AMONG the Isle of Wight residents onboard MSC Bellissima in Southampton on Saturday was James Watts, whose cadetship training is sponsored by MSC Cruises.

James, 20, of Havenstreet, invited his mother Emma along to the experience, as the ship was officially named by Italian actress Sophia Loren. It was the largest ship ever to be named in Southampton.

James studied at Nettlestone Primary and Christ the King College, and is now studying Nautical Science and Deck Navigation at Glasgow Riverside College through Chiltern Maritime Training providers, sponsored by MSC Cruises.

He is halfway through a three-year cadetship and has spent six months at sea, visiting the Caribbean, crossing the Atlantic and spending the summer months in the Mediterranean.

There are currently 30 cadets with MSC and James was one of ten invited to the naming ceremony of the newest ship.

The ship is 171,598 tonnes, with 19 decks, is 315m long and 67m high. Passenger numbers are 5,686 and there will be approx 1,560 crew.

James has now returned to college to finish Phase Three of his training and will be heading back to sea in July.

On Sunday the ship welcomed 3,500 travel agents from the UK and Ireland, so they can promote it to their customers.

MSC Bellissima has 20 bars, ten restaurants and a water park. She is also the first MSC Cruises ship to feature ZOE, the virtual personal cruise assistant. ZOE will be found in every cabin and can answer hundreds of questions about the cruise.