Celebrations as Harmony of the Seas is handed over to Royal Caribbean – next stop, Southampton

Royal Caribbean took delivery of the biggest cruise ship in the world today when Harmony of the Seas was handed over by builders STX France.

And 2,100 members of crew from 77 different countries lined up in the ship’s AquaTheatre to watch the ceremony.

Harmony is a few inches longer than her older sisters, Oasis and Allure of the Seas, and measures 227,000 gross tons, against the 225,000 tons of her predecessors.

The 5,479-passenger ship has a number of innovations including the tallest slide at sea, Ultimate Abyss, which plunges 10 decks from the Pool deck to the Boardwalk.

Its 23 swimming pools, whirlpools, FlowRider surf simulators and waterslides contain 2,150 tons of water, and there are almost 11,000 plants in Central Park. Showcased around the vessel are 11,252 individual works of art.

Harmony arrives in Southampton on Tuesday May 17 and leaves for a four-night cruise to Rotterdam on May 22. There’s a three-night cruise to Cherbourg departing on May 26 and the ship leaves for its summer base of Barcelona on May 29.

In November, Harmony will arrive at her homeport of Port Everglades, Florida, from where she will offer seven-night eastern and western Caribbean sailings.