The UK's cruise industry is enjoying a boom, according to the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA).
Statistics compiled by the body show that in 2007 around 1.34 million Britons took their holidays onboard a cruise liner.
It also predicted that passenger numbers would grow to 1.5 million this year and that with a large number of new cruises ships currently on order, the figure could rise above two million by 2012.
Cruise Critic reported that more than a third of cruises booked during 2007 cost less than £1,000 and PSA director William Gibbons said that value for money is one of the main factors in the industry's recent success.
"In difficult economic times, the cruise industry is very well placed with the all-inclusive pricing, all meals and entertainment included. With UK departures there is no need to fly either," explained Mr Gibbons
About.com's Linda Garrison recently said that cruises make a "wonderful family vacation" and published a list of the best family cruise lines.
Carnival Cruise Lines came out on top, with
Celebrity Cruises in second and
Costa Cruise Lines completing the top three.
Written by Martyn Elliot
