THE world's biggest-ever cruise-liner docked in Málaga at 06.00 this morning and will set off for Barcelona tonight at 22.00 with a loud and colourful send-off of fireworks and music.
Having left the French port of Saint Nazaire yesterday (Monday) for its maiden voyage, the Symphony of the Seas was eagerly awaited in the Costa del Sol city, since it is the largest and most luxurious ever to have been built.
Royal Caribbean International, the cruise company which owns it, had announced its future incorporation into its fleet some months back, and Málaga has been chosen for its world première presentation.
Practically a floating city, the Symphony of the Seas has space for 6,360 cruise passengers and 2,175 crew members, measures 362 metres in length and is divided into seven separate exclusive 'communities'.
It has 20 restaurants serving haute cuisine from every continent, including Japanese dishes and quality steaks, an ice-skating rink, a rock-climbing wall, and a full-sized basketball court.
On-board entertainment includes a type of theme park with three water slides – including the 'Ultimate Abyss', which is the tallest ever to have been built on a ship – and two windsurf simulators.
A latest-generation high-tech gym, a cinema with a 3D screen, and the fastest internet connection ever seen on a boat – known as 'VOOM' – are among its long list of facilities.
The 'Bionic Bar' is a complete novelty and a hitherto unseen concept: robot waiters and waitresses serve cocktails whilst dancing to the rhythm of upbeat music playing throughout the café.
Ship number 25 in the Royal Caribbean fleet and number four in its élite 'Oasis' class, the Symphony of the Seas is the sister liner of what has now become the second-largest cruise-liner on earth, the Oasis of the Seas, and also of its slightly smaller versions, the Anthem of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.
Málaga will be the only city in the world to have played host to all four within a 48-hour period.
From next month, through to autumn, the Symphony of the Seas will be used for seven-night Mediterranean cruises.
Its base, and starting and finishing point, will be Barcelona, and the liner will stop off in Palma de Mallorca, then in Provence in southern France, before visiting Florence, Pisa, Rome and Naples in Italy.
