largest cruise ship ever built begins sea trials - ship photos of the day and vid

gcaptain | March 10, 2016 by

Mike Schuler
The largest cruise ship ever built departed the STX France Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France on Thursday for its first set of sea trials.Photo credit: STX France

The Harmony of the Seas is the third ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class. At 227,700 GRT, the cruise ship will be just slightly larger than her two sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, which at 225,282 GRT are currently the largest cruise ships in the world.

Harmony of the Seas is due back at the shipyard on Sunday following three days of trials meant to test the ship’s power and propulsion. The sea trials involve some 500 engineers and technicians, as representatives from the classification society DNV GL.

Harmony of the Seas is expected to make its maiden voyage from Europe in May 2016. The ship is designed to carry a total of 6,410 passengers and 2,300 crew.

PHOTOS

The Harmony of the Seas ( Oasis 3 ) class ship leaves the STX Les Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, France, March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe