NEW record-breaking levels of trade will pour millions of pounds of extra cash into Southampton with the dramatic expansion of the city's international cruising business in the docks next year.

Never before in recent times will Southampton have seen such rapid growth as will take place in this vital port sector during 2005.

Southampton has been the dominant force in the UK cruising operations for a number of years, but news of even more ships heading for the docks means no other British port comes near to rivalling the city in this global industry.

The port of Southampton is now set to handle a staggering 15 million gross tons of cruise ships during the main 2005 season, when there will be many occasions when three vessels will be alongside the port at any one time.

Although figures have not yet been finalised, at least 221 separate calls by cruise ships will be made in Southampton next year, although more could be added at a later date, and 650,000 people, an increase of nearly 200,000 on 2004, are expected to pass over the port's quayside as they embark and disembark the vessels.

This number of passengers is almost reaching totals recorded in past decades during Southampton's so called golden age of ocean travel when the former liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth regularly criss-crossed the Atlantic.

Today cruising is big business for Southampton's economy with the city annually earning huge amounts from the ships, but with the business moving up another gear local hotels, shops and transport companies as well as specialist maritime organisations can expect even higher revenue from passengers and crew.

Last year, nationally, more than one million passengers spent in excess of £1 billion with cruise ship companies, many of which are based in Southampton.

Some of the largest and most prestigious vessels sailing today will be among Southampton's visitors including Cunard's 151,400 ton megaliner RMS Queen Mary 2 and Princess Cruises' striking 108,865 ton supership, Golden Princess.

With its distinctive shape, featuring a nightclub hanging high over the ship's stern, Golden Princess, which made its first Southampton appearance in May, 2001, will set sail ten times from the port on voyages aimed at American passengers.

The city will also see the arrival of P&O Cruises' next generation of vessel, the 85,000 ton Arcadia, now under construction in Italy, which undertakes its maiden voyage in May, 2005.

Arcadia will join the well established Oriana, Aurora and Oceana in P&O Cruises' Southampton fleet which will also see the addition of the 44,348 ton Artemis next year while sister company Princess Cruises begins to operate the 77,499 ton Sea Princess in and out of the port.

QM2, the biggest passenger liner ever built in shipping history, will undertake a total of 26 transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York while later in the year she will reposition to the Caribbean for a series of winter cruises.

Another major cruise ship line, Royal Caribbean International is bringing its vessel, Legend of the Seas, to the port for a programme of 13 voyages while the 33,930 ton Thomson Spirit will be alongside the docks on five occasions.