The two 2,900-guest, 117,000-grt ships, are being developed under the project name EDGE and build on Celebrity’s Millennium and Solstice class vessels.

Delivery of the first ship is due in late 2018, with the second vessel delivered in the early 2020. The order is contingent upon the completion of customary conditions, including financing.

The French economy ministry said in a statement Friday that the order was worth EUR 1.2bn