Celebrity Equinox will arrive in Southampton on July 19 ahead of its christening at the end of the month.
More than 5,000 travel agents, travel industry professionals and consumers will be visiting the ship during the two weeks of launch celebrations.
On July 25 there will be a pro-am croquet tournament on the ship’s half-acre lawn, and classical group All Angels will perform for guests on a one-night taster cruise. The following day the annual Passenger Shipping Association dinner will be held on the ship.
The official christening will take place on July 29 with godmother Nina Barough, founder of breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.
The first sailing with paying guests departs Southampton on July 31 for an eight-night Norwegian fjords cruise.
The new vessel’s sister ship Celebrity Eclipse is under construction, and is due to arrive in April 2010. It will be based out of Southampton in the summer of next year.
Celebrity Cruises managing director Robin Shaw said: “The fact that the global launch of Celebrity Equinox takes place in the UK demonstrates the scale of the market we now represent.
“The launch celebrations will be great fun, and will showcase to the industry of exactly what Celebrity Cruises is all about.”