Royal Caribbean Announces Ongoing Negotiations for New Oasis-class Ship

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCC) announced that negotiations are ongoing regarding the order of a brand new cruise ship - a sister ship to the world's largest cruise vessels, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas. Each passenger vessel can hold up to 5,400 people.

During a conference call, Richard Fain - Chairman and CEO at RCC - stated that the two massive liners already in service in that category have continued to perform in excellent condition, casting away any of the company's initial reservations.

According to BusinessWeek, a new order would cost less per berth than the first two ships. The newest Oasis-class addition would be delivered in 2016, but few other details are known about the company's plans.

Both the Oasis and the Allure are based out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. However, talks on where a new Oasis-size ship have not be commented on yet. Few ports can handle a ship of that size; many already believe Miami is the target. Again, no official comments have been made.

The Miami Herald reported that although the new Oasis order had been rumored for weeks, the world's second-largest cruise ship company refused to comment on reports about any potential order until Thursday. The official announcement came in a third-quarter earnings release.

RCC is already expecting new 4,100-passenger ships in 2014 and 2015.