P&O Cruises ship Aurora has returned to the seas following a £32 million refit in Hamburg.

Aurora is the first ship in the P&O Cruises fleet to receive the bold new livery design.

She left Hamburg this morning and will arrive in Southampton on Thursday evening having spent the last 20 days with 1,200 contractors working to make ready for her Christmas and New Year cruise.

Works included replacing five kilometres of pipes, laying 28,000 square meters of carpet, replacing over 3,000 mattresses and of course her new paint work.

Launched in 2000, Aurora now leads the way for the fleet sporting a contemporary version of the union flag on her bow and a new blue funnel with illuminated rising sun design.