Discovery of the Seas

[Rackham]

22 hours ago, karl_nj said:

I'm not sure it says that exactly... it just says that it likely can't be any larger than Norwegian Bliss.

So basically a Neopanamax compliant Freedom class with everything they've learned since the 90s/early 2000s and modern design? I can dig it.

[Heymarco]

1 hour ago, Rackham said:

201 feet at high tide.

Compared to a few other bridges in the Americas.

Tampa: Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Maximum Clearance: 180–190 feet, depending on the source.

Baltimore: Chesapeake Bay Bridge
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Clearance: 186 feet

Vancouver: Lions Gate Bridge
Maximum Clearance: About 200 feet

I wonder if Royal will pull the trick on Discovery class that they use with certain ships to get them under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (~228 feet clearance) with retractable funnels?

Are you just posting random bridges? I don't know if any cruise route that goes under the Lion's Gate Bridge. If the pier was big enough, you could bring an Icon class into Vancouver so not a great argument.

[SplashOfWater]

21 minutes ago, Heymarco said:

Are you just posting random bridges? I don't know if any cruise route that goes under the Lion's Gate Bridge. If the pier was big enough, you could bring an Icon class into Vancouver so not a great argument.

The Norwegian Bliss sailed under the Lion's Gate Bridge in 2019. 

 

[Heymarco]

6 hours ago, SplashOfWater said:

The Norwegian Bliss sailed under the Lion's Gate Bridge in 2019. 

 

That's right, the main dock is inside of the city. Couldn't they go outside of the city though if needed I thought there was another pier there? Time for me to get more coffee I guess, sorry.

[SplashOfWater]

21 minutes ago, Heymarco said:

That's right, the main dock is inside of the city. Couldn't they go outside of the city though if needed I thought there was another pier there. Time for me to get more coffee I guess, sorry.

No worries. I seem to remember too that they had to wait until the tide was at its lowest to fit under the bridge.

[Rackham]

4 hours ago, Heymarco said:

Are you just posting random bridges? I don't know if any cruise route that goes under the Lion's Gate Bridge. If the pier was big enough, you could bring an Icon class into Vancouver so not a great argument.

Any cruise which embarks or disembarks at Canada Place passes under the bridge. I really don't know what to make of your comment outside of your lack of knowledge on Vancouver sailings and basic online searches. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

4 hours ago, Heymarco said:

Are you just posting random bridges? I don't know if any cruise route that goes under the Lion's Gate Bridge.

 

We just passed under the LGB yesterday.  On Radiance out of Vancouver going to San Diego and then on to Fort Lauderdale via the Panama Canal.

 

[twangster]

Vancouver can host three ships at a time, as long as they are smaller ships, which it does often in the summer months.  All of those ships sail under the Lions Gate Bridge. 

 

[twangster]

Ovation sailing under the Lions Gate Bridge

Back in the days of periscope I live scoped Ovation going under from the top deck.

[Heymarco]

2 hours ago, Rackham said:

Any cruise which embarks or disembarks at Canada Place passes under the bridge. I really don't know what to make of your comment outside of your lack of knowledge on Vancouver sailings and basic online searches. 

You must have missed my follow up comment including apology. At least I can follow a thread and learn along the way.

[twangster]

Here are two segments from a Q&A session during the President's Cruise that involve Discovery Class.

 

[mworkman]

14 hours ago, twangster said:

Here are two segments from a Q&A session during the President's Cruise that involve Discovery Class.

 

 

Unfortunately it’s not available for me to view it.

[twangster]

46 minutes ago, mworkman said:

Unfortunately it’s not available for me to view it.

I'm assuming you have an iPhone?  Apple is very restrictive.  Try a non Apple device or computer.  

Ironically it was created using iMovie on a Mac.  My iPhone won't play it either, but all my other devices will.  

[mworkman]

I was trying to view it on my IPad Pro, same OS..I’ll have to wait till I get home next week..thanks for the info

[Matt]

Many of you know I usually am quite bad at predictions, but I really don't think Discovery Class is (or ever has) meant to replace ships in Baltimore or Tampa. Or ever fit in there.

I think Royal is looking at this from a profit perspective.

Today, only small old ships can do certain itineraries (Baltics, Adriatic, etc).

So Discovery Class can replace those ships in those itineraries and command higher prices, which makes them more money. So it's a way to "upgrade" those itineraries with newer hardware that makes the more $$.

I also didn't get any sense there's any rush to sell off the Vision Class yet.

[smokeybandit]

On 8/8/2024 at 5:43 AM, smokeybandit said:

Captain on adventure said it would be used for alaska, the med and florida 

Noting this from last year.

 

[Vancity Cruiser]

On 9/27/2025 at 1:45 PM, twangster said:

Vancouver can host three ships at a time, as long as they are smaller ships

On one rare day last summer there was 4 ships in with one (smaller expedition ship) anchored and tendering in to the heliport pad. Had never seen that previously and haven't seen it since.

