USA TODAY US Edition

Largest cruise ship? For now.

- Gene Sloan

ABOARD SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS – The new world’s biggest cruise ship won’t be the biggest for long.

Royal Caribbean Internatio­nal president and CEO Michael Bayley on Wednesday said a new Royal Caribbean vessel coming in 2021 would be even bigger than new giant Symphony of the Seas.

Responding to a question from USA TODAY at a media event onboard Symphony, Bayley said the as-yet-unnamed fifth ship in Royal Caribbean’s groundbrea­king Oasis Class of vessels would be at least a tad bigger than the

228,081-ton Symphony. Symphony is the fourth vessel in the Oasis Class.

“It’s going to have to be a little bigger,” Bayley said.

“Like an inch, three inches here; an extra few tons there,” he said.

Boasting more cabins than any other vessel afloat and with room for up to

6,680 passengers, Symphony is a slightly larger version of the third ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class, the

22-month-old Harmony of the Seas. Designed for vacationer­s who love big, bustling mega-resorts, the Oasis Class vessels have made waves in the industry since they began debuting in

2009. All of the Oasis Class ships currently at sea are more than 30% larger than the next largest cruise vessels.

Symphony includes a revamped Boardwalk amusement area, a laser tag attraction and a new-for-Royal Caribbean seafood restaurant.

 ?? USA TODAY ?? Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas launches this week.
USA TODAY Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas launches this week.

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