New liner arrives in Southampton

This from http://news.bbc.co.uk

"A new £300m cruise ship, which will eventually replace the QE2, has arrived in Southampton ahead of a naming ceremony next week.

The Queen Victoria, built in Italy, travelled up Southampton Water and docked at 0930 GMT.
The 16-deck, 90,000-tonne super cruiser boasts such amenities as a 830-seat theatre, museum and two-storey library.

She will be named by the Duchess of Cornwall and join Queen Mary 2 and QE2 in Southampton-based Cunard's fleet.

The firm is decommissioning the QE2, which has carried two million passengers across five million miles (eight million km).

We are delighted that both our invited guests and the people of Southampton will be able to witness this exciting event

The liner will leave service next year to become a floating hotel in Dubai from 2009.
Queen Victoria, Cunard's most luxurious ship, will depart from its Southampton home on a 10-night tour of Northern Europe on 11 December.

She was built at the Fincantieri shipyard, near Venice.

Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard, said: "The naming of a Cunard queen is a very special occasion.

"The naming of Queen Victoria is made even more special by the presence of their Royal Highnesses and we are delighted that both our invited guests and the people of Southampton will be able to witness this exciting event."

A firework display will mark the departure of the vessel on her maiden voyage around northern Europe on Tuesday.