Carnival Cruise Lines has flatly denied claims from taxi drivers that passengers on the Legend were told not to use cabs unless it was completely necessary.

Disgruntled drivers called The Royal Gazette on Friday to claim passengers told them they had been instructed not to take cabs but to use a mini-train and mini-buses provided by Government at Dockyard, then to take buses or ferries.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott, whose department has been co-ordinating the arrangements because of a bus strike at Dockyard, said on Friday he had no knowledge of such instructions.

And on Saturday, the Carnival Legend's captain Claudio Cupisti assured The Royal Gazette passengers had not been given advice to avoid taxis.

He was speaking during a tour of the $350 million ship, which is just three months old and was making its maiden three day voyage to Bermuda from Philadelphia on Friday.

The ship returns to Dockyard on Friday for another three day visit, and next year two Carnival ships - the Legend and the CarnivalPride - will make a total of 11 visits to the West End from Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York.

"We don't do that. We don't do any contra-advertising and don't tell our passengers not to use taxis," said Capt. Cupisti.

"The only thing we tell them is that mopeds can be dangerous and you have to drive the other side of the road.

"In fact, yesterday I was walking around and tried to flag a taxi and there were six there and no one stopped."

Taxi drivers turned out in force on Friday to ensure passengers were able to get out of Dockyard after bus drivers continued to refuse to drive between Dockyard and Watford Bridge because they say Pender Road is too narrow and dangerous.

They said although 100 cabs were at Dockyard, only 18 got jobs because passengers were allegedly told to use taxis only as a last resort.

Capt. Cupisti said his 2,205 passengers and 963 crew had not reported any problems getting transportation from Dockyard.

The Legend, which was made in Helsinki, Finland, is 88,950 tons, and 960 foot long. It is elaborately furnished with seats costing $2,000 each in a disco and lighting worth $1 million in the main theatre.

Presenting Tourism Minister Renee Webb with a picture of the Legend on Saturday, Capt. Cupisti said he visited Bermuda before on other ships - the last time in 1989 - and had many happy memories.

"I worked here for many years and it is a happy return to this beautiful island and the beautiful people," he said.

"The Bermudian people always welcomed us and as soon as I stepped onto this Island I felt this beautiful atmosphere.

"I have seen many improvements and I would like to thank you for all of your efforts to bring in these facilities.

"I look forward to coming here for many years and being part of the increasing benefits for all of you and all of us."

Ms Webb said: "I can assure you that despite the (poor) weather, you will have an excellent visit. Bermudian hospitality is not based on the weather and even if you do not get the weather you will get the hospitality that Bermudians are renowned for.

"All of us in Bermuda will do our utmost to ensure you do not regret coming to Bermuda."West End Development Corporation general manager Lloyd Telford said he hoped the Legend's visit would be the "beginning of a long, long relationship with the West End".

Chamber of Commerce executive vice-president Diane Gordon said all of Bermuda was working as a team to make tourism a success and she urged Carnival to get in touch immediately if there were any problems.