Royal Caribbean International has announced the name of its sixth Oasis-class ship: Utopia of the Seas.
The vessel’s name was revealed during its steel-cutting ceremony at the Chantiers de l‘Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France earlier this week.
“We are excited to begin construction on Utopia of the Seas,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “On the sixth Oasis Class ship, vacationers can look forward to the signature combination of Royal Caribbean experiences and many brand-new adventures that has and will continue to make the Oasis class of ships the ultimate vacation for guests of all ages.”
At the ceremony, Utopia‘s first piece of steel was cut to mark the beginning of the 30-month construction process. Representatives from Royal Caribbean and the shipyard attended the event.
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Royal Caribbean’s game-changing Oasis-class redefined cruising with the introduction of the first vessel in the class — Oasis of the Seas — in 2009.
With the recent debut of the line’s fifth Oasis-class ship, Wonder of the Seas, the class continues to push what’s possible with innovations across nearly every aspect of the cruising experience. For example, each Oasis-class ship’s public areas are divided into what the line calls “neighborhoods,” such as Central Park and the Pool and Sports Zone. The first four ships have seven neighborhoods each.
With the introduction of Wonder, an eighth neighborhood was added for the first time: the Suite Neighborhood. This ship-within-a-ship complex includes suites and public areas just for guests staying in them, including a sundeck and restaurant.
Set to debut in spring 2024, Utopia of the Seas will be the first Oasis-class ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest fossil fuel currently available to cruise ships. It will also include other environmentally-friendly applications that will boost energy efficiency and further reduce emissions.
Royal Caribbean’s first LNG-fueled ship, Icon of the Seas, is set to debut in fall 2023.
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