Next spring could be the end of an era for cruises from Southampton

Passengers keen to enjoy cruises from Southampton on board vessels flying the Union Jack would be well-advised to take their dream trip sooner rather than later.

After 171 years at the south coast port, the world-famous cruise company Cunard has announced plans to make Hamilton in Bermuda its new home.

While it will continue to operate out of the UK, it will make the administrative switch in order to be eligible to carry out weddings in the Caribbean, meaning that from next year, couples taking romantic holidays on liners such as the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth will be able to get hitched on deck.

However, though this signals the end of an era, according to the Telegraph's cruise correspondent Jane Archer, passengers taking cruises from Southampton from next spring are unlikely to notice any difference given that Cunard has been part of the global travel giant the Carnival Corporation for several years now.

At the same time, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce has announced plans to expand the emirate's main port so as to deal with growing demand from cruise companies.

Posted by Adam Greene