The Oasis of the Seas has finally touched water for the first time during construction when it was floated out of its dry dock in Turku, Finland.

The ship is 65% complete and its magnificent facilities include a levitating bar, fairground, amphitheatre and a park with real trees.

The owners of the ship, Royal Caribbean, predict a growth in the number of cruise passengers, with more than two million Brits taking a cruise each year by 2012.

The company is remaining optimistic about the cruise industry, despite the current economic climate. Richard Fain, chairman and chief executive of US-based Royal Caribbean, said “Like every other industry we are suffering in this recession too but people still need their vacations.”

“At times like this people look more carefully and a cruise vacation is a known value - people know what they’ll spend before they go - and that is what helps us.”