On May 12, cruise ship operator Royal Caribbean International honoured the crew and project team of the new Harmony of the Seas vessel at a traditional delivery and flag changing ceremony in Saint Nazaire, France.
Following 32 months of construction at the STX France shipyard involving thousands of employees, sub-contractors and suppliers, the world’s largest cruise ship is now home to 2,100 crew members from 77 different nationalities.
Costing more than a $1bn, Harmony of the Seas is the 25th ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet and boasts numerous first-at-sea experiences, including: a 100-ft drop with The Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; two FlowRider surf simulators; three waterslides; Splashaway Bay waterpark for younger guests; and 23 swimming pools.
“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,” said Michael Bayley, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean.
“The ship is the best of the best of what our guests love most about Royal Caribbean, combined with new and thrilling experiences never before found in one place but it is the passion and dedication of our crew that will make everlasting memories for our guests.”
The Oasis-class cruise ship features 16 guest decks and is able to carry 5,479 guests. The vessel will begin her inaugural seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona, Spain, in June 2016.
