PHOTO: Celebrity's new Edge-class of cruise ships would be slightly smaller than its newest ship, the Celebrity Reflection, pictured. (Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises)
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. signed a letter of intent to build two 2,900-passenger, 117,000-ton ships for Celebrity Cruises at the STX shipyard in France. The first would be delivered in fall 2018 followed by the second in early 2020.
The new Edge-class ships would be slightly smaller than Celebrity's newest ship, the 126,000-ton, 3,030-guest Celebrity Reflection, which was the fifth and final ship of the Solstice class.
The Edge-class ships will offer "small-ship itineraries with large-ship amenities," RCCL said in a press release.
The company said the ships will "represent a significant leap forward in environmentally friendly ship design," using new technologies to drive fuel efficiency and the extensive use of sustainable materials.
"The addition of two Project Edge vessels to our fleet delivers on our long-term strategic plan of moderate capacity growth, and continues the positive momentum the Celebrity brand has achieved in the premium segment of our industry," said RCCL Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain.
Based on current ship orders and transfers, RCCL total capacity increases are forecast to be 2.4 percent in 2014, 5.5 percent in 2015, 6.7 percent in 2016, 3.8 percent in 2017 and 4.3 percent in 2018. These figures do not include potential ship sales or additions that the company may decide to make in the future.
Given that, projected capital expenditures are $1.4 billion for full-year 2014, $1.5 billion for 2015, $2.3 billion in 2016, $0.4 billion for 2017 and $2.2 billion in 2018.
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