[Vancity Cruiser]

On 9/27/2025 at 8:26 AM, SplashOfWater said:

No worries. I seem to remember too that they had to wait until the tide was at its lowest to fit under the bridge.

Larger ships such as Quantum class from RC and Breakaway Plus class from NCL (Bliss, Joy) usually visit Vancouver at the beginning and end of the Alaska season before moving to their summer homeport of Seattle. They have to wait till lowest tide to fit under Lions gate bridge often resulting in sail in/sail out happening in the middle of the night.

[FOB]

Please can we get the discovery class sooner rather than later over here in Europe. 
there are lots of wonderful ports and Greek islands that many people can’t visit through RC because the majority of the ships that are ported here are too large

I know I could move to Celebrity for those itineraries but I would rather keep gaining status through Royal so until we can get the points for whichever RCL brand we sail on I feel that nights on celebrity are a wasted opportunity. First world problems I know

[Nathan adams]

On 10/9/2025 at 8:59 AM, FOB said:

Please can we get the discovery class sooner rather than later over here in Europe. 
there are lots of wonderful ports and Greek islands that many people can’t visit through RC because the majority of the ships that are ported here are too large

I know I could move to Celebrity for those itineraries but I would rather keep gaining status through Royal so until we can get the points for whichever RCL brand we sail on I feel that nights on celebrity are a wasted opportunity. First world problems I know

Well you sort of got your wish. My issue is celebrity is so much more pricey.

[Jmccaffrey]

I am just hopping they gives us more details (or any details) on this before the end of the year

[Thumper44]

It kind of makes you wonder if, with the original plan, some other factor changed that forced them to change directions and start over.  To name a few possible factors:

• the economy of scale with big ships and the surprising speed a $1.5 billion ship can pay for itself
• the anti-cruising lobby that wants to limit the number of cruisers in port, not increase them
• the constantly changing needs/expectations of who you think your target demographic may be in five years
• the increase in short cruises to lure in first time cruisers and compete with land based vacation options
• the increased useful lifespan of ships, from 20 years to 35+ years
• changing propulsion technology and which fuels will be allowed by certain countries (and needing to plug in to shore power in some places)

That's just a few of the moving targets off the top of my head

[FOB]

Spoke to the guest services manager a week ago as we stood on the deck looking at Star across the dock at Coco Cay. 
he reckoned Icon class was originally supposed to be the new small class but then MSC announced they were bringing out something bigger than Oasis class and that meant RC had to go bigger

hopefully MSC now saying it they will beat Icon class won’t put the kibosh on discovery class

[smokeybandit]

I guess there could be some truth to that.

MSC announced their World class in spring 2016, but it was announced as being around 200k GT, still a good bit smaller than Oasis.

The Icon order came in fall 2016, estimated at the time at about 200k GT and 5000 passengers. 
 

[JasonOasis]

17 hours ago, FOB said:

Spoke to the guest services manager a week ago as we stood on the deck looking at Star across the dock at Coco Cay. 
he reckoned Icon class was originally supposed to be the new small class but then MSC announced they were bringing out something bigger than Oasis class and that meant RC had to go bigger

hopefully MSC now saying it they will beat Icon class won’t put the kibosh on discovery class

I think Royal is extremely happy with the product they have in both the Oasis Class and Icon Class ships.  MSC World ships are still smaller than Oasis Class I'm not sure Royal isn't anyway concerned about MSC.  Being on Star right now I now understand what people mean when they said Icon Class isn't just about being bigger than Oasis Class.  Star hasn't just met the bar Oasis Class ships set  its raised the bar to a whole different higher level that I didn't think was possible. For Royal I don't think Icon was about beating MSC I think it was about how can we top a class of ship people already thought was perfect. How to we perfect perfection and they've done that with Star and Icon Class ships.  I think they are 100% focused on the future and continuing push the envelope in ship design and blaze a trail in the customers experience which extends to land and land experiences that now all other major family cruise lines want to follow but are years behind. 

I do think Discovery Class will be a smaller ship it probably will fit somewhere gross tonnage wise between Voyager and Freedom Class ship, but it is a design Royal has to get right. When you look at ship classes like Prima, and Seaside this is what Discovery Class is going to be up against.  However how does Royal not pull away from the family theme vacation that they've spent the better part of the last decade leaning into while at the same time designing a ship small enough to bring families unexpected destinations around the world where an Oasis or Icon can't dock.  At this point in the game Royal can't afford another Quantum Class they have to get it right with Discovery and they have the chance to do so because Discovery will be a clean sheet design instead of Quantum Class which wasn't. 

Although I like everyone else wishes we could get more information about Discovery Class I'm glad they're taking their time to hopefully get it right and leave people's jaws on the floor when they unveil the ship for the first time.

[mworkman]

Interesting on our sailing on the Navigator today during the Top Tier event, the captain was asked for the latest info on the Discovery class, his answer was it’s expected to show up in 2029.

