The design and decor ensures she will be ideally suited to British tastes. Her size - 76,000 tons, 886 feet long and 106 feet wide - allows more than enough room for a whole range of public rooms, leisure and entertainment facilities and cabins, many with private balconies. The new ship is also one of the most spacious ever built.

• Deck 5: The lowest level of the four-storey atrium, where passengers board. This, with its reception desk, not only acts as a focal point of the interior but it will connect many of the public areas.

• Deck 6: Two restaurants. Like Oriana, one is aft offering views on three sides, while the midships restaurant leads directly off the atrium. The lower level of a two-storey shop, one of two shops on board, is also located off the atrium.

• Deck 7:The main public rooms. Forward is the theatre where P&O's unique Stadium Theatre Company performs in a setting that rivals anything to be found in the West End. Moving from the theatre, passengers enter a bar with a distinctive gentleman's club atmosphere.

  The nightclub is located midships adjacent to the casino and gaming area. Also on this deck is the 'pub' which in P&O's tradition will follow a British sporting theme. At the aft end of the ship is the main show lounge.

• Deck 8: The top level of the atrium is the setting for a spacious patisserie. As on Oriana, the three 'quiet' rooms -library, card room and writing room - will be grouped together midships. In response to demand, a business centre has been incorporated into the design of the deck - a first on a P&O Cruises ship.

  The cinema, larger than on Oriana, is the venue for first-run films as well as classical concerts. The aft area is dedicated to P&O's younger passengers, with a children's playroom, deck area and paddling pool and a teen centre.

  The first permanent barbecue on any cruise ship can be found next to the aft outdoor swimming pool, which will be reserved for families at certain times of the year.

• Deck 9: Following the recent successful introduction of a pizzeria on Oriana, the new ship also features this alternative dining facility overlooking the swimming pool below.

  The new ship's extensive outdoor decks, among the most spacious at sea and a signature of the P&O fleet, feature three large swimming pools, one of which is covered with a retractable 'magradome' sliding glass roof - another first for a P&O Cruises ship.

• Deck 12: A further dining option on this deck is an informal all-day buffet-style restaurant - one of the largest at sea. The health spa and beauty salon, featuring a full gymnasium, treatment rooms and sauna, can be found right at the front of the ship, with views of the ocean on three sides.

• Deck 13: The highest passenger deck is home to the forward observation lounge, similar to the Crow's Nest on Oriana. Behind the funnel arethe deck tennis and sports facilities.

A total of ten passenger lifts ensure that passengers can move freely around the new ship.

The 920 cabins are superbly appointed and equipped. Each cabin, regardless of grade, features private facilities, refrigerator, private safe, colour TV, multi-channel music system, telephone and individually controlled air-conditioning.

The twin beds in all cabins can convert to queen-size. There are 10 suites and 20 mini-suites and 22 cabins for disabled passengers. 45 per cent of cabins feature a private balcony, far more than any other ship dedicated to the British market.