THE public will have their say in naming P&O’s new super cruise ship, the Southampton-based company has revealed.

P&O has announced that the so-far unnamed vessel will be the largest ever built for the British cruise market and is expected to be based in the Hampshire port.

News of a public competition to name the ship before she comes into service in 2020 was announced along with more details of the vessel which is expected to cost more than £300m to complete.

A major new entertainment hub called The Dome will be among the star attractions to feature, the company’s chief David Noyes told a star-studded gathering held in central London.

Featuring an impressive clear sky dome, a pool with a retractable stage, water feature and whirlpools, The Dome will act as an all-weather venue for all day entertainment and informal dining, Mr Noyes who is Chief Executive of Carnival UK told the audience at the Sky garden atop one of London’s impressive skyscrapers.

At night The Dome – one of four primary entertainment spaces on P&O Cruises new 180,000 ton ship – will come alive with aerial performances, projection onto the roof and immersive shows.

As well as the Dome, an uninterrupted half-mile Promenade around the ship will provide easy access to al fresco dining at a range of restaurants and relaxation areas under shaded pavilion awnings.

Glass walls spanning three decks will be designed to flow natural light into P&O Cruises signature Atrium, the central heartbeat and focal point of the 5,200-guest ship, complete with a grand staircase, gallery and overhead walkways.

Cutting-edge designers and architects are working on creating the next generation ship, the first new-build in five years for P&O when it enters service in early summer 2020.

The ship will be the most environmentally efficient in P&O Cruises history with “green cruising” design using liquefied natural gas (LNG) to generate the primary source of power.

Built by Meyer Werft at its shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, cruises on the new ship will go on sale in autumn 2018.

P&O Cruises senior vice president Paul Ludlow said: “Choice, flexibility and the ability to create individual holiday experiences on board will be at the heart of the new ship which, thanks to an innovative use of space, will offer an extensive range of dining, entertainment and relaxing areas.

“Understanding the psychographic - the mindset - of our current and future guests is the key – acknowledging and realising what they want from a holiday and then providing it for them.

“Our vision is to offer the next generation of British guests the holiday of a lifetime on the next generation of P&O Cruises ships.

"This new ship will bring an array of new cruising experiences to guests and attract newcomers to our brand, whilst instantly resonating with forward-thinking guests, encapsulating the ‘P&O-ness’ they recognise and love.”