[Jmccaffrey]

On 11/13/2025 at 10:32 AM, JasonOasis said:

 At this point in the game Royal can't afford another Quantum Class they have to get it right with Discovery and they have the chance to do so because Discovery will be a clean sheet design instead of Quantum Class which wasn't. 

While I agree with almost everything you said, I do want to say that (before ICON nothing can be the ICON class) Quantum Class is my favorite class. I love just about everything about Quantum class

[Matt]

17 hours ago, mworkman said:

Interesting on our sailing on the Navigator today during the Top Tier event, the captain was asked for the latest info on the Discovery class, his answer was it’s expected to show up in 2029.

Ours did too on Freedom, but he admitted he hadn't heard any recent updates

[smokeybandit]

2028-2029 has been the consistent timeframe from those Top Tier/Captain's Corner comments.

But if that's true, an order has to be put on the books in the new few months.

[JasonOasis]

19 hours ago, Jmccaffrey said:

While I agree with almost everything you said, I do want to say that (before ICON nothing can be the ICON class) Quantum Class is my favorite class. I love just about everything about Quantum class

I love Quantum Class ships as well, but you can clearly see Quantum Class ships were not designed for Royal. Royal took a design meant for another cruise line and tried to make it fit into their lineup.  Although they are great ships and provided Royal with a bridge between Freedom Class and Oasis Class ships with ships like Prima Class and Seaside Class Royal can't afford another that will do ship. 

In my opinion when I think of Discovery Class I think this ship will most likely have to cover cruises out of Alaska, Los Angeles, New York, Southhampton to Norway, Southhampton to France/Portugal, Greek Islands, Australia, and maybe South America. I imagine Discovery Class will be moving around the world sort of like what NCL does with its Prima Class ships. Since the introduction of Quantum Class Royal has really cemented its reputation as a family (multigenerational) cruise line, Quantum Class while a great class isn't that.  So when I say Royal can't afford another Quantum Class ship I mean Discovery has to fit the mold of multigenerational cruise ship that brings families to the destination instead of the ship being the destination without being boring. 

Royal in just a few years will have 11 ships where the ship is the destination talking about Oasis and Icon Class and they have options for more. Discovery has to be about bringing people to the destination. Given the competition in this space from NCL and MSC Royal has to hit a home run.  Quantum Class was a triple, Discovery Class has to be an absolute home run if not a grand slam if Royal wishes to stay competitive in the mid-size ship and more exotic smaller cruise port markets where Oasis and Icon can't dock. 

[J_Keeble]

On 11/13/2025 at 3:32 PM, JasonOasis said:

I think Royal is extremely happy with the product they have in both the Oasis Class and Icon Class ships.  MSC World ships are still smaller than Oasis Class I'm not sure Royal isn't anyway concerned about MSC.  Being on Star right now I now understand what people mean when they said Icon Class isn't just about being bigger than Oasis Class.  Star hasn't just met the bar Oasis Class ships set  its raised the bar to a whole different higher level that I didn't think was possible. For Royal I don't think Icon was about beating MSC I think it was about how can we top a class of ship people already thought was perfect. How to we perfect perfection and they've done that with Star and Icon Class ships.  I think they are 100% focused on the future and continuing push the envelope in ship design and blaze a trail in the customers experience which extends to land and land experiences that now all other major family cruise lines want to follow but are years behind. 

I do think Discovery Class will be a smaller ship it probably will fit somewhere gross tonnage wise between Voyager and Freedom Class ship, but it is a design Royal has to get right. When you look at ship classes like Prima, and Seaside this is what Discovery Class is going to be up against.  However how does Royal not pull away from the family theme vacation that they've spent the better part of the last decade leaning into while at the same time designing a ship small enough to bring families unexpected destinations around the world where an Oasis or Icon can't dock.  At this point in the game Royal can't afford another Quantum Class they have to get it right with Discovery and they have the chance to do so because Discovery will be a clean sheet design instead of Quantum Class which wasn't. 

Although I like everyone else wishes we could get more information about Discovery Class I'm glad they're taking their time to hopefully get it right and leave people's jaws on the floor when they unveil the ship for the first time.

interesting read, are you implying royal messed up with Quantum class? if so im curious as to your thoughts.

[smokeybandit]

I liked Quantum class. It has the best solarium concept in the fleet and feels like an Oasis class ship in the internal spaces.

[Thumper44]

On 11/13/2025 at 9:32 AM, JasonOasis said:

Discovery will be a clean sheet design instead of Quantum Class which wasn't. 

Can you elaborate on this?  Do you mean that the Quantum class was an evolution of another class (maybe Radiance?)? Or do you mean that it wasn't designed for Royal originally?  Or are you saying that Quantum's design is mismatched to Royal's business plan?

Not being critical at all; you just seem to have a lot of background knowledge that I don't have