Harmony of the Seas arrived in Southampton

Posted on 05/20/2016

When Harmony of the Seas arrived in Southampton around dawn this week, she was greeted by a small crowd, some of whom were in pajamas. The on-lookers were among the first to take in the splendour of the ship with a price tag and features that are equally formidable.

The world’s biggest cruise ship Harmony of the Seas docked in Southampton in advance of a four day cruise on Sunday to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. On May 29 she will make her maiden voyage to Barcelona, where she will be based for 34 seven-night tours of the western Mediterranean this summer. 

Harmony of the Seas is 362 meters (1,188 ft) long, meaning that if it stood on its stern it would be taller than London’s Shard or the Eiffel Tower. 

It can carry a human cargo of 8,880 (including 2,100 crew from 77 countries) and houses seven separate neighbourhoods. 

This floating city boasts 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. 

Thousands of people are expected to visit the coastal city this week to marvel the enormity of this vessel before it carries paying customers for the first time. 

North Americans can catch a peek this winter as it sails between Florida and the Caribbean and learn what £695 million ($1.3 billion) can get you.