CRUISE trips will be “very popular” again, the boss of the Port of Southampton has said as work continues on a new £55million terminal for liners.

The port is going ahead with its plans for a fifth cruise terminal, which is due to be ready for the 2021 season next summer.

It is confident the industry will be revived despite being put into hibernation by the Covid crisis, with some of the world’s big liners currently anchored off the coast of Bournemouth.

Alastair Welch, director of ABP Southampton, said: “I think it’s fair to say investment in infrastructure such as this is a long-term decision.

“We remain committed to supporting cruise long-term in Southampton and we're very pleased that we will be able to complete this project as we had originally planned for summer 2021 because we see cruise returning in 2021."

A new 'pioneering' £55million cruise terminal will open in Southampton next year

He believed demand for cruise holidays would come back, with many 2021 trips already booked and 2022 holidays being sold.

“Cruise passengers are known for their loyalty and the cruise industry is known for its repeat business,” said Mr Welch.

“There’s very strong pent-up demand from regular cruisers to return to the industry but also with the controls which are being put in place for the resumption of cruise, it will be one of the safe ways of having a leisure break and one that we trust will be very popular."

Each stopover by a cruise ship is estimated to be worth £2million to Southampton’s economy.

The new terminal is intended to improve sustainability in the industry, offering shore-side electrical power to cruise liners and generating solar power from rooftop panels.

Mr Welch said: “It will generate much more power than it will consume itself.

“At the moment, a small number of ships are equipped to take shore power but we’re making sure we invest now so we can increasingly make sure ships that come aside can take shore power from the terminal."