Cruise ship visitors to the Island this week have slumped in the wake of the terror attacks in the United States and shipping agents yesterday predicted air and sea arrivals will continue to fall.

Passenger figures available for four of the five cruise ships arriving this week are significantly down on normal.

Shipping agents told The Royal Gazette yesterday that as fear of flying grips the US, more Americans will take holidays at home.

Because New York Harbour has been closed due to the attacks, a number of ships that normally sail to the Island from the Big Apple have to transfer to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston.

A combination of travel problems preventing cruise passengers reaching the ports and cancellations due to the terrorist crisis have resulted in a large drop in numbers to Bermuda this week.

The Zenith normally has 1400 passengers but is carrying just 900, the Norwegian Majesty is down from around 1500 to 1358, the Nordic Empress has slumped from 1650 to 1200 this week, and Pacific Princess is carrying 320 as opposed to a normal load of 600 passengers.

Figures are not available for the Horizon, but that will also be down, said Captain John Moore of Meyer Shipping, which handles the vessel.

Donald MacPherson, president of shipping agents John S Darrell, told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "I know for a fact that the Nordic Empress lost passengers because people had to fly out from Canada and different places and the travel arrangements were so screwed up they couldn't make it. And there were some who chose not to go."

He said this was due to a combination of people choosing to holiday in the US and a fear of flying.

"I think it will really impact on us. With the Middle East crisis a few years ago, a lot of people stopped travelling here and stayed close to home and had US vacations because they feel safer staying at home.

"That's beginning to happen. I think we will see a reduced number of aircraft and cruise passengers. With the UK standing 100 percent behind the US, there may be an impact in the UK as well."

Capt. Moore said the drop in bookings was due to events in New York, and added: "I am sure that we will be hit."

Meanwhile, the five cruise ships will be arriving late because they have delayed leaving the US to avoid tropical storm Gabrielle.

The Horizon and Zenith normally sail from New York, but are departing from Philadelphia and Baltimore. They were due into Hamilton yesterday but will arrive around 9 a.m. today instead.

The Norwegian Majesty normally sails from New York, but is now departing from Boston. It will arrive in St. George's later this afternoon four hours late because it has taken action to avoid Gabrielle.

The Nordic Empress is due into Dockyard this evening from Philadelphia rather than New York.

Pacific Princess, which normally sails from New York, departed from Boston, and will arrive in Hamilton tomorrow. It normally arrives in St. George's today.