Saga Group's Louse Batty and James Gambling show off the cabin mock-up

by business editor Trevor Sturgess

The first full-size mock-up of a cruise ship cabin made waves for Saga Holidays at the record-breaking fifth annual Cruise Show in Olympia.

The stand constructed for the Folkestone-based over-50s business attracted hundreds of visitors and admiring looks from rival exhibitors.

“It’s been fantastic,” said James Gambling, head of customer acquisition.

“The cabin’s been really popular. People want to see what they will get when they come on board a ship - we’re pleased to be the first company to have one. Everyone’s been amazed by the size of the cabin.”

More than 17,000 people - a record attendance - defied cold weather to visit the show featuring all the big names in the cruise business and expert speakers.

Organiser Martin Anslow, founder of Escape Events in Hartlip, near Sittingbourne, was delighted.

He said the cold weather had probably prompted the record attendance because people were hoping to get away to warmer climes.

“There’s still a lot of growth in the UK cruise market. It’s such a good value product, and the quality is amazing compared to a land-based holiday.

"It has defied economic doom and gloom because people always want to go on holiday.”

Escape Events, which employs five people, also organises similar shows in Birmingham and Glasgow.

Mr Anslow said plans were well advanced for a general travel show in Scotland, a coastal living expo, and possibly another cruise show in Manchester or Liverpool.