APRIL is set to be the busiest month for Southampton docks in modern times, with more than 90,000 passengers crossing the quayside in just one week.

The rush comes as the finishing touches are put to a deal that will underpin a major expansion at the historic port and trigger a £400m pay day for the city.

Among the ships coming alongside this month will be the maiden call of the world's largest cruise ship, Liberty of the Seas after it leaves the builder's yard en route for her base in America.

The week beginning Sunday, April 22 will also see the arrival of Navigator of the Seas at the start of her summer season in Southampton, the official naming ceremony for the new Ocean Village Two and the first call by the celebrity ship, Constellation.

On top of this the familiar shapes of Oceana, Aurora, Arcadia, Artemis, Oriana, Queen Mary 2, Sea Princess, Saga Rose and Boudicca will also be seen in port during the week.

As more and more lines bring bigger and bigger vessels to Southampton the port is now on course to become the biggest cruise ship hub in Europe, alongside Barcelona in Spain.

In just a few years the numbers of passengers using the quayside facilities in the docks will reach the one million mark and industry experts estimate that each passenger will be worth £400 each to the local economy.

The growth of Southampton's cruise ship industry is gathering such momentum that Associated British Ports (ABP), owners and operators of the docks, is putting the finishing touches to a deal that will see the construction of a fourth passenger terminal costing nearly £20m.

Destined to be developed in the Eastern Docks this fourth terminal will give the port far more flexibility in handling the new breed of megaliners now entering service as well as providing extra facilities to cope with the demand from increased passenger numbers.

This comes on the back of a landmark 20-year contract ABP is negotiating with Carnival, the undisputed king of the global cruising industry, that boasts Southampton based brands such as Cunard, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Ocean Village as part of the corporation's empire.

When the lawyers have finished scrutinising the small print and the contract is signed, sealed and delivered it will be the most significant deal ABP has signed in Southampton for many years.

Not only does the contract underpin ABP's investment in the fourth terminal but it also signals Carnival's commitment to Southampton for the next two decades.

In a further move clinching Southampton's premier position, ABP are also preparing to unveil the revamped City Cruise Terminal in the Western Docks, which will become the home berth to the huge ships of Royal Caribbean In ternational. Following the signing of a seven year deal with Royal Caribbean ABP has invested another £9m to more than double the capacity of the city terminal.