Southampton has been picked by the powerful Miami-based Carnival Corporation shipping empire as the venue for its annual general meeting of shareholders.

This reflects the port of Southampton's importance in the international cruising industry and the dominance of the city's docks in the multi-million-pound UK sector.

At the same time Carnival plc, previously P&O Princess Cruises, part of a dual listed company formed earlier this year, will also hold its first AGM at the city's Guildhall next Monday at 2pm.

The UK arm of the vast global shipping company came into being last April after Carnival and P&O combined, following a long-running series of negotiations.

Besides controlling P&O Cruises, with its fleet of Southampton vessels which includes Oceana, Adonia, Oriana and Aurora, Carnival also owns Cunard, another major customer of the city's docks.

Carnival shareholders will be voting on a wide ranging agenda including the election and re-election of 13 directors, the appointment of auditors, and receiveing accounts and reports from the past year's trading.

Micky Arison, chairman of the boards and chief executive officer, said: "Under the dual listed company structure, the businesses of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc have been combined principally through a series of contracts.

"Each company has retained its separate legal identity, but the two companies now share a single senior executive management team, have identical boards of directors and are run as if they were a single economic enterprise.

"Although technically there will be two different meetings, shareholders of Carnival Corporation may attend the Carnival plc meeting and vice-versa. Under the dual listed company structure, shareholders of both companies effectively vote together on all significant matters.''

P&O's four Southampton ships range from 69,000 tons up to 77,000 tons and each accommodates 1,830 to 2,020 guests. Oceana and Adonia are the latest additions, increasing fleet-wide capacity to 7,730 lower berths.

Nearly 220 separate cruise ship calls have been booked with Southampton Docks this year, more than all the other British ports put together.

To cope with the demand Associated British Ports, owners and operators of Southampton docks, is developing a third cruise passenger terminal in the port.

Between them the vessels voyage to more than 180 destinations in over 75 countries.

For more information about the Southampton meeting log on to: www.carnivalcorp.com