IT was a day filled with breathtaking entertainment, an exclusive tour and food cooked by award-winning chefs.

Five lucky Daily Echo readers and their guests got the chance to take a look around MSC Opera, as she arrived for her first season of cruises from Southampton.

The prizewinners enjoyed a show – including flamenco dancing, juggling and spectacular gymnastics – followed by an eight-course lunch in the La Caravella restaurant on board.

Mavis Collins, 64, of Greenwood Close, Eastleigh, was one of the winners. She said: “The entertainment was brilliant – we’ve had a smashing time.”

Rachel Heffernan, 37, from Hedge End, entered the Daily Echo competition on her birthday. She said: “I thought if I won it would be a nice birthday present. We’ve had a wonderful day.”

Paul Bundy, 47, from Rownhams, Andy Cooper, 56, from Curdridge and Christine White, 63, from Lordswood, Southampton, were the other three winners of the Daily Echo competition.

MSC Opera is owned by Italy’s Mediterranean Shipping Company, one of Europe’s fastest growing cruise companies. The 59,058-ton, French-built vessel, which first entered service in March 2004, can accommodate up to 2,200 guests in 878 cabins, spread over ten passenger decks.

MSC Opera, which will be in Southampton up to September of this year, features a 700-seater show lounge, a nightclub, several bars, a spa and beauty salon, a jogging track, four restaurants, two swimming pools, a casino and a library.

It will make a total of 13 cruises to European, Baltic and Norwegian fjord ports of call.