STX France, the French cruise ship builder, and two of its customers have signed firm building contracts to cover eight ships that have been under a preliminary contract so far.

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd (RCCL), the world's second largest cruise shipping company,  will receive the fourth Oasis class unit, which has been designated the hull number B34, in the spring of 2018. A fifth ship of the 227,000 gross ton type (C34) will follow in the middle of 2021.

The same customer will take delivery of the first 117,000 gross ton Edge class unit (J34) in the autumn of 2018 and the second ship will follow in the beginning of 2020 (K34). Third and fourth units are due in the autumn of 2021 and 2022, respectively, and these ships have been designated the hull numbers L34 and M34.

Furthermore, the French shipbuilder has signed a firm contract with MSC Cruises, the world’s fourth largest cruise ship operator, to build two Meraviglia Plus class vessels of 177,000 gross tons and the vessels are due for delivery in 2019 and 2020 respectively, STX France said in a statement.