Mitsubishi To Develop Next Generation Of Royal Caribbean Ship

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) will work with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Ltd. of Japan on the design and engineering of a new generation of Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

The new ships will incorporate the features and amenities always found on RCCL ships, as well as creative new design concepts still under development. Exact ship size and passenger capacity will evolve as the design takes shape. RCCL operates nine ships (the largest of which carries 2,354 passengers) and plans to build up to six contemporary megaships for delivery between 1995 and 1998.

Royal Caribbean is one of the world's largest cruise lines and operates a modern fleet of nine ships with a total capacity of 14,228 passengers. In addition, up to six more ships with capacity for a total of 11,500 passengers are planned in the next three and a half years. The 70,000-gt, 1,804-passenger Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas are due in April 1995 and March 1996, and two 73,000-gt, 2,000-passenger ships for April 1997 and April 1998 deliveries.

The agreement to build the new ships is subject to certain conditions including board of directors' approval and a final contract. An order for the second ship is subject to reconfirmation by June 1995.