Royal Caribbean has begun construction on the latest addition to its fleet, which has been named Wonder of the Seas.

The new mega-ship will be Royal Caribbean’s fifth Oasis Class vessel, and is set to be the world’s largest cruise ship.

Wonder of the Seas will begin sailing in 2021 and her homeport being China’s megacity Shanghai.

CEO Michael Bayley revealed details of the new ship at a global cruise industry conference event held in Shanghai. Wonder of the Seas will be the first Oasis Class vessel to sail the Asia Pacific.

“Royal Caribbean is known for its innovation and constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and an Oasis Class ship in China is proof of that,” said Bayley.

“Wonder of the Seas will redefine the ultimate vacation and be revolutionary in her own right, and she marks one of Royal Caribbean’s most exciting chapters to come.”

“Royal Caribbean has been a market leader in China for more than 10 years by consistently showcasing bold deployment strategies and driving growth of the new to cruise market,” added chairman of Royal Caribbean Asia, Dr Zinan Liu.

Construction on the mega-ship began yesterday (10 October) at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

The new ship will be similar in concept to her existing sister ships, but with added dining, entertainment and technological features.

During the keel-laying ceremony, the ship’s keel, a 970-tonne block measuring 155 feet by 65 feet, was lifted onto the building-dock with a 1,400-tonne crane. This ceremony marks the beginning of her construction.

For more information, visit royalcaribbean.co.uk.