Hollywood legend Julie Andrews sent a blizzard of colour, confetti and streamers blowing across Southampton when she named the world's newest luxury cruise ship in the city yesterday.

The celebrated superstar, who set the hills alive with The Sound of Music, drifted over London rooftops under an umbrella as Mary Poppins and was a Thoroughly Modern Millie, took on a new starring role in the spectacular dockside ceremony.

Once raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens and brown paper packages tied up with string were among her favourite things, but now Dame Julie - she was in the Queen's Honours list three years ago - can add a 68,000-ton cruise ship to the list.

The film star and singer was in Southampton to officially name and become godmother to the vessel Crystal Serenity in what was one of the most glamorous occasions of its kind seen in the city.

As the traditional champagne splashed over the ship, the air was filled with flurries of tickertape and ribbons, the sound of the vessel's whistle boomed out across the port and a choir burst into song, singing many of Dame Julie's smash hits.

"What a wonderful day. In my long career I have had the opportunity to sing, write, act and soon to direct, but I have never been called on to christen a ship,'' said Dame Julie.

"It really has been great fun. All I was worried about was the bottle of champagne breaking on the side of the ship. I just kept thinking 'Please, please let it smash,' and luckily it did!''

In its time, Southampton has witnessed many ship-naming ceremonies.

This was the fifth this year alone and each has its own theme and atmosphere, but this occasion was every bit as stylish as the event's leading lady.

Recalling the famous Ascot scene in the stage production of My Fair Lady, which starred Dame Julie as Eliza Doolittle, the ship's owners, Crystal Cruises, asked the 400 VIP guests to wear black and white for the naming ceremony.

Many guests did follow the theme but Dame Julie was the colourful exception, arriving on the quayside dressed in an elegant pink suit.

Even the champagne that Dame Julie sent crashing against the hull of the ship, after saying the words "I name this ship Crystal Serenity. May God bless her and all who sail in her'' was no ordinary bottle of bubbly, but some of the most exclusive French wine produced.

It was a specially made six-litre bottle of the ultra-expensive Louis Roderer Cristal champagne, with a price tag of about £1,000, that cascaded over the side of the ship berthed alongside the city's Eastern Docks.

Only four of these bottles have ever been made.

However, only one remains after the other three have been used in each of the Crystal Cruises naming ceremonies.

Now Dame Julie hopes to find time to spend on the ship, although she is busy with many commitments.

"I just love cruising but I don't have the chance too often.

"But as godmother of Crystal Serenity, I have an open invitation to come on board, so hopefully I'll be able to next year,'' said Dame Julie, who underwent a throat operation which affected her singing.

"I am not sure whether I will sing again but I am optimistic," she said.

"I am about to start directing a stage production of the musical The Boyfriend in America and I have been busy writing as well as filming.

"I am blessed to be asked to do so many things, so I am very lucky.''

During the ceremony, Jiro Nemoto, chairman of NYK Line, the parent company of Crystal Cruises, said Southampton had been chosen specifically for the naming event as the Japanese company had many connections with the docks and is one of its oldest customers.

The Mayor of Southampton Councillor Parvin Damani also welcomed the vessel and guests to the city.

She said: "The arrival of Crystal Serenity is the latest in a proud tradition that has seen many maiden voyages of world famous and magnificent ships start from Southampton Water.

"Many historic journeys, Henry V for Agincourt, the Pilgrim Fathers for the New World, Allied forces for the Normandy landings, have also started from Southampton's waterfront and the port continues to play an important role in the fortunes of the nation.

"Today, the cruise business is of vital importance to our local economy, bringing a dynamic and exciting element to our working lives.

"Crystal Serenity is the

latest part of that success story.''

The Rev Michael Williams, chaplain for the port of Southampton, led a short service of dedication before Dame Julie carried out the naming ceremony.

Gregg Michel, the company's president, said: "This is a moment all of us at Crystal Cruises have been working toward for more than three years.

"It is such an honour for us to have an entertainer as elegant and well-respected as Dame Julie Andrews christen our new ship into service.

"She is the embodiment of the style and sophistication that is Crystal Serenity."

Dame Julie is not the first actress to name a Crystal Cruises vessel.

Crystal Harmony was christened in 1990 by Mary Tyler Moore while Crystal Symphony, which calls most years at Southampton docks, was named by Angela Lansbury in 1995.