What Is the Most Expensive Cruise Ship to Build?

By Robert Palmer

While the answer may change over time, in 2020 it is Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. The cost to construct and launch this massive vessel was a whopping $1.35 billion!

The Symphony of the Seas is an enormous vessel measuring 1,188 feet long and 215 feet wide.

It has a maximum occupancy of 6,680 passengers and 2,200 crew members, making it one of the largest cruise ships in the world. The ship features a wide range of amenities such as 22 restaurants, 23 swimming pools, a casino, two rock-climbing walls, zip-lines, an ice-skating rink and much more.

The price tag for this massive vessel is largely due to its size and complexity. The ship was built by STX France at their shipyard in St Nazaire with assistance from several other companies throughout Europe. The process involved constructing 250 different modules that were then assembled on site before being integrated into the completed vessel.

Construction Timeline:

Construction of Symphony of the Seas began in 2016 with design work starting in 2014. After two years of construction work, the ship was launched in March 2018. Following its launch it underwent sea trials over a period of several months before being handed to Royal Caribbean in October 2018.

Contribution to Cruise Industry:

Symphony of the Seas has had a major impact on the cruise industry since its launch thanks to its sheer size and range of amenities on board. As one of the biggest cruise ships ever built it has allowed Royal Caribbean to offer customers an unprecedented range of activities onboard their vessels.

Conclusion:

The Symphony of the Seas is currently considered to be the most expensive cruise ship ever built with an estimated cost of $1.35 billion for construction and launching. It is also one of biggest vessels ever launched with a maximum occupancy capacity of 6