THE 63,524-ton cruise ship Arcadia left Southampton with that name for the last time yesterday but she will be back in a few weeks' time at the start of a new career.
After undergoing a wide-ranging refit in Germany, the vessel will emerge as Ocean Village, the first in a new breed of British cruise ships aimed at younger passengers and offering a more casual approach to holiday voyages.
Ocean Village, with a distinctive livery and logo on her hull and superstructure, will be officially named in Southampton at the end of next month by the television personality, Ulrika Jonsson.
The ship will then be repositioned to Majorca where she will undertake a programme of Mediterranean voyages during the summer before being moved to the Caribbean for the winter season.
Arcadia joined the Southampton-based P&O Cruises fleet in December 1997 following the company's decision to withdraw the legendary liner Canberra from service.
One of the features on Arcadia is a special room that recalls Canberra and her historic role, when she earned the nickname of the Great White Whale as part of the Falkland Islands Task Force.
A spokesman at P&O Cruises' Southampton headquarters said all the items in the exhibition will be taken off Arcadia and put in store.
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