All the leading cruise ship operators will sail into town next week for a Co-op Travel event in Billy's Boot Room and The Major Buckley Suite at Molineux.

The free event runs from 4pm to 9pm on Wednesday (23 January), featuring a range of top cruise operators such as P&O, Cunard, Ocean Village, Fred Olsen and Royal Caribbean.

Cruise holidays are quickly rising in popularity and Co-op Travel branches around the Black Country have noticed a 12 per cent growth in sales during the past year.

The showpiece of the event will be an opportunity to find out all about P&O's newest superliner Ventura, which will be in service from April, and the first opportunity to book two-night 'welcome party' cruises for just £199.

There will also be plenty of exclusive discounts available for bookings made at the event.

Dave Hood, specialist sales manager for Midcounties Co-op Travel, said: "This event is a rare chance for people to see all the major cruise operators together under one roof.

"Cruise holidays have been a huge success story in recent years and there's been a massive rise in popularity. There is something for everybody now, with budget options and exclusive luxury holidays on all kinds of different cruise liners.

"Modern ships are fantastically decked out with top quality attractions and facilities for holiday makers to enjoy and keep them richly entertained between ports."

"This event is a great opportunity for people to ask questions and find out more about cruise holidays, whether for the first time or experienced cruisers who are looking for something a bit different this year.

Cruise company representatives will be displaying the latest range of holidays on offer and information about the facilities available on their liners.

It will be the first chance for Black Country customers to discover about Azamarah Cruises, who are attending a Co-op Travel cruise show for the first time.

The five most popular cruise holiday destinations with Co-op Travel are:

1. Mediterranean, including stops in cities such as Venice

2. Caribbean, enjoying winter in the sun

3. Baltic and Norwegian fjords

4. World cruises, experiencing the full journey or any of the segments available

5. River cruises in Europe

  As places for the event are limited, members of the public need to pick up a free ticket from their local Co-op Travel branch or by calling: 01922 700028.