Owners of the world's newest cruise ship have picked Southampton for the departure point of its prestigious maiden voyage.

Renaissance Cruises is the latest international shipping company to underline the city's growing reputation as the country's premier cruise port.

Nearly 160 separate cruise ship calls have been booked with Associated British Ports, owners and operators of Southampton Docks, between now and the end of the year, making 2001 the busiest yet in this lucrative trade sector.

The latest addition to the Renaissance fleet, the 30,277 tonne R8, which at present is undergoing final preparations along the coast in Portland, is due to arrive in Southampton on Saturday afternoon.

During her time in the port the vessel, built by the French yard Chantiers de l'Atlantique, which has won the contract to build Cunard's massive Queen Mary 2, will undergo a series of official inspections by the Southampton-based Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

On Sunday more than 600 passengers will embark on the ship's maiden voyage, a 62-night cruise to South America.

Normally Renaissance Cruises mainly aims for the huge American market, but on this occasion 80 per cent of the ship's cabins will be occupied by British passengers, reflecting the present popularity for cruising.

R8 is the eighth and final vessel to be built in the class of identical ships during the last 29 months for Renaissance, which now claims to be the fifth biggest cruise line in the world.

Like its sister ships, R8 is totally non-smoking with passengers not even allowed to light-up on the open decks, a policy which Renaissance says is attracting passengers.