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The 122,000 ton ship, which at 317m long covers the length of three city blocks, will be the largest to have ever been based in Australia when it arrives next December.

In a major boost to the local economy, about half of the 2850 passengers on board are expected to come from overseas, with the UK and North America expected to be the biggest markets.



The 16-storey ship has penthouse suites complete with baby grand pianos, 10 restaurants, a martini bar and a real grass lawn to play bocce and lawn bowls on the top deck.

It was built three years ago in Germany at a cost of $750 million, also making it one of the newest luxury superliners in the world.

This is the first time a Solstice ship has been taken out of the Caribbean and Europe.

The will sail from Sydney in New South Wales, Fremantle in Western Australia and Auckland in New Zealand, with cruises ranging from 12 to 18 nights in length.

Royal Caribbean Australia managing director Gavin Smith said the ship will circumnavigate Australia as well as travelling to New Zealand and the South Pacific and up the east coast to Queensland.

“This is a particular vote of confidence in the Australian cruise market,'' he said.

“It will bring a steady flow of visitors to ports around Australia.

“This is a major change for our industry and very much a coming of age.''

The move follows Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry's announcement in January that the 88,000 tonne Carnival Spirit will be based full-time in Australia from October 2012 - the first time Carnival Cruise Lines has based Down Under,Miu Miu Glitter Pyrite Geranium Blue Flower Sandal.

Celebrity Solstice is one of the 20 biggest cruise ships in the world,Jimmy Choo Zen Suede Bootie Beige Online.

The world's two biggest cruise ships Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas are around 220,000 ton while the Queen Mary 2 - which visited Sydney last month in a record month for visits - is around 151,000 ton.

At 63m high, the Celebrity Solstice is too big to fit under the Sydney Harbour Bridge so it will berth at the Overseas
Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, not the new terminal at White Bay.

Itineraries and fares for the Celebrity Solstice will be released later this month.