THE number of stranded British tourists expected to board a luxury Southampton liner tomorrow has swelled to more than 2,500.

Celebrity Cruises is still working with tour operators on the final passenger manifest, which is expected to include about 500 children.

Holidaymakers hoping to hitch a ride home on Celebrity Eclipse have been told not to come to Bilbao.Celebrity Eclipse is currently cruising in the Bay of Biscay and is due to arrive at the Spanish port at 7am on Thursday morning.

The 88 Spanish tourists on board, who had been stranded in the UK by the ash cloud, will disembark at about 8.30am.It's expected the embarkation of Brits will begin at 11.30am and take two hours.

The £500m ship will start its return leg to Southampton at2.30pm.It is scheduled to arrive in the city late Friday afternoon, in time for its naming ceremony the following day.

Among the Spanish travellers lucky enough to join the Eclipse on its maiden voyage were a couple from La Coruna.

Christian Alonsopardo and Julia Penagonzalez arrived in London last Wednesday and were due to return home today.

Peter Law is reporting from on board the Celebrity Eclipse