Six ships will be in port in Southampton during the UK Cruise Convention, and all will be available for  tours. Rob Gill outlines the ships’ key attractions and why delegates should check them out

Queen Victoria

Cunard

Launched: December 2007

Size: 2,000 passengers

When in port: Tuesday, May 20

What’s onboard: Seven dining venues including a restaurant by US celebrity chef Todd English; nine bars and lounges; three swimming pools; Royal Court Theatre with first private boxes on a ship; Queen’s Room ballroom; Royal Spa and fitness centre; Empire Casino; nightclub; sports deck; shopping arcade; library with 6,000 books.

Itineraries: During summer 2008, Queen Victoria offers voyages to Scandinavia, Russia and the Baltic states, as well as trips around the Mediterranean. Most itineraries are for 12 to 14 nights, and all departures are from Southampton until mid-August when the ship will be based in the Med.

It returns to Southampton in December for a 22-night round-trip to the Caribbean before leaving on a 107-night world cruise on January 2, 2009.

Why go onboard? It will be the first chance for most agents to experience Cunard’s newest ship which only took its bow in December 2007.

QE2

Cunard

Launched: 1967

Size: 1,778 passengers

When in port: Wednesday, May 21

What’s onboard: Five restaurants and four other dining facilities; seven bars and lounges; Royal Spa; beauty salon; gym; fitness studio; sports centre; casino; ballroom; cinema; library; shopping arcade; computer learning centre.

Itineraries: For its final summer season from Southampton, the QE2 offers itineraries ranging from a three-night break to Holland and Belgium, to 14 and 15-night trips around the Med.

The ship will also be running voyages to the Norwegian Fjords, Norway and Iceland, and the Atlantic islands, as well as a 10-day tour of the British Isles.

QE2 will make its final transatlantic crossings in October – both are sold out. The ship’s final sailing leaves Southampton on November 11 on a 16-day voyage through the Med and the Suez Canal before reaching its new home in Dubai on November 27.

Why go onboard? Say goodbye to an old favourite as it sets sail on its final series of voyages before retiring to the sun of Dubai where it will become a luxury floating hotel.

Arcadia

P&O Cruises

Launched: 2005

Size: 1,952 passengers

When in port: Wednesday, May 21

What’s onboard: Six restaurants including Arcadian Rhodes created by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes; nine bars and lounges; two theatres; two pools; casino; Oasis Spa; gym; The Retreat pavilion for activities such as yoga and t’ai chi; three shops.

Itineraries: Departures from Southampton range from a seven-night Fjord Adventures voyage to Norway to a 101-night World Voyage departing in January 2009.

Most summer 2008 itineraries range from 13 to 17 nights with destinations including the Baltic, western and eastern Mediterranean, and Norway and Iceland.

During the autumn, Arcadia will sail a 23-night round-trip to the Caribbean, as well as operating itineraries around the western Med and the Atlantic islands.

Why go onboard? Arcadia may have just lost its title as P&O’s biggest ship to Ventura but it’s still a stunning contemporary vessel.

Aurora

P&O Cruises

Launched: 2000

Size: 1,870 passengers

When in port: Tuesday, May 20

What’s onboard: Three restaurants; 11 bars and lounges; three theatres and show lounges; casino; three pools; sports court; golf simulator; gym; three shops; Oasis Spa; a range of family facilities for children of different ages, including Decibels for teenagers, Intergalactica computer games centre and Toybox for toddlers; night nursery.

Itineraries: Cruises from Southampton range from two-night breaks to Bruges to a 93-day World Cruise departing in January 2009. Summer 2008 cruises include itineraries to the eastern Mediterranean, Baltic, Atlantic islands, Norway and Iceland, as well as round-trips across the Atlantic to both the Caribbean and the north-eastern coast of the US and Canada. All Aurora sailings depart from Southampton throughout the year.

Why go onboard? Aurora may have been around for a few years but it was refitted in December 2007 so even agents who had been onboard before can get a new perspective.

Crown Princess

Princess Cruises

Launched: 2006

Size: 3,080 passengers

When in port: Friday, May 16

What’s onboard: Personal Choice dining featuring 11 food outlets including three traditional dining rooms and two speciality restaurants; Princess Theatre; Club Fusion and Explorers Lounge entertainment venues; Movies Under the Stars cinema; Gatsby’s Casino; four lounges and bars; Skywalkers Nightclub; spa and fitness centre; three swimming pools.

Itineraries: The ship will be based in Copenhagen this summer and is running 10-day itineraries to Scandinavia and Russia with seven or eight ports of call including two days in St Petersburg.

For winter 2008-09, Crown Princess will sail seven-night eastern Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

Why go onboard? This ship is regarded as Princess’ crown jewel with state-of-the-art facilities and a stunning atrium designed in the style of an Italian piazza.

Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean

Launched: April 2008

Size: 3,634 people

When in port: Wednesday, May 21

What’s onboard: FlowRider surfing simulator; H2O Zone waterpark; ice skating rink; rock-climbing wall; Royal Promenade shopping arcade; Alhambra Theatre; 11 restaurants; 12 bars and lounges; fitness centre and spa; casino, nine-hole mini-golf course; sports court; boxing ring; Adventure Ocean youth clubs.

Itineraries: Summer 2008 cruises from Southampton range from four to 14 nights. These include a four-night break to Cork in Ireland, an 11-night Canary Islands cruise, 14-night Mediterranean Treasures itinerary and 14-night Italian Mediterranean voyage. In winter 2008-09, Independence will sail six or eight-night trips around the Caribbean from its base at Fort Lauderdale in southern Florida.

Why go onboard? Independence is the world’s largest cruise ship and the first of Royal Caribbean’s massive Freedom-class vessels to be based in a European port for a summer season.

Click here to read agents’ thoughts before the convention