The $1billion boat arrives in Britain: World’s biggest cruise ship Harmony of the Seas rules the waves as it docks in Southampton ahead of maiden voyage 

  • Harmony Of The Seas is a 1,188 foot and 227,000-ton cruise ship - the newest and biggest the world has ever seen
  • Worth £800m, it boasts the Ultimate Abyss - the tallest slide at sea - as well as seven separate ‘neighbourhoods’
  • Stood on its stern the ship would soar above the Shard, the Eiffel Tower and the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai 
  • It is 330ft longer than the Titanic, and can carry a human cargo of 8,880 including 2,100 crew from 77 countries 

The largest cruise ship in the world – measuring more than four football pitches in length with a maximum capacity for 6,780 passengers – has docked in Southampton for final preparations before its maiden voyage.
A small crowd of well-wishers, including some dressed in their pyjamas, welcomed the £800million Harmony of the Seas as it arrived just after dawn today, but tens of thousands of people are expected to visit the coastal city this week to catch a glimpse of the gigantic vessel before it carries paying customers for the first time.
After sailing from a shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and spending the day yesterday cruising the English Channel, Harmony of the Seas sailed up Southampton Water and arrived at Southampton shortly after 6:15am.
It will depart on a short cruise on Sunday – a four-day taster voyage to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands – and on 29 May will make its maiden voyage to Barcelona, where it will be based for 34 seven-night tours of the western Mediterranean this summer. It will sail between Florida and the Caribbean this winter.
Royal Caribbean International’s 18-deck ship has set new records for length (1,1188ft), gross tonnage (227,000), width (215.5ft), 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.
Scroll down for video 
Welcome: A small crowd turned out to wave in the Harmony of the Seas as it sailed into Southampton shortly after 6am this morning
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Welcome: A small crowd turned out to wave in the Harmony of the Seas as it sailed into Southampton shortly after 6am this morning
The Harmony of the Seas, pictured arriving into Southampton, is the biggest cruise ship in the world, with a length of 1,188ft
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The Harmony of the Seas, pictured arriving into Southampton, is the biggest cruise ship in the world, with a length of 1,188ft
The largest cruise ship in the world measures more than four football pitches in length with a maximum capacity for 6,780 passengers
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The largest cruise ship in the world measures more than four football pitches in length with a maximum capacity for 6,780 passengers
Stunning aerial photos of Harmony of the Seas' arrival in Southampton reveal the scale of the 227,000-ton cruise ship
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Stunning aerial photos of Harmony of the Seas' arrival in Southampton reveal the scale of the 227,000-ton cruise ship
Harmony of the Seas is slightly larger than Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, two sister ships from Royal Caribbean International
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Harmony of the Seas is slightly larger than Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, two sister ships from Royal Caribbean International
Well-wishers, still wearing their pyjamas, rushed out of bed to welcome the ship as it sailed up Southampton Water, the tidal estuary
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Well-wishers, still wearing their pyjamas, rushed out of bed to welcome the ship as it sailed up Southampton Water, the tidal estuary
The gigantic vessel's amenities include the 10-storey Ultimate Abyss (pictured at the back of the ship), the tallest slide at sea
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The gigantic vessel's amenities include the 10-storey Ultimate Abyss (pictured at the back of the ship), the tallest slide at sea
Harmony of the Seas (right) dwarfs many other vessels of its kind. Royal Caribbean now has the world's six largest cruise ships
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Harmony of the Seas (right) dwarfs many other vessels of its kind. Royal Caribbean now has the world's six largest cruise ships
Royal Caribbean says 2,500lbs of fresh salmon and 2,100lbs of lobster tails will be eaten on board on an average seven-night cruise
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Royal Caribbean says 2,500lbs of fresh salmon and 2,100lbs of lobster tails will be eaten on board on an average seven-night cruise
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Harmony of the Seas: The impressive ship will spend the week in Southampton for final preparations ahead of its maiden voyage
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It took 32 months to build Harmony of the Seas, which is the 25th cruise ship in Royal Caribbean International's fleet
Miami-based Royal Caribbean International ordered Harmony of the Seas in December 2012 and it took 32 months to build the ship
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Miami-based Royal Caribbean International ordered Harmony of the Seas in December 2012 and it took 32 months to build the ship
Harmony of the Seas represents a shift by cruise lines to push the boundaries when it comes to size, passenger capacity and amenities
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Harmony of the Seas represents a shift by cruise lines to push the boundaries when it comes to size, passenger capacity and amenities
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The Ultimate Abyss, a 10-storey slide that is the tallest ever built on a cruise ship, takes thrillseekers on a 100ft plunge
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Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit Southampton this week to catch a glimpse of the ship before its inaugural cruise
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Harmony of the Seas, the widest cruise ship ever built, boasts 18 decks in total, with 16 dedicated to passenger staterooms and suites
Harmony of the Seas, the widest cruise ship ever built, boasts 18 decks in total, with 16 dedicated to passenger staterooms and suites