Cruise prices for winter and next year are falling towards £50-£70 per day, as the superliners cross the Atlantic and move to European markets in their search for passengers.

Mike Hall, at Cruise & Maritime Voyages, says: “There has probably never been a better time to book a cruise, because US-based lines such as Celebrity and RCCL have had to come to Europe because the market is weak in the States.

“Cruise prices have fallen because of all the capacity in the market.

“The contrast now between going abroad on a land-based holiday and on a ship is remarkable. I have just had four nights in Greece and was amazed at the high cost of living there. But cruise passengers are cocooned from astronomic prices in places such as Norway, and simply couldn’t afford in many cases to go there unless they were on a ship.”

Low prices – and special deals for those prepared to book now – are the key theme of this week’s National Cruise Week, which promises free nights, free upgrades, up to 20 per cent off with one cruise line, and even a free pair of binoculars.

These offers may apply on selected sailings of river and ocean-going cruises, with the best deals usually available where agents top up deals initially offered by cruise lines.

Around 1.7 million British holidaymakers are expected to take a cruise in 2011, and with all-inclusive holidays in big demand as a way of controlling our leisure spending, cruise lines plan to lift this total higher in 2012.

Besides all the incentives, figures from the Passenger Shipping Association suggest cruising is “on the up”, partly because many people want to avoid airports.

A key trend in 2010 was above average ten per cent growth of UK departure cruises, turning Southampton into the busiest cruise port in northern Europe.

British passengers sailing from a British port now account for more than 40 per cent of all cruises, with the fly-cruise share declining to just under 60 per cent, but fly-cruise numbers are rising in absolute terms and are likely to top one million (ex-UK) in 2011.

Cruises are also getting shorter, again to keep prices down. The average duration is down from 11.1 days to 10.2, with growing interest in short cruises from Britain. The trend ensured that four out of ten cruises booked in 2010 cost less than £1,000.

Gradually, too, cruise passengers are getting younger in the past five years. Cruising attracted 2.4 million ‘first-timers’, with seven per cent of passengers under 18, and the ratio of passengers under 35 went up from 11 per cent to 13 per cent. The average age of a UK cruise passenger is now just over 54.

National Cruise Week is also aiming to attract more passengers from regions of the country which are far from the busiest ports in southern England.

Emma Knight, at Cruise Thomas Cook, an agent with a 15 per cent market share, says: “Regional connecting flights to Southampton are available free from six UK airports, including Leeds-Bradford and Manchester.

“These offers actually run until November 30 with Cruise Thomas Cook, as agents simply add the relevant connecting flight for free. Alternatively, customers can drive to the port to enjoy free parking or get a free coach transfer.”

Cruise Thomas Cook offers on some P&O, Cunard and Princess cruises include free connecting flights to Southampton, free valet parking at Southampton worth up to £236, free return coach transfers to Southampton worth up to £125 per person, free one-way airport transfers and free airport parking worth up to £100.

The campaign will also focus on 2012 cruise highlights, such as new ships – among them Carnival Breeze, Costa Fascinosa, Celebrity Reflection and Disney Dream – and a chance for Cunard fans to see all three of its ships in Southampton next year, docked to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ last-minute bargains include ten nights on Ocean Countess, sailing on October 3 ex-Falmouth to Leixoes for Oporto, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Casablanca, Vigo and Dublin, from £499.

That’s less than £50 per day.

For 2012 sailings, Cruise & Maritime Voyages ‘Saver Fares’ offer discounts up to 25 per cent (minimum 20 per cent) with prices guaranteed against surcharge, on bookings by September 30, and there are group discounts for 12 adult fares of up to ten per cent on most published full and saver fares.

INFORMATION: Cruise & Maritime Voyages (0845 8339798 and cruiseandmaritime.com); Cruise Thomas Cook (0800 0288844 and cruisethomascook.com).