The largest cruise ship in the world – measuring more than four football pitches in length with a maximum capacity for 6,780 passengers – has docked in Southampton for final preparations before its maiden voyage.
A small crowd of well-wishers, including some dressed in their pyjamas, welcomed the £800million Harmony of the Seas as it arrived just after dawn today, but tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the coastal city this week to catch a glimpse of the gigantic vessel before it carries paying customers for the first time.
After sailing from a shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and spending the day yesterday cruising the English Channel, Harmony of the Seas sailed up Southampton Water and arrived at Southampton shortly after 6:15am.
Welcome: A small crowd turned out to wave in the Harmony of the Seas as it sailed into Southampton shortly after 6am this morning
The Harmony of the Seas, pictured arriving into Southampton, is the biggest cruise ship in the world, with a length of 1,188ft
It will depart on a short cruise on Sunday – a four-day taster voyage to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands – and on 29 May will make its maiden voyage to Barcelona, where it will be based for 34 seven-night tours of the western Mediterranean this summer. It will sail between Florida and the Caribbean this winter.
Royal Caribbean International’s 18-deck ship has set new records for length (1,1188ft), gross tonnage (227,000), width (215.5ft), passenger capacity (5,479 at double occupancy or a maximum of 6,780) and staterooms (2,747).
With a crew of 2,100 from 77 countries, the floating city boasts seven ‘neighbourhoods’, a 10-storey slide that is the tallest at sea, 23 swimming pools, 20 dining venues, 52 trees, surf simulators, robot bartenders, a casino and climbing walls.
The largest cruise ship in the world measures more than four football pitches in length with a maximum capacity for 6,780 passengers
Stunning aerial photos of Harmony of the Seas’ arrival in Southampton reveal the scale of the 227,000-ton cruise ship
Harmony of the Seas is slightly larger than Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, two sister ships from Royal Caribbean International
Well-wishers, still wearing their pyjamas, rushed out of bed to welcome the ship as it sailed up Southampton Water, the tidal estuary
The gigantic vessel’s amenities include the 10-storey Ultimate Abyss (pictured at the back of the ship), the tallest slide at sea
Harmony of the Seas: The impressive ship will spend the week in Southampton for final preparations ahead of its maiden voyage
It took 32 months to build Harmony of the Seas, which is the 25th cruise ship in Royal Caribbean International’s fleet .
Miami-based Royal Caribbean International ordered Harmony of the Seas in December 2012 and it took 32 months to build the ship
Harmony of the Seas represents a shift by cruise lines to push the boundaries when it comes to size, passenger capacity and amenities
In addition to the tallest slide at sea, the massive ship boasts 23 swimming pools, 20 dining venues, a casino and two surf simulators
After short cruises to the Netherlands and France, Harmony of the Seas will leave Southampton and head to Barcelona, its summer base.
On its seven-night tours of the western Mediterranean, Harmony of the Seas will stop at destinations such as Marseille, Rome and Naples
After short cruises to the Netherlands and France, Harmony of the Seas will leave Southampton and head to Barcelona, its summer base
BY THE NUMBERS: THE LARGEST CRUISE SHIP IN THE WORLD
Owner: Miami-based Royal Caribbean International
Ordered: December 2012
Builder: STX France, Saint-Nazaire
Construction time: 32 months
Cost: £800million
Decks: 18 (16 guest decks)
Gross tonnage: 227,000 gross registered tons
Length: 1,188ft
Width: 215.5ft
Cruising speed: 22 knots (25 mph)
Capacity at double occupancy: 5,479 passengers
Total capacity: 6,780 passengers
Crew: 2,100, representing 77 nationalities
Staterooms: 2,747
Dining venues: 20
The Ultimate Abyss slide has a 100ft, 10-storey drop
4,700,000lbs of water used in 23 pools and other attractions
A park with 10,587 plants, 48 vine plants and 52 trees
11,252 works of art on display throughout the ship
The 25th ship in Royal Caribbean International’s fleet
The cruise ship that makes Titanic look a minnow and as it docks in Britain, our man braves its thrilling (and terrifying) 100ft slide.
The auditorium: In the 1,300-seater main theatre, there will be West End performances of Grease, and the indoor ice rink should be a good place to cool off if the excitement becomes too intense elsewhere.
What on earth will these cruise ship companies conjure up next? Not so long ago, they were busy launching floating cities with an improbable number of pubs, restaurants, swimming pools and even adventure playgrounds.
Then along came theme parks, shopping malls, surf simulators, aqua theatres, robotic barmen, zip lines and faux forests with canned birdsong.
The gigantic cruise ship was ordered in December 2012 and was built for Royal Caribbean at a cost of more than £800million.
There are nearly 3,000 cabins (sorry, staterooms) — for which prices start at around £900 per person for a week’s cruise up to £2,760 for a luxury suite — some with bunk beds for families with children, and most have balconies
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