SHE is the biggest the ship in the world and as she departs Southampton on her maiden voyage she leaves a legacy worth £200million to the local economy.

Royal Caribbean International, the owner of Harmony of the Seas, has signed a seven-year deal with the port of Southampton which secures the City Cruise Terminal as the official UK home of the holiday company until 2023.

The cruise line’s strategic operations officer, Mike Jones, and managing director of UK and Ireland, Stuart Leven, made the announcement during the traditional Plaques and Keys ceremony held aboard the massive ship.

The figure of £200million is based on expected passenger numbers, spend per passenger, job opportunities and requirements Royal Caribbean is pumping £5.5million into improved facilities at the terminal to speed up embarkations and tighten security.

• Enjoy an inside tour of Harmony of the Seas here

Daily Echo: L-R Steve Heagren (Port Agent) Sir Alan Massey (MCA) Nick Farthing (Chamber of Commerce) Ken Rush (CruiseDirector) Gus Andersson (Captain) Marshall Bartlett (Staff Captain) James Cooper (CEO ABP) Alistair Welch, (Southampton Director ABP) Joao Mendonca (Hotel Director)

Mr Jones, who flew in from Miami for the ceremony, claims the introduction of new paperless check-in for passengers will mean a passengers will be able to travel from kerb to gangway in just ten minutes.

Other upgrades include improvement to layout and security screening areas, free wifi throughout the terminal, step-free-access to ships, digital signage and new air conditioning throughout the terminal.

The upgrade will mean Southampton will be able to cater for the new generation of larger cruise ships such as Harmony of the Seas, which if stood on end would stand 37 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Stuart Leven said of the deal: “Each year, more than 1.5 million holidaymakers either start or end their cruise holidays in Southampton, making the port Europe’s largest cruise ship hub.

“Such a busy passenger hub deserves best-in-class facilities and at Royal Caribbean we are constantly looking for ways to improve the passenger experience.

"I want our passengers’ extraordinary adventure to begin the moment they arrive at the Port, before they even step on board the ship.

“The investment Royal Caribbean has made into the port is good news for our passengers and good news for Southampton’s economy.”

Daily Echo: L-R Alistair Welch,(Southampton Director ABP) Mike Jones (Strategic Operations Officer) James Cooper (CEO ABP) Gus Andersson (Captain)

ABP Southampton director Alastair Welch said: “This deal will secure the port’s reputation as the UK’s number one and leading European turnaround port long into the future.

"Equally, it is great news for the UK economy, and the landmark deal can only increase the significant contribution cruise makes to the 15,000 jobs and £1bn economic contribution of the port.”

Stewart Dunn, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to have been part of the Harmony of the Seas presentation.

"The celebrations coincided with a seven-year deal that truly underlines the Port of Southampton’s position as the cruise capital of northern Europe.”

The Plaques and Keys ceremony was held in the ship’s jazz lounge in front of Nick Farthing, of Southampton Chamber of Commerce, and other business leaders including ABP’s chief executive James Cooper.

Traditionally the keys of the city would be given to the skipper however, Mr Farthing gave Harmony of the Seas captain, Gus Andersson, a plaque containing the city’s coat of arms.

In return, the ship presented Mr Farthing and Mr Cooper, a print of specially commissioned artwork.

The ship sailed out of Southampton yesterday bound for Rotterdam on a taster cruise and is due to return tomorrow before leaving for her base in Barcelona on May 29.