New Largest Cruise Ship Ready To Sail

The world's largest passenger ship docked in England today ahead of its first trans-Atlantic crossing.

The 160,000-ton Freedom of the Seas is owned by Florida-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited. It sailed into the south coast port of Southampton, England, for a four-day stay.

The vessel is due to sail Wednesday for New York, where a naming ceremony will be held. The liner is to ply the Caribbean from its home port in Miami.

The 1,100 foot-long ship can carry some 4,000 passengers. It contains several swimming pools, a surf park, a full-size boxing ring, an ice rink and a climbing wall.

The Finnish-built vessel supplants rival cruise line Cunard's Queen Mary 2 as the world's largest passenger ship. The Queen Mary 2 can carry about 3,000 vacationers.

Royal Caribbean has ordered an even bigger ship capable of carrying up to 6,400 passengers for delivery in 2009.