The world's largest cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas, is floated out of dry dock

The newest member of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis class of ships is one step closer to her April 2018 debut.

With exterior construction now complete, Symphony of the Seas has been floated out of dry dock at the STX France yard in St Nazaire to begin the next phase of interior construction. Ten months of intensive work remain to be completed before the ship leaves the yard.

Symphony will spend her inaugural summer season cruising in the Mediterranean, calling on ports in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Provence, France; Florence/Pisa, Rome and Naples, Italy.

She will then cross the Atlantic to Miami in early November to begin seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

Symphony of the Seas will claim the title of the world’s largest – and most adventure-filled – cruise ship, offering 28 more staterooms than her newest sister ship Harmony of the Seas and measuring 230,000 gross registered tons compared with 226,693.

Among the award-winning favorites the ship will share with Harmony are the distinct seven-neighborhood concept, Bionic Bar robot bartenders powered by Makr Shakr, West-End standard entertainment, the waterfront AquaTheater, the Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, and Ultimate Abyss – the tallest slide at sea.