Longer than The Shard and wider than a Boeing 747 wingspan: The world's largest cruise ship sails into the UK for the first time

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The world's largest cruise ship arrived in the UK today for the first time.
The 800m Oasis Of The Seas sailed into Southampton at 10am on Wednesday in dense fog, welcomed by a crowd of hundreds and helicopters circling overhead.
Weighing 225,282 tonnes, the 1,187ft ship is longer than London's The Shard is tall, and at 208ft wide, larger than the wingspan of a Boeing 747.

Passengers will be boarding all afternoon and it leaves Southampton for Vigo, Spain, and Fort Lauderale, Florida, tonight.
The Royal Caribbean cruise ship is 40 per cent larger than any other vessel to ever dock in the UK, and has the capacity to house 5,400 passengers and 2,394 crew.

Spread across its 16 decks is an outdoor park with more than 12,000 real plants and trees, an 82-foot long zip wire, and the largest pool on the seas.
There is also a 750-seater arena, ice rink, surf machines, a high-diving performance venue and an elevating bar.
Onlookers this morning were kept in good spirits despite the grey weather with free tea and bacon sandwiches offered by Royal Caribbean.
It is a busy time for Southampton, with another Royal Caribbean ship, Quantum Of The Seas, expected to dock in just over a fortnight to be showcased.
The first in a series of new ships coming from Royal Caribbean International over the next few years, Quantum of the Seas will sail from Southampton to New York on 2 November 2014.
In 2015 Quantum Of The Seas will become the newest ship from a global cruise line to ever be based in the Far East when it offers cruises from Shanghai starting in June 2015.

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