caribbean executives, shipyard officials, and other VIPs, as well as construction crew members, attended the keel-laying ceremony on Thursday, June 11, 2026. This marks the beginning of the ship’s physical assembly as blocks will now be put into place to bring the ship to life.
Part of the keel-laying ceremony includes sealing freshly minted euro and dollar coins in a tub below the first steel block, a maritime tradition to wish good fortune to the ship, her crew, and everyone who may sail on her in years to come.
“The first block of Oasis 7 has been set in the dry dock by the TGP, in the presence of Royal Caribbean Group and Chantiers de l’Atlantique teams — as Oasis 7’s assembly officially begins,” the shipyard shared on Facebook. “A milestone moment. Congratulations to all teams involved!”
For now, Oasis 7 is only known as B35, but her name is expected to be revealed soon as excitement builds for the next ship in Royal Caribbean’s revolutionary Oasis class.
Steel was first cut for the ship on October 23, 2025 when the blocks began to be built. Now, however, the ship will begin to take shape as those blocks are assembled in precise order to create the more than 15 decks, 20+ dining venues, tremendous Aquatheater space, signature neighborhoods, and other features distinctive of the class.
Few Details Released
Royal Caribbean has not yet released any details on the new ship, though she will undoubtedly follow the popular design of her six sister ships in the class: Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, Wonder, and Utopia of the Seas.
While each ship has its own personality and unique features, many fan favorites exist on all the ships in the class, including the classic Royal Promenade, the fun-loving Boardwalk neighborhood, and the elegant Central Park with its thousands of live plants and trees.
Read Also: Why I Never Got Off in Port on Utopia of the Seas
It was a surprise when the cruise line announced that a seventh Oasis-class ship was to be built, as most cruise ship classes have fewer vessels. When Cruise Hive shared the announcement in February 2024, the next class of ships was already underway with Icon of the Seas sailing and Star of the Seas under construction.
The expansion of the Oasis class does indicate the immense popularity of these ships and their great appeal to all types of cruise travelers.
Oasis 7 will be a sister ship to Utopia of the Seas, the first in the class to be purposefully designed to offer short 3- and 4-night cruises. While just three nights might not seem like enough time on one of these massive ships, the activities and entertainment don’t stop and the ship has a remarkable following of fans and repeat cruisers (this writer included).
It’s not really so surprising, then, that Royal Caribbean would follow that now tried-and-true formula for a great cruise vacation. Oasis 7 is already being described as offering “bold new adventures, standout dining, immersive entertainment and experiences designed for every type of vacationer.”
More details about the ship, from her name to her homeport to her itineraries, will be released in the months to come.
