In the beginning of March, Harmony of the Seas set out on its first sea trial. It must have gone swimmingly, because the world’s largest cruise ship has now docked in Southampton before it sets out on its maiden voyage.

While a small crowd welcomed the vessel, tens of thousands are expected to make their way to the shore to wish it well and catch a glimpse of the gigantic vessel before it carries paying customers for the first time.

It will set out on Sunday on a four-day tester cruise to Rotterdam, Netherlands, and then will relocate to Barcelona for summer tours of the western Mediterranean.

Royal Caribbean International’s 18-deck ship has set new records for length (362 metres), gross tonnage (227,000), width (65 metres), 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.

Feeling exhausted? Just look at the pictures:

Here are the nitty gritty deets:

[source: dailymail]