The number of British passengers taking a cruise will double in the next decade, from 1.5 million today to three million, says an analysis of the fast-growing industry from Carnival, the world’s biggest cruise line.

The Cruise Report 2010, which draws on nearly 5,000 responses from frequent travellers, also indicates that leading cruise lines are about to boost the number of short cruises – lasting five to seven days – from British ports.

David Dingle, chief executive of Carnival’s UK operations which includes P&O, Cunard and Seabourn as leading brands, also indicated the five per cent price rise that Carnival’s parent company announced for April might not necessarily stick in the highly-competitive UK cruise market.

Discussing the imminent price hike, he said: “I would not be as precise as that, although we are going in that direction. It works differently on cruises from the UK, where we yield-manage prices on a cruise-by-cruise basis.”

This comment suggests that discounts – and price rises – will vary according to booking patterns. If a voyage sells poorly, discounts are needed to fill up the cruise liner.

The Cruise Report also gives a ‘thumbs-down’ to the new generation of superliners: It claims only one in 100 cruise regulars wants to try ships for more than 4,000 passengers.

Key additions to Carnival’s fleet setting sale from the UK in 2010 include P&O’s Azura, unveiled in April, and Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth, due in October.