It’s all change for Royal Caribbean’s cruises from the UK next year.

The brand new Anthem of the Seas – complete with dodgem cars, a skydiving simulator and the London Eye-inspired NorthStar observation pod – launches in Southampton next spring and replaces Independence of the Seas, adding about 550 extra beds a week.

Now the line has said that Adventure of the Seas, a favourite among British holidaymakers for the past few years, will remain in the Caribbean and its cruises to the Mediterranean, Canaries and northern Europe will be taken over by identical sister Explorer of the Seas.

By the time it sails up the Solent next spring it will have spent a month in dry dock being revitalised, and gaining a Flowrider surf simulator. It will have plenty of competition.

It’s another sign that Royal is determined to win the battle for customers when Royal Princess and P&O’s Britannia both join Britain’s growing cruise armada. I do hope Southampton can cope.Royal has also announced a return to the Gulf for winter 2015-16.

Splendour of the Seas will sail 16 week-long cruises from Dubai between December and March, calling at Abu Dhabi, Muscat, and Khasab. After missing the 2014 season in the Gulf they now realise just how popular this sailing is. I am so happy to see the return.