New 'world's largest' cruise ship could arrive in 2016

Cruise giant Royal Caribbean today confirmed it is in negotiations to order another sister to Oasis of the Seas — the world's largest cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain told Wall Street analysts that the company could announce a deal with a shipyard for a third Oasis Class vessel by the end of the year.

Oasis of the Seas and a previously built sister ship, Allure of the Seas, debuted in 2009 and 2010, respectively, and have been in strong demand from cruisers ever since. Cabins on the vessels consistently sell at a premium price to those on other cruise ships sailing similar routes.

"Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have proven themselves to be exceptionally attractive ships by generating the highest guest satisfaction ratings in the fleet coupled with very compelling financial returns," Fain noted during a conference call to discuss the company's third quarter earnings.

Speculation that Royal Caribbean was considering another Oasis Class vessel first surfaced earlier this month in a newspaper in Finland. The first two Oasis Class ships were built at the STX shipyard in Turku, Finland.

Fain suggested the new Oasis Class vessel, if ordered, would be delivered in 2016, after the line has taken delivery of two smaller ships already on order for 2014 and 2015, respectively.

At 225,282 tons, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are nearly 50% larger than the next largest cruise ships and are chock-full of resort-like amenities including more than a dozen restaurants, four pool areas, a tree-lined "central park" and the first zip lines at sea. They can carry nearly 6,300 passengers a piece.

Both vessels sail year-round to the Caribbean out of Florida's Port Everglades.

Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas were named by USA TODAY readers in a contest held at USA TODAY's Cruise site, the Cruise Log, in 2008.