The release of hundreds of balloons signalled the departure of Southampton's two newest luxury cruise liners.

Oceana and Adonia, dubbed the White Sisters, left Western Docks in Southampton on their maiden voyages on Saturday evening, having been officially named by the Princess Royal and her daughter, Zara Phillips, last week.

Fireworks were released from the dockside as the P&O Cruises' ships sailed.

The ships were a stunning sight as they steamed along Southampton Water, their white hulls gleaming against the dark rain-clouds which had gathered above the city.

Spectators waited hours in Mayflower Park and Town Quay to watch the big send-off.

Among them was Joyce Matthews, who took her two grandsons to Town Quay.

"We got here early to get a good spot," said Mrs Matthews, 62, of Totton. "The ships looked magnificent as they sailed past so it was well worth the wait."

The double departure was a rare event for Southampton Docks. Although both liners are now based in the city, their separate sailing schedules mean they are unlikely to meet up again for some time. Along with other P&O ships Aurora and Oriana, Adonia and Oceana will spend the summer operating European cruise holidays to the Mediterranean, Baltic and Fjords.

Oceana will later sail to the Caribbean for winter 2003, while Adonia will embark upon a 100-night round-the-world voyage in 2004.

Although the sister ships look almost identical from the outside, they have different characters on board.

Adonia offers child-free cruising in a sophisticated atmosphere, while Oceana is billed as a glamorous contemporary liner with the intimacy of a smaller vessel.

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