THE world's newest luxury liner, the 83,000 ton Arcadia is due to make her way up Southampton Water for the first time tomorrow.

Built in an Italian shipyard near Venice, the £200 million Arcadia will be the centrepiece for a spectacular naming ceremony on the city's waterfront next Tuesday evening when Athens Olympics double gold medal athlete, Dame Kelly Holmes becomes the ship's godmother and sends a traditional bottle of champagne crashing against the ship's hull before a glittering firework display.

The arrival of Arcadia is another major boost for the port of Southampton now internationally recognised as the country's premier port for the multi-million pound British cruise industry.

Arcadia is the largest cruise ship ever to be built exclusively for the home market and is a further addition to P&O Cruises' growing fleet of vessels based in the docks which also includes Oriana, Aurora, Oceana and later this year, Artemis.

The ship is expected to make her way up Southampton Water to pass by Hythe Marina at 10.35am and Town Quay and then Mayflower Park ten minutes later before heading into the Western Docks where she is due to come alongside the Mayflower Terminal at 12 noon.

Arcadia is scheduled to depart on her maiden voyage on Thursday, April 14 when she leaves for a 16-night cruise to the Mediterranean.