The UK's main cruise port, Southampton has announced that nearly 4,000 name suggestions from across the world entered into a competition, to name the English Channel port's fifth dedicated terminal, the 'Horizon Cruise Terminal'.

Associated British Ports (ABP) yesterday announced the name put forward by Anna Chojnacka, having been chosen at random from multiple entries of the same name. Anna wins a 7-night cruise holiday offered by the terminal’s cruise partners, MSC Cruises.

Winner of the second token collect competition was Lin Malt from Hampshire. Lin wins a 7-night cruise holidays offered by the terminal’s cruise partners, NCL.

The dedicated Horizon Cruise Terminal in the port’s Western Docks, will benefit from roof-mounted solar power and will also have Shore Power connectivity installed. With construction on track, the port will be welcoming ships alongside from the summer.

Horizon Cruise Terminal, joins the line-up of the four existing world-class cruise terminals in the port. They are named the Queen Elizabeth II Cruise Terminal (see Cunard's 'QM2' / Belfast story), City Cruise Terminal, Ocean Cruise Terminal and the Mayflower Cruise Terminal.

Director at ABP in Southampton Alastair Welch said: “We are delighted to be announcing the name for the port’s newest cruise terminal. We selected this name as the shape of the terminal roof is such a distinctive silhouette on the horizon as you come through Dock Gate 10. Cruise is such an important part of the city’s heritage, culture and history, and we liked how this name suggests a new start for cruise following a challenging year.

“We knew that reaching out to the members of public to help us name this important piece of the city and port’s future, would generate some fantastic ideas and we have been so pleased with the strong response.

“We’re incredibly grateful to have worked with our cruise partners NCL and MSC Cruises to support this competition by providing European cruises as a prize. We’re looking forward to welcoming our first cruise passengers to Horizon Cruise Terminal this summer, and the new terminal becoming an iconic part of the horizon line of the city.”