Maiden voyage for VenturaVentura, the brand new Southampton supership, is scheduled to depart the city's Mayflower Cruise Terminal in the Western Docks on her sell-out maiden voyage at 5pm today writes Keith Hamilton.
A large crowd is expected along the shoreline of Southampton Water to watch Ventura set sail together with another P&O Cruises' vessel, Oceana, which will be berthed at the City Cruise Terminal, alongside Mayflower Park.
Later in the evening the legendary Cunard liner, Queen Elizabeth 2, is listed to move, between 7pm and 8pm, from the Eastern Docks to 105 berth in the Western Docks where she will undergo a ten-day maintenance period.
Ventura's voyage to the Mediterranean, which was completely sold-out in a matter of hours when it first went on sale last year, will take her to seven ports-of-call in four different countries.
Passengers in the ship's ultra-luxurious suites have paid up to £11,979 each for a place on Ventura while guests who booked a standard inside cabin will have paid at least £3,039 per person.
Able to accommodate up to 3,600 passengers, Ventura was officially named by Oscar award winning actress, Dame Helen Mirren, in a spectacular ceremony on Wednesday.
P&O Cruises are so convinced Ventura will be a hit with British travellers that it has already ordered a second, similar ship which is due to enter service in 2010.
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