A cruise ship which will be a regular caller to Bermuda this summer struck a pier in Mexico on Wednesday, tearing a 42-foot hole in its side.

However the damage will not affect the ? visits to Bermuda in 2005, a Royal Caribbean spokesman said yesterday.

The mega-ship, holding more than 2,000 guests and 740 crew members, struck the pier in Costa Maya, Mexico at about 2 p.m. Bermuda time on Wednesday as it docked in 15-knot winds and a three-knot current. All guests and crew members were completely safe and no one was injured, Royal Caribbean director of corporate communications Michael Sheehan said: ?The ship has a football-shaped puncture in the bow, on its starboard side, that is approximately 42 feet long and five feet wide at its widest point,? he said. ?The puncture is in the first deck, approximately five feet above the waterline.?

The ship was yesterday safely docked and all amenities were fully operational. The US Coast Guard was notified and Royal Caribbean is assisting with an investigation into the accident.

Based on evaluations of the damage, Royal Caribbean expected the ship to be repaired and able to depart Costa Maya by this evening, reaching New Orleans by Monday. Repairs on Thursday night were 25 percent complete, and yesterday Mr. Sheehan said the should be able to make its first visit to Bermuda in 2005 on May 24 with ?no problems?.

Guests or travel agents with questions regarding the can contact a special desk established to assist them toll free at 1-888-837-5676.

The ship is expected to make 14 calls to Bermuda in Dockyard over 2005.