THE new home of Britain’s biggest cruise ship company, Carnival UK, was officially opened in Southampton yesterday.

Carnival House is the latest multi-million-pound landmark building to grace the city skyline.

The corporate headquarters, overlooking Southampton Water, will not only house 1,118 employees but the impressive, glassfronted building at Harbour Parade, off West Quay Road, will bring staff who previously worked in five separate offices across the city under one roof.

Carnival UK is the parent company of some of the most famous names in shipping, including P&O Cruises, Cunard and Princess Cruises, which all have vessels based in Southampton.

To mark the building’s inauguration, a cheque for £5,000, raised by Carnival UK employees, was handed over to help fund the construction of Jack’s Place, a new wing at Naomi House, the children’s hospice near Winchester.

● Pictured at the opening are, from left, David Dingle, chief executive of Carnival UK; Susan Kennedy and her husband Andrew, corporate services director of Carnival UK.