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Last Updated: Friday, 28 April 2006, 12:54 GMT 13:54 UK
Massive cruise ship coming to UK
Freedom of the Seas
The vessel has more than 1,800 rooms for up to 4,375 passengers
The world's biggest cruise ship is to arrive in the UK ahead of its first passenger voyage.

The 160,000-tonne "Freedom of the Seas" arrives in Southampton on Saturday to prepare for the trip to New York.

The vessel, which has more than 1,800 rooms for up to 4,375 passengers at a time, is more than 1,112ft (339m) long - longer than 37 double-decker buses.

It boasts an onboard surfing pool with its own wave machine, a huge rock climbing wall and skating rink.

The ocean liner Queen Mary II is six metres longer but 15m narrower than the Finnish-built vessel, which will be based in Miami, Florida.

The flagship of Royal Caribbean International will be at Southampton's cruise terminal until Wednesday when she will depart for an official naming ceremony in New York.


SEE ALSO:
£300m liner's luxuries announced
16 Feb 06 |  Hampshire
Troubled QM2's voyages cancelled
14 Feb 06 |  Hampshire
Aker wins giant cruise ship deal
06 Feb 06 |  Business


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