The world's largest cruise ship arrived in the UK today for the first time.

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.

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Mammoth: The world's largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, sails into Southampton this morning

Spectacle: Crowds gathered to welcome the 225,282 tonne vessel arrive under dense fog

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.

Super sized: The Royal Caribbean cruise ship has the capacity to house 5,400 passengers and 2,394 crew

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Entertainment: Oasis Of The Seas boasts a 750-seat arena and high-diving performance venue

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You'll never get bored: There are rock-climbing walls, basketball courts and mini-golf available

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Enormous: The scale of the vessel is clear to see; right: Inside one of the Crown Loft suites

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Fun for the whole family: There is also an ice rink, an 82-foot long zip wire and a casino

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Surf's up: There is not one, but two surf machines on board 

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Wilderness on water: An outdoor park has more than 12,000 real plants; Right: There is over 10,000 square metres of retail space

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Record-breaking: The ship took over three years to build and the largest pool on the seas

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CRUISE BY NUMBERS 

• Length - 1,180ft; weight - 225,282 tons;  
• Cost to build - £800million
• 630,000 gallons of paint needed to decorate it
• 2,300 tons of water in its swimming pools
• 12,000 plants on board including hundreds of palm trees
• 3,300 miles of electrical cables to keep the lights in its 2,700 cabins blazing

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.