The QM2 sailed from Southampton amid a blaze of fireworks

Cunard is to name a second huge cruise ship, the 85,000-tonne Queen Victoria, at the Hampshire port next April.

The luxury liner is currently being built at a dockyard in Italy.

The £650m QM2 set sail from Southampton on its maiden voyage in January after being officially launched by the Queen in a blaze of fireworks and music.

After the 150,000-tonne QM2, the Queen Victoria will be the largest Cunard vessel ever built, sailing ticket-holders to the Mediterranean in summer and Caribbean in winter.

'Spectacular ceremony'

Passengers will be able to enjoy 12 decks, a two-level main dining room and choose from 10 lounges, including an observation room.

They can keep fit in a covered promenade deck, three swimming pools, and a large spa and fitness centre.

Peter Shanks, Cunard's Europe senior vice president, said: "Now that a decision has been made about the venue for the naming ceremony, we can begin in earnest on planning the event.

"We acknowledge that the recent naming ceremony of Queen Mary 2 in Southampton, probably the most spectacular naming ceremony anywhere ever, will be difficult to beat - but we certainly intend to try."

The QM2's launch threatened to be overshadowed after 12 people were killed when a gangway collapsed while the ship was in dry dock at St. Nazaire, France.

Most of the victims, including at least two children, were relatives of dockyard workers who were visiting to see the finished ship for the first time when the accident happened.