There was great excitement at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard near Trieste in Italy today as the engines of Britain’s biggest cruise ship, Britannia, were started up for the first time by Formula One racing presenter Suzi Perry. Also on hand were Captain of the Britannia, Paul Brown and chief engineer, Sinclair Ross.

When working to full capacity, Britannia’s four engines will generate 62.4 Megawatts or 84,000 horsepower which is equivalent to the power generated by 168 supercars, allowing the 141,000 ton ship to cruise at a speed of 22 knots.

When the biggest ship built for the British cruise market sets sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton to the Mediterranean on March 14, 2015 it will mark a change in holidays at sea.