IT'S no surprise that the cruise market in Northern Ireland is booming.

When we see these wonderful ships filled with tourists docking in Belfast - generally from the United States - eagerly waiting to see what the city that has had a turbulent past has to offer, I think it certainly helps to give us more of a craving to go and book a cruise for ourselves to see what it could be like to be on one of these fantastic ships.

Princess Cruises and Crystal cruises have been the latest companies to have visited Belfast.

Enjoyed

Along with some of my other Travel Counsellor colleagues we enjoyed a ship visit of the Golden Princess while she was docked in Belfast last month, a ship that certainly lives up to its reputation.

The vessel has a tonnage of 109,000 and can carry 2,600 passengers plus over 1000 crew, on all 18 decks. The ship has all the facilities that you would expect from these super liners, including five pools, a spa, various dining options, an art gallery that sees auctions throughout the year selling off pieces of quite famous artists, and its very own wedding chapel, where you can get married at sea, or even renew your wedding vows.

Princess cruises are part of the Complete Cruise Solution brand which also houses P&O cruises.

Extra

The cruise market in Northern Ireland is getting so much more popular that P&O have decided to operate a couple of extra flights to Barbados for next year's programme as well as the annual charter flight to Barbados in November.

The itineraries planned for this year include various Caribbean Islands for 15 nights onboard the child free Arcadia, and for 2007 there will be two flights set up to tie in with the Caribbean and Mexico on-board Oceana.

Another alternative itinerary on sale for February 2008 is the 15-night Mexican Riviera trip, which will travel through the Panama Canal also on Arcadia. It is not surprising that these cruises are selling fast with the convenience of direct flights from Belfast International airport.

The latest news to hit the travel headlines is that we will have a scheduled service operating into Orlando, Florida, year-round starting from November this year.

This will give customers a wider choice for their holidays may it be a trip to Disneyworld or an extension for their cruise, either pre or post-cruise options when sailing out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral. This will make the price more appealing than flying in and out of the mainland in the Winter months as fares start from £149 each way. This also gives more availability in the summer months when there is normally only the charter companies operating.

Economical

With the current strength of the US dollar to the pound, Orlando is becoming so much more economical and is as strong a favourite as it has always been.