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THE VIEW FROM ABOVE: An aerial shot of Ventura

She is almost here! In less than 48 hours time Southampton will catch the first dramatic sight of the world's newest supership, the spectacular Ventura, as she arrives at the start of her career.

Towering more than 220ft above the waves, with enough staterooms to accommodate 3,600 passengers and boasting an incredible range of guest attractions Ventura's vital statistics will make her unmissable.

From the time Ventura enters the Solent and then makes her way to Calshot, where she will make a sweeping turn into Southampton Water, sightseers will have some remarkable views of this huge, luxurious vessel.

Ventura, due to be alongside the Western Docks at 11am on Sunday, is at present on the last leg of a voyage that has taken her from the Italian shipyard where she was built, through the Mediterranean, before setting a northerly course across the Bay of Biscay into the English Channel and then on to Southampton.

Mayflower Park on Southampton's waterfront will be the ideal spot for a close-up, grandstand view of Ventura although sightseers at Town Quay, Weston Shore, Hythe, Marchwood and Netley will also be treated to an unforgettable sight.

Ventura's debut in Southampton will be particularly memorable occasion for the ship's first master, Captain Alistair Clark as the vessel will pass close to his home in Warsash on her way to the Mayflower Cruise Terminal.

"The arrival of the ship in Southampton promises to be an event the whole city will enjoy and I hope as many people as possible will come out to welcome Ventura and her crew into her home for the first time,'' said Captain Clark.

The ship's arrival will be the signal for the start of a series of glittering inaugural events which culminates in Oscar-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren officially naming Ventura in a gala open air ceremony.

It will be on the evening of Wednesday, April 16 that Dame Helen will say the famous words: "I name this ship.'' watched by hundreds of guests who will have flown in from around the globe for the ceremony.

Ventura, with a gleaming white livery featuring the P&O Cruises' "sunrise'' logo on her hull, traditional buffcoloured funnel and nearly 900 private balconies in row upon row along the length of her superstructure, is the first in this new generation of vessels that city-based P&O Cruises has brought to Southampton.

At 115,000 tons, Ventura is the biggest cruise ship ever built specifically for the growing numbers of British passengers who are now opting for a holiday on the high seas.

Ventura's list of passenger facilities include a 3D cinema, a vast floor-to-ceiling plasma wall showing images from cities around the world, 11 restaurants - including one fine dining venue created by the award-winning chef Marco Pierre White - a West End-style theatre, five swimming pools, together with 12 show and cabaret lounges and bars.

At Cirque Ventura, a circus performers will teach passengers such skills as how to juggle, walk on stilts or swing from a flying trapeze.

12:09pm Friday 4th April 2008

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