MV Ventura is a Grand-class cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet. The 116,017 GT ship was built by Fincantieri at their shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy and is 288.6 m (947 ft) long. She officially entered service with the company in April 2008 and was named by Dame Helen Mirren.Ventura underwent a refit at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, during March and April 2013, and re-entered service on 7 April 2013 with a voyage to Spain and Portugal.

Overview

MS Ventura is owned by Carnival UK and operated by P&O Cruises. When the ship entered service in April 2008 she was one of the largest cruise ships built for the British market. Ventura can accommodate 3,192 passengers, and has 1,550 cabins, of which about 60% possess private balconies. It has fourteen public decks, eight restaurants, six boutiques, five pools and three show lounges, including a theatre.

After being handed over on 29 March, Ventura arrived in Southampton in the morning of 6 April 2008, ahead of its first mini cruise to Belgium on 11 April, and her first full cruise on 18 April.

British actress Dame Helen Mirren officially christened Ventura and became the ship's "Godmother", prior to its maiden cruise to the Mediterranean Sea. In a break with tradition, Dame Helen commanded a team of Royal Marine Commandos to assist her in naming Ventura in a dramatic abseil.