A record four million Europeans took cruise holidays last year, according to latest European Cruise Council statistics.

Only 2.6 million Europeans took a cruise holiday just five years ago. By 2006 the number had leapt to 3.4 million and 17% growth in 2007 has taken the figure to  four million.

The ECC 2007 “Markets Report” shows that 60% Europeans travelled in the Mediterranean and Altantic Islands, 24% cruised in the Caribbean and other parts of the world and 16% sailed in Northern Europe.

ECC chairman David Dingle, CEO of Carnival UK, said: “The popularity of cruising for European holidaymakers is growing faster than anyone in the industry envisaged.

“There is no doubt that Europe is  the new centre of gravity for the cruise industry and we’re seeing increasing numbers of cruise lines basing ships in the region, which will encourage even more Europeans to cruise in future.”

Curries, sushi, Mongolian and pizza available 24 hours a day will all be on the menu on board Carnival’s new superliner Splendor this summer.

The 3,006-passenger ship, which will sail from Dover on Northern Europe itineraries starting in July, will include a tandoori oven, a Mongolian wok, a New York-style steakhouse, a casual poolside deli and a rotisserie serving chicken.

Late-night buffets will carry a different theme each night, including a Gala Midnight Buffet and Chocolate Extravaganza.

The 113,300-ton Splendor is the largest Carnival SuperLiner ever constructed.

Azamara Cruises has detailed its winter 2009-10 programme of Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises.

The 694-passenger Azamara Journey, which underwent a $19-million revamp before its 2007 launch, will sail in the region between December 2009 and mid-April 2010, visiting 23 ports in 15 countries.

The luxury small ship brand, part of the Royal Caribbean Cruises family, will make first-time calls at Castries, St. Lucia; Willemstad, Curacao; and San Diego, California.

The vessel also will anchor off of the seven-mile island of Bequia, in The Grenadines, a favourite port of call for yachts and small cruise ships because of its unspoiled atmosphere and attractions such as Princess Margaret Beach, cliffside dwellings at Moonhole, and Oldhegg Turtle Sanctuary.

San Diego instead of Los Angeles will be the turnaround port for two 16-night Panama Canal sailings, one westbound from Miami departing on December 18, 2009, and one eastbound to Miami departing on January 3, 2010.

Between the two Panama Canal sailings, Azamara Journey will call at Port Antonio, Jamaica; Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Willemstad, Curacao; and Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas and Huatulco, Mexico.