The UK cruise market is predicted to grow by 17% this year with 1.25 million predicted passengers.
Passenger Shipping Association chairwoman Carol Marlow said the growth would make the market the most successful it has been since 2003.
She said: “It is good resilient growth when the package market is under some pressure.”
Marlow added the success has been achieved through greater targeting of the UK market with strong growth from Thomson Cruises, Travelscope and Cunard Line and the arrival of eight new liners this year.
The overall growth has also driven the specialist market with PSA’s specialist group being joined by three new members while the Exclusive Collection has welcomed aboard Orion Expedition Cruises, bringing the total number of members to nine.
Meanwhile, Marlow predicted a possible revival in the ferry market after seeing passenger numbers bottom out this year.
She said 35 million passenger journeys should be made this year, the same as last year, representing a halt in falling passenger numbers.
She added Dover, which has been worst affected by the previous drop has seen growth of 4% in foot passenger numbers from January to October this year and a growth of just over 4% in car passenger numbers in the same period.
She said the fall has been halted by growing discontent in no frills airlines, the freedom travelling by car allows and an investment of £1.25 billion in the last five years by the ferry industry on refurbishment, new ships and new routes.
She added “We’re looking at a revival in passenger numbers as people try to find a refreshingly different way from going on an airplane.”