The first Discovery Class ship is scheduled to debut in 2029, with a second following in 2032. The agreement also includes the option for four additional vessels.
Royal Caribbean said the new ship class will introduce a "bold new concept" for cruising which delivers "extraordinary, one-of-a-kind experiences".
While speculation has already begun around the size and capacity of the ships, Royal Caribbean cautioned that many assumptions circulating online are "probably inaccurate".
Michael Bayley, president and chief executive officer at Royal Caribbean International, described the class as a "game changer" for the brand, with full details to be revealed in due course.
"We have a promotional campaign that will be ready to go soon, and we'll be very excited to visit multiple cities and start talking about Discovery," he added.
Another $5bn cash injection expected
This announcement comes on the back of Royal Caribbean Group's fourth quarter financials, which reported full-year revenue growth of 8.8%, with adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxation, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) rising 17.6% to just over $7 billion.
The group also invested more than $5 billion into "future growth" last year, with the same level of investment expected for 2026.
This year, Royal Caribbean forecasts a capacity increase of 6.7%, driven by the introduction of Legend of the Seas and the impact of Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel.
Revenue is also expected to increase at a double-digit rate for 2026, with a full-year net yield growth of between 1.5% and 3.5%.
Higher pricing for Caribbean cruises
The Caribbean continues to anchor Royal Caribbean's portfolio and overall strategy, accounting for more than 70% of capacity in the first quarter of 2026.
Royal admitted that consumer demand would result in more expensive price points for the region going forward.
"I know that may not feed into what some groups want to hear, but that is a reality," the group's chief executive officer Jason Liberty said. "We continue to see strong demand for the Caribbean, and we continue to see strong demand for our broader organisation."
Meanwhile, Europe remains a steady growth market for Royal Caribbean, representing around 15% of total capacity in 2026, growing 5% year on year.
Legend of the Seas will debut in Europe ahead of schedule, while European itineraries continue to perform well on both rate and volume, supported by demand from American and European consumers.
The group also reiterated its commitment to developing its river cruise offering. Liberty described the sector as an "incremental vacation choice" that deepens loyalty across its family of brands, comprised of Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea.
This follows the news that Celebrity plans to double its river-cruising fleet by 2031 after guest demand "exceeded expectations".
The new brand is set to officially launch in 2027 with Celebrity Compass and Celebrity Seeker, offering cruises along the Danube and seasonal Dutch Tulip cruises in Amsterdam, among others.
