28 March 2008

Ventura due to set sail from shipyard

P&O Cruisesââ¬â¢ Ã&#pound;300 million superliner Ventura is due to set sail for its homeport of Southampton this weekend following its formal handover.

The 3,000-plus passenger ship is to sail from its Italian shipyard on Sunday and is due in the UK on April 6 for two weeks of launch celebrations.

Ventura will be named by Dame Helen Mirren on April 16 before embarking on its maiden cruise to the Mediterranean two days later.

The largest cruise ship built exclusively for British holidaymakers is one of a series of ship launches planned this year for the UK, including MSC Cruisesââ¬â¢ Poesia in Dover on April 5, Royal Caribbean Internationalââ¬â¢s Independence of the Seas in Southampton on April 30, Holland America Lineââ¬â¢s Eurodam in June in Southampton and Carnival Cruise Lineââ¬â¢s Splendor in July.

Ventura will set sail after being officially ââ¬Ëœhanded overââ¬â¢ to P&O Cruises by the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

by Phil Davies

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