World's Largest Cruise Ship to Make Its US Debut at Port Canaveral
The largest cruise ship in the world will be making its first appearance in the US tomorrow morning at Port Canaveral before sailing to its new, permanent home in Miami.
The ship, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, made its maiden voyage on April 7, 2018, and was based in Barcelona, Spain. Symphony spent the first months in existence taking passengers on 7-night trips throughout the Mediterranean Sea, but will now be relocated to Royal Caribbean’s new terminal at the of Port Miami.
Symphony of the Seas has a record-breaking capacity of 6,680 passengers and has a length of 1,188 feet. It's about 1,000 tons more than Harmony of the Seas, which debuted in 2016 and also sails from Florida through the Caribbean. Both ships are part of Royal Caribbean’s "Oasis Class" series. According to USA Today, all “Oasis Class” vessels are in excess of 225,000 tons, which is 30% larger than the next largest cruise ships. Symphony of the Seas will be the twenty-fifth ship added to the Royal Caribbean roster.
Docking first at Port Canaveral for customs and a required US Coast Guard inspection, the ship will arrive at 4am and depart at 5pm. Port Canaveral won't be hosting a homecoming ceremony for Symphony (that will all take place in Miami), however, Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray has expressed the port's excitement on behalf of being the first in the US to host the largest ship in the world.
"While Symphony of the Seas is home-ported in Miami, our cruise partner trusts the capabilities of this port," Murray said. "We are ready to support the arrival of the world’s largest and most sophisticated cruise ship in the industry.”
Cruise packages for Symphony of the Seas from Port Miami start at about $609 for a 4-day excursion. The list of activities and amenities available aboard the ship is endless -- including multiple waterslides, multiple restaurants, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, two surf simulators and (as if Royal Caribbean needed to break more records) the tallest slide at sea.
And of course -- you can expect a TPG review of this landmark ship coming soon.
