06/05/2026
🚢 We Might Know The Size Of Royal Caribbean's Discovery Class Ships!
Royal Caribbean's next generation of cruise ships just got a lot more real. Royal Caribbean Group's 10-Q SEC filing for the cruise line revealed that the two Discovery Class ships on order will carry approximately 4,300 passengers. The filing lists other Royal Caribbean ship capacities alongside the unnamed Discovery Class ships, so we believe that this is the double-occupancy passenger count.
That makes these ships smaller than the Icon (5,600+) and Oasis (5,400+) classes but larger than the Quantum (~4,100) and Freedom classes (~3,900).
Two ships will be built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The first ship debuts in 2029 and the second arrives in 2032. Royal Caribbean also holds options for four additional ships.
Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley has said the Discovery Class name is intentional. The ships are designed to reach more "exotic itineraries" and focus on destination access that larger vessels cannot offer. However, many cruise fans were hoping for a much smaller vessel.
Reactions from cruisers have been mixed, with some fans appreciating a step down from mega-ship sizes. Others were hoping for something in the 2,000 to 3,000 passenger range, especially those hoping for the intimate feel of the older Vision and Radiance class ships.
