World's Largest Cruise Ship Gets First Taste Of Water

Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas, which will inherit the title of world's largest cruise ship when it debuts in spring 2018, was floated out at the STX France shipyard for its first taste of water.

The 230,000-ton, 1,188-foot-long ship is under construction at STX France in St. Nazaire, France. It is the fourth Oasis-class vessel, and Symphony of the Seas will sail the Mediterranean in the summer 2018 and then make its way to the U.S., bound to sail out of Royal Caribbean's new terminal at PortMiami.

With the exterior now done, interior work will continue until its April 2018 handover.

Symphony of the Seas's gross registered tons will be more than Harmony of the Seas, which comes in at 226,963 tons, but they will be the same length. Harmony of the Seas currently holds the title for world's largest cruise ship, slightly larger than the original ships, 2009's Oasis of the Seas and 2010's Allure of the Seas.