Symphony of the Seas: Royal Caribbean takes delivery of world's largest cruise ship

Royal Caribbean has broken its own record for the world's largest cruise ship, taking delivery of the world's newest, largest ship, Symphony of the Seas.

The new 16-deck (measuring 72 metres tall, 362 metres long and 66 metres wide) ship stole the title from Royal Caribbean sister ship Harmony of the Seas.

The new cruise giant was delivered to Royal Caribbean at a traditional flag-changing ceremony in STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

The Oasis-class Symphony of the Seas took three years to build and carries 5518 guests at double occupancy (surpassing the capacity of 5479 on Harmony of the Seas), with 2759 staterooms. It features the 10-storey Ultimate Abyss – the tallest slide at sea, an additional 28 balcony rooms that overlook the ocean or signature Boardwalk neighbourhood and a multistorey Ultimate Family Suite (complete with a slide connecting the kids' room to the family room).

There is also a Perfect Storm waterslide trio and 20 onboard restaurants, including Izumi, Chops Grille, Wonderland and a New England-style seafood restaurant overlooking one of the pool, and seven "neighbourhoods" – including Central Park, complete with living trees.

Symphony of the Seas is scheduled to spend its inaugural summer season in Europe (April to October 2018), calling into ports in Barcelona, Provence, Florence, Rome and Naples, before sailing to Miami's new multimillion-dollar, 15,793-square-metre cruise terminal in Port Miami (Terminal A).

Its maiden voyage is a seven-night Mediterranean cruise that departs on April 7 from Barcelona, Spain. From November 10, Symphony of the Seas will be homeport in Miami's Terminal A.

Whether Royal Caribbean will bring this record-breaker to Australian shores remains an open question.

"We would love to bring an Oasis Class ship to the region, and encourage all ports in the region to think big and recognise that it is possible that up-sizing their infrastructure will bring the biggest and best ships to Australia," says Adam Armstrong, Royal Caribbean Cruises managing director for Australia and New Zealand.