with three bigger boats.

Celebrity Cruises has signed contracts with Jos L. Meyer in Germany to build the three 1,740 passenger ships, between 1995 and 1997.

The line sends the Meridian and the Horizon to Bermuda on weekly trips during the season.

It has not been revealed whether any of the trio of new 70,000 ton, 800 foot boats will sail to Bermuda.

The first will be introduced in November 1995, and will sail all year round from Fort Lauderdale to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

The second and third sister ships are planned to be introduced in the Fall of 1996 and the Fall of 1997, respectively.

Chairman Mr. John Chandris said: "With the contract for the Century series, Celebrity Cruises is entering its second phase of expansion with a new era of ships designed to appeal to the sophisticated tastes and lifestyles of discerning passengers for decades to come.

"The first phase trio of Celebrity ships has demonstrated that a cruise product can deliver an exceptionally high level of service if the line pays close attention to details and guests' needs.

"The future of our industry and its ability to grow depends upon a high level of product delivery.'' Cuisine on board the ships will be provided under the guidance of master-chef Mr. Michel Roux, already a tradition on the Meridian and Horizon .

There will be more passengers and more room for them to get around the new boats, with a two level restaurant and a two level cafe. There is also a 1,000 seat showroom, an observation lounge and disco, a two deck casino, nightclubs and facilities for young passengers.

For more active passengers the ships provide a health club and spa, with whirlpools, saunas, massage rooms, gyms, a golf simulator and mud and Turkish baths. On deck there are two swimming pools and a jogging track.

Wealthier passengers, in the Presidential suites, will find a marble bath complete with a whirlpool.

Bermuda's cruise ship season gets underway next week with the arrival of Celebrity Cruises' Meridian from Everglades, Florida.

The three-day visit by the ship will mark the start of a season in which the Tourism Ministry has re-jigged scheduling to meet Chamber of Commerce demands for more cruise visitors.

Two new ships -- Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Song of America and Kloster Cruises' Dreamward -- have enough capacity to bring in 28,000 more visitors than last year.