SOUTHAMPTON reinforces its position as the country's premier port for the multi-million-pound British cruise sector with the arrival of one of the biggest names in the holiday industry today.

Holiday giant Thomson has picked Southampton as the base for a programme of summer voyages using the 33,930-ton Thomson Celebration, marking 2005 as the operator's biggest season so far for cruises.

The arrival of the vessel is another significant boost for the docks that will see a total of 230 separate cruise ship calls, more than all the other UK ports put together, this year.

Thomson has occasionally brought another of its fleet, Emerald to Southampton but this is the first time the company will operate a series of cruises from the port. Thomson Celebration, formerly Holland America Line's Noordam, has just undergone a major refit, that began last November, in Falmouth to prepare the vessel for its new career. The ship, which will be berthed at the City Terminal in the Western Docks, will become a familiar sight in the port during the coming months as she undertakes itineraries that will include the Mediterranean, Ireland, the Scilly Isles and the Channel Isles.

With a service speed of 19 knots, Thomson Celebration, which was built in France and first entered service in 1984, can accommodate up to 1,254 passengers in 627 cabins and has a crew of more than 500.

David Selby, head of cruising at Thomson, said: "Many of the ship's public rooms were upgraded during the refit and we also created a second venue for shows together with a brand new beauty salon and health spa designed over two decks and new technical equipment was also installed."

THOMSON CELEBRATION FACTFILE:

Builder: Chantiers de l'Atlantique, France

Tonnage: 33,930 tons

Speed: 19 knots

Passenger decks: Nine

Cabins: 627

Cruise passengers: 1,254

Crew and staff: 520

Facilities: Three restaurants, five bars, two lounges, one non-smoking, nightclub, casino, whirlpools, two swimming pools, cinema, card/reading room, beauty salon, boutiques, Kidzone, teen area and video arcade, health club, sports deck, sauna and massage, library and medical centre.