It was meticulously planned with all the demanding precision of a military campaign. Nothing could be left to chance as the world's newest luxury cruise liner began a journey that would eventually end in Southampton and a glittering quayside naming ceremony.

Royal Caribbean International's latest addition to the company's fleet, Jewel of the Seas, has been constructed at the German shipyard of Meyer Werft at Papenburg on the River Ems and it was time for the 90,000-ton vessel to make the tricky transit down to the North Sea.

The journey was fraught with problems and potential hazards as the huge superliner eased her way through the flat German countryside, negotiating tight bends, locks and bridges often with just feet to spare on either side of her hull.

Thousands of people lined the banks of the river to see the unique sight of the vast cruise ship travelling past fields, motorways and small towns on the way to the Dutch port of Eemshaven.

Under the command of a team of highly experienced pilots, the ship, still the responsibility of the yard until the official acceptance by Royal Caribbean later this month, travelled down the river astern as it was easier to manoeuvre the vessel using her propulsion pods.

Even before the team in charge of the river passage stepped on board Jewel of the Seas they underwent several training sessions on a computer-based simulator to prepare for the journey.

Limited stores and fuel were carried on the ship to make the vessel as light as possible for the ship's first, and arguably most problematical, voyage.

The whole operation had to be timed to the split second as the depth of water was crucial for the passage, but even with this exact planning there were places where there was only a little more than three feet between the ship and the river bottom.

Jewel of the Seas, at present undergoing an intense period of sea trials, is due to sail into the port of Southampton on Wednesday, May 5.

During her time in Southampton thousands of representatives from the international shipping and travel industries are due to tour the 90,000-ton cruise ship, which will also be officially named in the port on Friday, May 7.

Royal Caribbean has announced it will be repositioning its 69,130-ton vessel Legend of the Seas in Southampton next year for a series of summer voyages to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic islands.

FACTFILE

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International

Registry: Bahamian

Builders: Meyer Werft Yard, Papenburg, Germany

Tonnage: 90,090 tons

Length: 962 feet

Beam: 106 feet

Draft: 28 feet

Cruising speed: 24 knots

Passenger decks: 12

Passengers: 2,112

Cabins: 1,055

Crew: 842

Bow thrusters: Three

Stabilisers: One pair

Propulsion: Two smokeless gas turbines

Passenger facilities include: various bars and lounges, theatre, main dining room with four other eating areas, observation lounge, sports complex including a rock-climbing wall and mini-golf course, cinema, library, swimming complex, nightclub, health and beauty spa and fully equipped hospital.