Acquired: 23 March 2018

Maiden voyage: 7 April 2018

In Services: 31 March, 2018

Laid down: The world’s biggest and most expensive ever cruise ship is just days away from setting sail on its maiden voyage.

Royal Caribbean’s ‘Symphony of the Seas’ docked in Malaga, Spain where it dwarfs all nearby apartment blocks.

The ship weighs 228,000 tonnes, and at 1,188 feet long, it is just 20 metres shy of the length of the Empire State Building in New York.

Built over two years, the monster liner can hold up to 8,000 people including 2,200 staff.

The ship cost £959m ($1.35bn).

A man plays basketball. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Fireworks light up the night sky over the world’s largest cruise ship, the 362-metre-long Symphony of the Seas of Royal Caribbean Cruises, after its world presentation ceremony, while sailing to Barcelona from a port in Malaga, Spain.
REUTERS/Jon Nazca

The world’s largest cruise ship Symphony of the Seas sailing to Barcelona after its world presentation ceremony.
REUTERS/Jon Nazca