SOUTHAMPTON can look forward to a major economic boost as the number of Britons taking a cruise doubles to three million in the next ten years.

The forecast came from Micky Arison, chairman and chief executive of Carnival Corporation which includes Southampton based Cunard, P&O Cruises, and Princess Cruises.

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As a direct result of this predicted growth Southampton will see a total of about two million passengers, twice the present number, using the port by 2020.

Mr Arison said: "I believe the biggest change for cruising in the UK over the next ten years will be that it will become just like North America, offering cruises of just about any length and suitable for just about everyone.

"There has been a pattern in the growth of cruising which has seen the US market run five to ten years ahead of the UK so I can see no reason why it should not double in size to match the kind of growth the market has experienced in North America.

"This would mean the British taking three million cruises every year compared with the 1.55 million in 2009."