11 cruise ships are due to make their maiden voyages to Port Southampton in 2019, up from 8 in 2018.
The first liner to call at Southampton is MSC Bellissima, which is scheduled to be welcomed to the cruise port on March 1 via a plaque and key ceremony prior to a grand naming ceremony on March 2.
The plaque and key ceremony is a tradition for all ships on their maiden visit to the port, and has its roots in the medieval history of the port city when visiting vessels bringing business to Southampton were given the keys to the city walls.
The cruise port will also welcome Sun Princess, Norwegian Spirit, Marella Explorer, and Celebrity Edge in the spring. During the summer Spirit of Discovery, Vasco De Gama and Riviera will make their maiden cruises to Southampton UK.
In the autumn, World Explorer and Norwegian Encore are scheduled to arrive, with the last of the maiden visits to Southampton this year set to be MSC Grandiosa, the new 'Meraviglia plus' class cruise ship, due to be delivered in October.