THE region will be home to another big cruise ship for the next few months as pictures show how it dominates the North East skyline.
The impressive Arcadia continues to draw crowds in after it first sailed into the Port of Tyne at North Shields, North Tyneside on Saturday, October 16.
The ship, which is owned by P&O Cruises, had spent several months off the coast of South Devon after the cruise industry shut down due to the pandemic.
It comes as its sister ship, the Azura became a bit of a tourist attraction after spending just under six months berthed in the same place earlier this year.
Read more: Watch as P&O's Azura arrives into the Port of Tyne
With the capacity to hold around 2,000 passengers and a further 900 crew, the Arcadia is expected to follow suit and remain in the region beyond Christmas.
According to the Port of Tyne, the ship is listed as remaining berthed until midnight on December 31, while its cruises are not set to resume until March 2022.
It is understood, from those close to the cruise line that like the Azura, the Arcadia will undergo essential maintenance as it prepares to restart cruises on that date.
Pictures taken on Friday show how some of the ship's paintwork could be freshened up as large rust stains around the anchor and name are visible.
Meanwhile, very few people were seen on the ship's decks suggesting that only a skeleton crew are onboard to ensure the ship remains operational.
Weighing it around 84,000 tonnes, the ship is slightly smaller than its sister ship Azura which weights around 115,000 tonnes, and slightly older as it was launched in 2004.
According to P&O, the ship is exclusively reserved for adult passengers meaning no-one under the age of 18 is permitted.
A statement on its website described the ship as "mid-sized and indulgent" and said it features no less than 3,000 individual works of art.
P&O Cruises and the Port of Tyne were approached for comment and clarification on how long it will remain here.
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