A report from The Passenger Shipping Association shows ex-UK cruising has increased at twice the rate of fly-cruises over the past four years, while more cruise lines than ever are calling at British ports.

A record number of cruise lines (52) included UK ports in their 2007 itineraries, while a record 591,000 passengers set sail on their cruises from UK ports in 2007.

Ex-UK cruises have increased 48% since 2004, compared with a 22% increase in fly-cruises, and the growth is set to continue in 2008, with P&O Cruises, Cunard Line and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines all basing new ships out of the UK, while Royal Caribbean International has introduced its largest ex-UK ship.

Carnival Cruise Lines is offering its first ex-UK schedules and both Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises are dedicating ships to the UK for the first time this summer.

PSA statistics show that cruise holidays in 2007 accounted for one in 14 foreign package holidays, compared to one in 29 a decade ago. 

There is also a high level of repeat cruise passengers, with 51% who cruise once a year and 28% who cruise more than once.

Nonetheless, newcomers are still being attracted to cruising: last year 38% of passengers in 2007 had never cruised before.

6/9/2008 5:17:50 AM UTC