Southampton is again dominating the British cruise ship industry according to record-breaking figures just released by Associated British Ports (ABP), owners and operators of the city's docks.

In recent years ever-increasing business in this vital port trade has continued to boost Southampton's global reputation as the UK hub for cruise ship calls.

This year the port will handle a staggering ten million gross tons of cruise shipping including some of the most prestigious names in the business.

A total of 214 separate cruise ship calls have been booked with the port of Southampton this year, which are expected to generate 485,000 passengers passing over the quayside during 2003.

To underline Southampton's premier position, during the next few days a total of nine cruise vessels, including the arrival for the first time of P&O Cruises' Adonia, are due in Southampton.

This busy period starts today with the 10,417-ton Ocean Majesty embarking passengers at the Queen Elizabeth II terminal for a 12-night voyage to northern Europe.

Tomorrow the well-known outline of P&O Cruises' Oriana will be alongside the Mayflower Terminal in the Western Docks for the start of a short charter and in the Eastern Docks the re-naming ceremony for Saga Pearl, previously Swan Hellenic Cruises' Minerva, is set to take place at 38/9 berth.

Saturday is a hectic day in the port with three major cruise vessels in the docks at the same time. Cunard's

70,327-ton flagship Queen Elizabeth 2 is due at 38/9 berth, while P&O Cruises' Oceana is expected at 105 berth next door to Oriana at 106 berth.

Next Monday the 77,499-ton Oceana is back at 106 berth and then the following day, Tuesday, May 20, Southampton Docks sees the inaugural arrival of Adonia, formerly Sea Princess, after a transatlantic crossing to reposition the ship within P&O Cruises' Southampton fleet.

Among other ships booked to call at Southampton later in the year are Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, Royal Princess, Marco Polo, Discovery, Seven Seas Voyager, Golden Princess and then in December the much anticipated arrival of Cunard's 150,000-ton megaliner Queen Mary 2.