P&O is inviting 12 families, couples or friends who have never cruised before to be Inspector Cruiso; to road-test a free holiday on one of their six ships.

Winners also get on-board credit – £300 per family, £150 per couple – to try out everything the ship has to offer.

They must provide thoughts and opinions on their holiday, from check-in to disembarkation, in return for a holiday package which will cost an average £5,000 for a family of four next summer.

An unprecedented surge of new ships – including Cunard’s Queen Victoria and P&O’s Ventura and Royal Caribbean’s giant Independence of the Seas sailing from Southampton – means that 1.5m Britons will cruise in 2008. Cruise firms know they must find new customers to fill the ships.

Says Philip Price at P&O Cruises: “Ventura gives us 30% more capacity, so we have to find new passengers.”

Says P&O Cruises managing director Nigel Esdale said: “Despite surging cruise numbers, many people still think cruising is not for them.

To apply to become an Inspector Cruiso log on to www.inspectorcruiso.co.uk and fill in a brief questionnaire.

The closing date for entries is February 1, 2008, with the winners notified by February 28.