It was a night of high excitement, and even higher fireworks for all the city to see, with more than 2,000 dignitaries and guests celebrating the arrival of the 85,000-ton Arcadia, which sets off on her maiden voyage tomorrow.

Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes, who has his own restaurant, Arcadian Rhodes, on board, took a break from preparations for the forthcoming TV series of Hell's Kitchen in which he is to star, to mingle with guests. He told SeaView:

"After Hell's Kitchen this is Heaven's kitchen. I have always wanted restaurants all around the world. Now I have this restaurant that will sail all around the world. It's so exciting."

David Dingle, P&O Cruises managing director, said of the new adult-only ship:

"She takes us into a new cruising dimension. We are aiming at a slighly younger market, for people whose children have grown up and who can afford to pay a little more to be well and truly pampered."

In another break with tradition, Arcadia is registered in the Bahamas instead of Southampton, providing the opportunity for weddings to be conducted on board.

Whether other ships in the fleet will follow suit depends on the success of the wedding theme, but sales director Nigel Esdale revealed that one couple who had visited the ship had decided to cancel their original plans so as to be married on Arcadia instead.

Child-free Arcadia features an expansive spa with a thermal suite and hydrotherapy pool, three-tier theatre, 3,000 piece multi-million pound modern British art collection, 14 bars and six fine dining options.

Carrying 1,952 passengers and 880 crew, she will sail to destinations in the Mediterranean, Atlantic Isles, Baltic, Norwegian Fjords, USA, Caribbean and Central America.