With major cruiseship operators stepping up a gear in 2008 to cope with the demand from a burgeoning cruise industry in Europe, Falmouth eagerly awaits the results of an all-important environmental impact study that could give the green light for the capital dredging programme to go ahead allowing mega cruiseships to berth at the docks.

But with no deep water berth available the port will be at a disadvantage as the big players in the industry are already making a major thrust on European ports that have invested in new berths and terminals.

Norwegian Cruise Line Corporation has announced it is targeting the region with three of its "Jewel Class" cruiseships next year and Falmouth is in its sights. The 92,000 ton large resort ship Norwegian Jade is scheduled to call here in July 2008.

In response to increased consumer demand for European cruises, NCL has re-flagged the Pride of Hawaii into the Bahamas registry and re-named her Norwegian Jade.

The ship will join her sister ships Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel in Europe in 2008 offering NCL's largest and most varied European deployment ever.

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has also announced its largest deployment in Europe with seven ships visiting the continent in 2008. Choosing from four- through 14-night cruises, guests will be able to tour Europe aboard the new Independence of the Seas, the first Freedom-class ship in the region; two Voyager-class ships, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas; and Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas.

Between them Jewel of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas will make four calls here in 2008. Both NCL and RCI will use Southampton as a base port for many cruises which is ideal with Falmouth being strategically located between Southampton and the ports of Cork and Dublin.

"Our increased capacity in Europe reaffirms Royal Caribbean's strong commitment to the region, which has shown tremendous growth in recent years," said Adam Goldstein, president of Royal Caribbean International.

Mike Reynolds, A&P Falmouth port operations director, said RCI appear to have taken over from Princess Cruises in their liking for Falmouth.

Until this year, Princess Cruises were the port's top cruise customers but due to tax free concessions when visiting the Channel Islands, the firm has temporarily by-passed Falmouth.

With this year's cruise season barely underway, the 2008 schedule for cruiseship visits is filling up with 28 calls to date. Apart from the Van Gogh terminal calls, there are calls from the Amadea, Saga Rose, Saga Ruby, Boudicca, c. Columbus and Delphin. Other regular callers include the German liner Deutschland, Seabourne Pride and Maxim Gorky.