The New World's Largest Cruise ship handed over to Royal Caribbean

Building the world’s largest ship took some 36 months, involving 4,700 shipbuilders and crew. The line’s president and CEO Michael Bayley and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain, took part in the traditional flag-changing ceremony. The maritime ritual symbolizes the change of hands from the shipbuilder to the line.

The 25th ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, Symphony of the Seas is 228,081 gross registered tons, measuring 238 feet tall and spans 1,188 feet long. She can accommodate 5,518 guests in 2,759 staterooms. Foremost among them is the Ultimate Family Suite. The two-level, 1,346-square-foot suite features an in-room slide, private cinema, floor-to-ceiling LEGO wall and a 212-square-foot balcony outfitted with a table tennis and a full-size whirlpool.

Other notable distinctions include seven different onboard neighborhoods, the tallest slide at sea with the Ultimate Abyss and a glow-in-the-dark laser tag game.

New culinary options debuting on Symphony of the Seas include Hooked Seafood, an upscale eatery atop the ship. It will serve New England-inspired seafood. El Loco Fresh will serve made-to-order “street food” tacos and burritos in freshly-made tortillas.

Symphony of the Seas departs on March 31 for five-night preview sailing. Her maiden seven-night Mediterranean voyage departs Saturday, April 7 from Barcelona. The ship will homeport in Barcelona for the summer, visiting Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Provence, France; and Florence/Pisa, Rome and Naples, Italy. Miami becomes her year-round home port as of November 10. Her seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises will call on Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's new destination in the Bahamas.