Norwegian Cruise Line, the contemporary market unit in the Norwegian Cruise Line Holding group, will have a UK-dedicated ship sailing from Southampton for the first time in seven years from 2017 when Norwegian Jade will offer 16 cruises from the port.

The cruise line will offer a series of 11 Western Europe and three Norwegian Fjords sailings between 12 May and 20 June and 7 August and 16 October, while two shorter taster cruises will also be on offer, Travel Weekly reports.

The news came a day after the company said the same ship would offer 19 cruises from Hamburg, the first time it has operated a ship from a German port.

Norwegian’s managing director for EMEA, Christian Boell, was quoted as saying: “We’re clearly demonstrating our commitment to our European customers, especially cruisers in the UK, with these exciting summer itineraries.”

“Not only are we offering the possibility to embark in Southampton but we are also bringing one of our newest and most innovative ships back to Europe. We’re convinced that this will encourage continued growth in the UK market, where we have just seen record breaking guest numbers in 2015.”