Hamburg - Bookings are presently being accepted for the maiden voyage of the Sea Cloud Hussar vessel next year.

The new tall ship is owned by Sea Cloud Cruises and will begin its 12-day maiden voyage from Malta to the Greek port of Piraeus on April 5, 2010.

The ship will ply the waters of the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula and northern Europe, said the Hamburg-based company.

Sea Cloud Cruises already has two traditional sailing vessels: the Sea Cloud built in 1931 and the Sea Cloud II which was launched in 2001.

The Hussar will be 136 metres long, 17 metres wide and will have a total sail area of over 4,000 square metres, making it the largest three-mast ship ever built, according to Konstantin Bissias, CEO of Sea Cloud Cruises.

Despite its size, the Hussar will be sailed manually. The ship is being built in the Spanish shipyard of Naval Marin near Vigo and will have 69 luxury cabins when completed.

Along with 136 passengers, the Hussar will have a crew compliment of 90.

The Hussar's design is similar to other sailing vessels in the fleet with a white hull, teak wood decks and elaborate rigging. A golden eagle will adorn the bow of the Hussar.

Red, blue and yellow will provide the main colour scheme in the cabins, said the company, and 26 cabins will have their own verandas.

There will also be a large gymnasium and wellness area on board - a rarity on sailing ships.

After completing its maiden voyage, the Hussar will travel along the Cote d'Azur and sail to the northern German port city of Hamburg which it will first enter on June 26, 2010 after completing a musically-themed voyage from Lisbon, Spain, France and Belgium.

The ship will dock in Venice on September 3, 2010 followed by a journey to the Arabian Peninsula in early December.

When the Hussar takes up service, it will increase Sea Cloud Cruises' passenger capacity on high-sea routes from 160 to 300.

The cost of a four-day, trial voyage will start at 1,660 dollars per person for a double cabin. Most four-day, trial trips will start in Hamburg.

Tickets for the maiden voyage start at 5,976 dollars per person.

A week's voyage on the Sea Cloud Hussar will start at around 3,000 dollars. Internet: www. seacloud. com (dpa)