SOUTHAMPTON is going Dutch for 48 hours as the world's newest cruise ship, the 85,920-ton Oosterdam, makes her international debut in the docks.
The choice of Southampton for this prestigious visit is a major boost to the port's position as the UK's number one centre for the multi-million-pound British cruise industry.
In the next two days, hundreds of representatives of the shipping and travel industries will be in the city to see the superliner which can accommodate 1,848 passengers and has a crew of 842.
Among the visitors to the Holland America Line ship will be 150 Daily Echo readers whose names were picked in an exclusive ballot for passes to tour the vessel.
The second in the Vista class series of ships for Holland America Line, Oosterdam, was built in Italy by the Fincantieri yard near Venice.
Oosterdam is due to sail at 4pm tomorrow for a three-day celebration in Holland before being named by Princess Margriet of the Netherlands.
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