LONDON: The new Britannia “superliner” has arrived in its home port ahead of its official naming ceremony.
The 3,600-passenger vessel is the largest cruise ship designed specifically for the British holiday market, operator P&O said.
It will bear the same name as the Queen’s former Royal Yacht Britannia, which was decommissioned in 1997 after more than 50 years of service.
The Queen will officially name the vessel in Southampton on 10 March.
The 141,000-tonne ship, which features a 94m (308ft) Union Flag on its bow, will then make its maiden voyage to Spain, Italy and France on 14 March.
At 330m (1,082ft), it is longer than the Shard is tall.
It will sail from Southampton during the summer and from the Caribbean in the winter.
In its first year, the ship will visit 57 ports in 31 countries, sailing more than 90,000 miles.
