A CRUISE ship currently sat in Poole Harbour will remain there until Sunday, before voyaging on a test run.

Anthem of the Seas cruise ship, owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International, arrived in Poole in the early hours of the morning and has been described as a “ghost ship” by locals who came across the floating vessel.

It is, however, seaworthy and will soon welcome back guests for the first time in over a year.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said: “Anthem of the Seas is in Poole Harbour, making final preparations before departing from Southampton on Royal Caribbean’s first sailings from the UK this summer.

“The ship will set sail on a Shakedown cruise for trade partners and employees on Sunday before welcoming back the first Royal Caribbean guests in over a year on Wednesday, July 7.”

A shakedown cruise is a nautical term in which the performance of a ship is tested. Generally, shakedown cruises are performed before a ship enters service or after major changes.

Among the first guests to board the ship will be 999 of the UK’s emergency workers, NHS, social care and armed forces – invited by Royal Caribbean as a thank you for their efforts during the pandemic.