It put pen to paper on the contract with STX France as the keel was laid for the third ship in the series today.

Alexander Host, an analyst at ABG Sundal Collier, estimates the latest newbuilding to have cost around $1.4bn, which would mark a rise from the $1.35bn for its predecessor in the series.

Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, says the newbuilding has been added following the success of the first two vessels in the class.

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