SOUTHAMPTON Docks is on course for a record-breaking total of cruise ships calls next year as more and more vessels head for the port.

The latest set of announcements by shipping lines strengthens even further the city's tight grip on the UK cruising industry.

This year 178 separate calls by cruise ships have been booked in Southampton but already, with the 2002 season only just begun, indications suggest next year will see an even greater figure.

At the same time as Cunard was outlining a major boost to its future programme out of Southampton, as earlier reported in the Daily Echo, Orient Lines made its inaugural visit to the city and revealed it will be using the docks next year.

Norwegian Cruise Line also said its brand new 91,000 ton ship, Norwegian Dawn is to make its world debut in Southampton later this year.

In another move Saga Group Limited added a second vessel, Saga Pearl, to its operation, which will also be increasing its number of sailings from the port in 2003.

All this is on top of P&O Cruises' previous statement that it will be bringing two superliners, Oceana and Adonia into service in Southampton during the spring of next year.

Orient Lines stamped its presence in Southampton with the arrival of the 1,026-passenger Crown Odyssey, at the end of a 14-night Mediterranean cruise.

At the traditional plaques and keys ceremony, marking a maiden call to the port, master of the 34,250 ton ship, Captain Rajko Zupan was welcomed to Southampton by Harbour Master, Captain James Chestnutt.

Orient Lines will be returning to Southampton when the company's flagship, Marco Polo makes her inaugural visit to the docks in October, 2003. This will signal the operation's first round-trip, ex-UK cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line will be officially unveiling its latest addition to the company fleet, Norwegian Dawn, sister-ship to Norwegian Star, with a series of events in the port next December. From next May, Saga will charter the ship now known as Minerva, currently operated by Swan Hellenic. The ship will be re-named Saga Pearl and her itineraries will complement the cruising programme currently offered by another Southampton regular, Saga Rose.