VACATIONS REINVENTED AS THE WORLD’S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP SAILS INTO SOUTHAMPTON
Royal Caribbean International’s Harmony of the Seas Makes Her World Debut, Featuring the Tallest Slide at Sea, The Ultimate Abyss
MIAMI, May 17, 2016 – The port of Southampton, U.K. was bustling today as onlookers gathered to be among the first to see the world’s largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, upon her first arrival into port. After 32 months of construction, the ship’s arrival marks a major milestone for Royal Caribbean International as Harmony becomes the 25th ship in the fleet.
“Harmony of the Seas is redefining vacations and intriguing a new generation of travelers with a bold and unexpected line-up of first at sea innovations, while enticing them to explore the world from a new perspective,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “From thrilling onboard activities and experiences to visiting awe-inspiring destinations across the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, Harmony places guests at the forefront and encourages them to create their own adventures onboard and at every destination.”
Intricately built with more than 500,000 individual parts, Harmony measures 362 meters (1,188 feet), nearly four football (soccer) fields long, and encompasses 226,963 gross registered tons.
The newest addition to the family combines the distinct seven-neighborhood concept that Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class of ships are known for with a lineup of the most modern and groundbreaking vacation amenities. Innovative features include The Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea with a 10-story plunge; robot bartenders at The Bionic Bar, powered by Makr Shakr; virtual balconies with real-time views of the destination and VOOM – the fastest internet at sea – so that guests can stay connected, stream their favorite entertainment and share their adventures with family and friends back at home.
Harmony of the Seas will sail from Southampton, U.K. on a series of short getaways to Northern Europe before embarking on her maiden cruise on May 29, arriving in Barcelona, Spain on June 5. The unparalleled cruise ship and her 2,100 dedicated crew members then will officially launch her inaugural summer season with the first of 34 seven-night western Mediterranean sailings on June 7.
In November 2016, Harmony will arrive at her homeport of Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from where she will offer seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings. The newest member of the fleet will join sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, homeported in Port Canaveral and Port Everglades respectively, on the east coast of Florida.
Harmony of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship with a bold and unexpected lineup of thrilling experiences found nowhere else on land or at sea. Harmony combines the distinct seven-neighborhood concept that sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are known for, with some of the most modern and groundbreaking amenities including imaginative dining, unparalleled entertainment and the latest technology, including VOOM, the fastest internet at sea. From the Ultimate Abyss, a thrilling 10-story tall slide, to unparalleled entertainment including Broadway’s hit musical Grease and high-diving, acrobatic performances in the ship’s iconic AquaTheater, world-class dining in venues ranging from Jamie’s Italian Cuisine by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to Wonderland, a unique whimsical culinary adventure for the senses; and robot bartenders, there is an adventure for guests of all ages onboard Harmony.
Harmony of the Seas spans 16 guest decks, encompasses 227,000 gross registered tons, carries 5,497 guests at double occupancy, and features 2,747 staterooms. For more information about Harmony of the Seas, please visit RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com/harmony.
Media can stay up-to-date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers should call their travel agent; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.
# # #