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Once completed, Britannia will be the biggest cruise ship ever built for British holidaymakers.

As she sits in the Italian shipyard Fincantieri's Monfalcone, near Trieste, the grand ship is given her final lick of paint - which featuring 420 litres of paint for the Union Jack, and another 160 for the P&O logo - is no mean feat.

Painters are working on her sparkling new livery, which features the world's largest contemporary version of the Union Jack painted on the hull.

The £500million ship has already had a 'floating out' ceremony to test her seaworthiness and is now preparing for a glamorous launch in Southampton, in March 2015. 

The impressive vessel is the length of 10 blue whales (1,000ft) will carry 4,372 passengers and 1,400 crew - fitting in more people than can squeeze into London's Royal Albert Hall.

And weighing a 141,000 tons, the ship has an engine power equal to 70 challenger tanks or 86 Bugatti Veyrons.

When it launches, Britannia will boast 13 bars and another 13 restaurants and cafes as well as four swimming pools across 15 decks - and an art collection worth £1million.

Celebrity chef James Martin will host regular cookery classes on board, wine expert Olly Smith will have his own bar called The Glass House and Marco Pierre White will host gala dinners at sea.

Britannia's maiden season will see the ship sail from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands and the Baltic Sea, as well as offering a range of short breaks and a special round Britain cruise.

The ship will then transfer to the Caribbean for the winter season sailing a range of 15 night fly/cruise itineraries from Barbados. 

Finishing touches: Painters work on Britannia's sparkling new livery, which features the world's largest contemporary version of the Union Jack painted on the hull

Enormous: The Britannia is the largest cruise ship ever built for the British market and will be officially named in a glittering ceremony in Southampton in March 2015

No mean feat: Painters used 320 litres of red paint, and 100 litres of blue paint for the striking Union Jack painted on the ship's hull

Rising high: The huge ship will have 15 decks and will first set sail for the Mediterranean, before heading to the Caribbean for the winter months

Almost ready to hit the high seas: The £500million ship has already had its 'floating out' ceremony to test her seaworthiness

Impressive: When it launches the ship will boast 13 bars and another 13 restaurants and cafes as well as four swimming pools - and an art collection worth £1million

Grand scale: The impressive vessel is the length of 10 blue whales (100ft) will carry 4,372 passengers and 1,400 crew

Britannia's maiden season will see the ship sail from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands and the Baltic Sea

In the winter season, the ship will transfer to the Caribbean sailing a range of 15 night fly/cruise itineraries from Barbados

Supersized: With 15 decks and set to host 4,372 passengers and 1,400 crew, P&O Britannia will be a huge new addition to the British cruise market

Heavy duty: Weighing a hefty 141,000 tons, the ship also has an engine power equal to 70 challenger tanks or 86 Bugatti Veyrons