Royal Caribbean International is to base another of its cruise ships in Britain, the company has revealed.

In the largest ever deployment to the UK from the business, the 2,112-guest Brilliance of the Seas will sail from Harwich, Essex, joining the already-announced UK-based ships Adventure of the Seas and Independence of the Seas sailing from Southampton.

Brilliance of the Seas joins the UK cruise departure options from Royal Caribbean International following a multi-million pound revitalisation that will take place during an extensive dry-dock refurbishment programme in May 2013.

Brand new features that will premiere for the first time in Harwich at the start of the 2013 season include a large outdoor cinema screen, new speciality restaurants including sushi, steakhouse and Mexican options, new bars including a traditional English pub, flat-screen TVs in all state-room accommodation, a new nursery for babies and toddlers, plus lots more.

Already a popular ship with UK holidaymakers, Brilliance of the Seas has previously been based in Europe during the summer, and winter hot-spot Dubai for the cooler months. The deployment of Brilliance of the Seas to Harwich will also increase the number of cruises from the port for Royal Caribbean International compared to 2012. From Harwich, Brilliance of the Seas will sail to northern Europe and the Baltic Sea on 11 and 12-night cruises. Itinerary highlights from the new 2013 season include: n A 12-night Scandinavia and Russia cruise departing Harwich and calling at Copenhagen in Denmark, Stockholm in Sweden, Helsinki in Finland, Talinn in Estonia, Gothenburg in Sweden, and an overnight in St Petersburg, Russia. It departs on May 15, 2013.

n A 11-night Norwegian fjords and Iceland cruise departing Harwich and calling at Bergen and Geiranger in Norway, Lerwick/Shetland in Scotland, Klaksvik in the Faroe Islands, and an overnight in Reykjavik, Iceland. It departs on July 27, 2013.