Inaugural Voyage of World’s Biggest Cruise Ship Today

Stories by Demola Ojo

Here is everything you need to know about the world’s biggest cruise ship which sails from Southampton to Rotterdam for its inaugural voyage today.

The 362-metre-long ship has 23 swimming pools, the deepest pool at sea, robot bartenders and a living park in the centre of the ship.

The 362-metre-long Harmony of the Seas cost $1 billion (£700 million) and is larger than the Eiffel Tower.

The 16-deck ship, which has a 6,360-passenger-capacity, underwent 32 months of construction in a French shipyard, where US-based Royal Caribbean Cruises took possession of the liner earlier this month.

Weighing 227,000 tonnes, the vessel also boasts: 2,500 state rooms, 20 restaurants, 23 swimming pools;

Central Park – a living park in the centre of the ship with more 10,000 plants and 50 trees, 24 lifts for guests.

The Ultimate Abyss – the tallest slide at sea, plunging visitors 10 stories from deck 16 to deck 6, the deepest pool at sea.

A double-story Wonderland specialty restaurant; 11,252 works of art; robot bartenders; virtual balconies with real-time views of the destination for interior rooms; 2,100 crew members from 77 different nationalities.

Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, said: “Harmony of the Seas is the product of our zealous spirit of continuous improvement, where we have combined revolutionary ship design with the technological strides that have defined the Royal Caribbean brand.”

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International: “Harmony is truly magnificent in every sense of the word, from her architecture and design to the level of care and attention to detail with which our incredible crew are taking to prepare for our first guests.

“The ship is the ‘best of the best’… combined with new and thrilling experiences never before found in one place.”