Royal Caribbean has moved its next giant from concept to construction. At Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, the yard cut the first steel for the line’s seventh Oasis-class ship, gathering designers, naval architects, executives, and crew to mark the start of a carefully choreographed build that targets a 2028 debut. The name will come later, but the promise is already clear: more choice, smoother flow, and smart comforts built in.
Royal Caribbean has begun construction of its seventh Oasis-class ship at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, with a steel-cutting ceremony confirming a 2028 debut. Early phases include block assembly, systems integration and interior planning. Expect refined crowd management, evolved neighbourhoods, efficiency upgrades, and operational improvements that translate into calmer embarkation, clearer wayfinding, and more reliable day-to-day comfort for guests.
What the Steel-Cutting Milestone Means
This milestone is not just a ribbon moment; it is the point where drawings become decks. From here, the project moves through block assembly, joining, float-out, and trials, each stage unlocking the next. Understanding what happens now helps you plan sensibly for a mega-ship holiday without guesswork or hype.
Why Steel-Cutting Is the Real Start
Until steel is cut, a ship lives in models. Cutting the first plate lights up supplier timelines, weld lines and quality controls that carry the build toward sea trials. It is a signal to travellers that 2028 is no longer abstract. For you, that means itinerary announcements, naming, and deployment details will follow a predictable arc, letting an adviser time deposits, flights, and pre- or post-stays with less scrambling.
The Saint-Nazaire Advantage
Chantiers de l’Atlantique has deep experience with large, complex passenger ships. That depth shows up later as quieter staterooms, balanced air-conditioning, and public spaces that feel composed from day one. A seasoned yard also shortens commissioning and reduces first-season teething. In plain terms, fewer hiccups, more holiday.
People Behind the Build
Steel-cutting brings together the teams you rarely see at sea: structural engineers, outfitters, acousticians, and show-control designers. Their choices shape your daily comfort, from hull lines that soften motion to theatre rake that improves sightlines. These details determine whether your mornings feel fresh, your evenings sound crisp, and your walk to breakfast is instinctive rather than confusing.
How the Next Oasis Evolution Could Look
Every Oasis-class ship has refined the big-ship-feels-personal formula. The seventh hull is likely to sharpen flow, ease peak-time pressure, and protect small daily rituals that make a week at sea feel effortless.
Neighbourhoods That Spread Energy
Oasis design uses multiple neighbourhoods to thin crowds naturally. Expect smarter wayfinding, more intuitive seating nooks, and pathways that fit prams and mobility aids without awkward detours. When energy is well distributed, families, couples and solos all find their tempo, whether that is a lively promenade, a quiet sun deck, or a café with a view.
Big Choice, Calm Routine
Choice only works if schedules breathe. Look for event timing that reduces clashes, so you can enjoy a show without skipping dinner or sprinting from trivia to theatre. The best weeks have a rhythm, morning laps or coffee, a shore day that ends with a shower and a pre-dinner drink, then an unhurried curtain time. When the programme reads clearly, planning gets lighter and the mood stays relaxed.
Efficiency You Can Feel
Even without headline announcements yet, new builds typically bring gains in fuel use, waste handling, and HVAC tuning. For guests, that translates into steadier temperatures, cleaner air in venues, and a ship that runs comfortably within its limits. The benefit is quiet, literally, because systems are not straining and background noise drops.
Planning a 2028 Mega-Ship Holiday the Smart Way
Great trips come from a few honest decisions made early. Start with windows that truly work, shape shore days with room to breathe, and choose staterooms for how you live on board. A skilled adviser can then tidy the admin while you focus on the good bits.
Pick Your Window, Then Your Route
If school terms or rosters rule your life, circle two plausible 2028 windows now. When itineraries land, compare like-for-like, port sequences, arrival times, and sea-day cadence. Many multigenerational parties prefer a port-sea-port rhythm that keeps energy steady. Add a pre-cruise buffer night if you are flying long-haul; it softens jet lag and insures against delays.
Choose a Stateroom for Comfort, Not Hype
Location is comfort. Motion-sensitive travellers often prefer midship on a lower to mid deck. Night owls may want a short walk from evening venues, while light sleepers should request distance from louder late-night spaces. Families can look at connecting staterooms or layouts with a sofa bed so bedtimes stay simple. If sunrise coffee is your ritual, a balcony earns its keep.
Shore Days That Breathe
Mega-ship weeks shine when port plans are simple. Book one anchored experience, then allow time for a wander and a café stop. Keep phones on ship time and aim to return 60 minutes before all-aboard, especially in tender ports. That single habit protects the whole evening, shower, drink, dinner, and show, without the rush.
Who This Build Suits and How to Decide
A ship this size is a canvas, not a checklist. You do not have to do everything to feel you have done it right. Think about pace, people and what you want to remember most, then choose accordingly.
Families and Multigenerational Groups
Zoned kids’ spaces create breathing room for adults, and accessible routes make it easier for grandparents to join the fun without the strain. Plan one or two mornings apart by interest, then anchor the day with a long lunch or a show together. Agree on simple rendezvous points so teenagers feel free yet connected.
Couples and Solos
Large ships can feel personal when you lean into small habits. Claim a favourite café table, find a quiet rail for sunset, and pick a theatre seat that becomes second nature by night two. Hosted meetups and bar seating make it easy for solos to be social when the mood strikes, and to slip into quiet corners when it does not.
First-Timers Versus Loyalists
First-timers will appreciate clear wayfinding and a readable daily programme. Loyalists will enjoy spotting refinements from earlier sisters. Either way, the sweet spot is routine, a few shows, a few late strolls under the stars, and one dinner that marks the week.
Before we wrap, two quick steps to turn momentum into clarity. If you want to see how current and future mega-ship seasons line up with your calendar, use our Cruise Finder to scan by month, region and ship style. It is an easy way to compare sea-day rhythm, port mixes and practical flight plans in one place.
If you have a 2028 window in mind, drop those dates into Cruise Finder and save two or three candidate sailings that fit your reality, not a fantasy fortnight. Share that shortlist with your travelling party and with an adviser so we can refine cabin placement, shore pacing, and pre- or post-stay ideas that make the whole trip feel calm.
Make Your 2028 Plan With Confidence
The seventh Oasis-class ship has moved from sketch to steel, and that is good news for anyone who loves big-ship choice paired with everyday ease. Saint-Nazaire’s build quality and Royal Caribbean’s playbook point to a composed first season, with refined flow and guest-friendly operations. If you would like tailored guidance on timing, deployment news as it lands, and stateroom choices that suit how you travel, talk to our cruise specialists, and we will curate a plan that fits your calendar, your people, and your budget.
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