Arriving from Liverpool, the 143m long, 11,200 ton vessel, carrying up to 600 passengers and crew, is scheduled to arrive in Douglas Bay on Friday morning as part of a Fred Olsen Line Mini Cruise.

The vessel last visited the Island in 2002, and passengers will be met on arrival by representatives from the Department of Tourism and Leisure.

Tourism and Leisure Minister Adrian Earnshaw stated that:

"It gives me great pleasure to welcome this splendid cruise ship. I hope the passengers enjoy our beautiful Island and tell their friends all about their visit. The key is getting people to return to the Isle of Man to ensure it becomes a popular point of call."

Visits by cruise ships are a great way of marketing the Island, the government has suggested, and the Tourism Department has been working hard to encourage more to visit.

A total of 13 visits are scheduled for 2008, a 30% increase on 2007 and interestingly, The Black Prince will anchor in Douglas bay and be the first cruise liner to make use of the new harbour pontoon facility.

The Black Prince will depart for Dublin on Friday evening, and return twice more during 2008, in July and September.