ANOTHER luxury superliner is to make Southampton its home port clinching the city as a world-class centre for the international cruise industry.

Southampton-based P&O Cruises is bring the 77,000-ton Adonia, at present sailing in America as Sea Princess, to the port from April next year.

In another significant move the 13-year-old ship Arcadia, which also operates from the docks, is to be re-named Ocean Village, totally re-branded and moved to Palma, Majorca where it will undertake seven-night informal cruises.

Southampton now dominates the UK market being the UK hub port for P&O Cruises, Cunard, Fred Olsen Cruises Lines and Airtours. Adonia, which will look exactly the same as Oceana, will be an adults only vessel and generate millions of pounds every year for the Southampton economy.

After a refit, which will adapt Adonia to the rapidly growing British market, she will begin a summer season of European cruising from Southampton.

David Dingle, managing director of P&O Cruises, said: "Adonia is the perfect ship to bring further innoovation to enhance the unique contemporary style of the fleet.''

The arrivals of Adonia and Oceana, together with the present Aurora and Oriana, will increase total berths to 7,730 representing a 31 per cent increase in capacity compared to this year.

It is estimated that each Southampton based cruise ship pours up to £35million a year into the local economy.