On 01JUL, Royal Caribbean Internationa's upcoming ship, Utopia of the Seas, reached its first major construction milestone, which was celebrated with a keel-laying ceremony at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.
The event celebrated the official start of Utopia’s 30-month construction physical construction process ahead of the ship’s introduction in spring 2024. Utopia will be the sixth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class.
“The keel laying for Utopia of the Seas represents the first milestone of an incredible ship and the next step toward a bolder, thrilling future for Royal Caribbean and vacations,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
At the ceremony, the working teams constructing Utopia watched as newly minted coins were placed on the ship’s first 948-ton steel block. The longstanding maritime tradition calls for coins, representing Royal Caribbean and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, to bring luck during the construction process and for the ship when it is at sea.
The first in Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class to be powered with liquified natural gas (LNG), and the second for the cruise line overall, Utopia will also advance the company's commitment to the environment. The ship’s LNG technology will join a lineup of the cruise line’s already-established environmentally friendly initiatives on its ships, from shore power connection to waste heat recovery systems.
For more information, visit Royal Caribbean's web site.
