Wonder of the Seas will feature the same "seven-neighbourhood" concept debuted on its sister ships, which are the largest in the world.

Setting sail from Shanghai in 2021, Wonder of the Seas will be the first Oasis ship to sail the Asia Pacific region.

A keel-laying ceremony marking the beginning of construction took place at Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, on Thursday (10 October).

It saw a 970-tonne block, 155 feet by 65 feet, lifted onto the building dock using a 1,400-tonne crane.

“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,” Royal Caribbean president and chief executive Michael Bayley said.

“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.”

Bayley said there will be a “bold line-up of thrilling experiences, imaginative dining, unparalleled entertainment and the latest technology” onboard Wonder of the Seas.

Dr Zinan Liu, chairman of Royal Caribbean Asia, added: “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.

“The deployment of Wonder of the Seas is a manifesto of new era for Royal Caribbean.”