Tourism Minister David Allen and officials have been cruising in Italy this month with Renaissance Cruises as part of the search for replacement ships for the Island, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Mr. Allen and the three officials were treated to a free cruise in the Mediterranean by the company, which is eager to begin a New York to Bermuda service next year. But the taxpayer will pick up the bill for flying the party to Italy and their personal expenses.

The Department of Tourism issued a statement to The Royal Gazette yesterday confirming the trip, saying Mr. Allen and the civil servants - Larry Jacobs from the Ministry of Transport, Deanna Wade of Tourism, and West End Development Company general manager Lloyd Telford - only travelled to Italy because that is where Renaissance ships are currently sailing.

Government has been unable to secure a ship to replace the Crown Dynasty, which cancelled its summer run to Dockyard this year after its US owners filed for bankruptcy in December.

In an article in the August 6 issue of Cruise Weekly, Renaissance stated it "fully expects'' to begin regular scheduled cruises between Bermuda and New York next summer.

However, Mr. Allen has been more cautious, saying earlier this year that it was "impossible to predict'' if he would have a replacement for the ship next year.

He was also quoted saying he was more confident of securing a new ship for Dockyard in 2003 than 2002 and has stressed that Government is talking to a number of cruise lines because several contracts will expire in the coming few years.

A Tourism statement about the Italian cruise yesterday said: "Their purpose was to discuss with officials of that cruise line the possibility that one of their ships might sail to Bermuda regularly at some time in the future. Mr. Telford was there to talk specifically about Dockyard issues. The discussions were timely in view of the fact that two of the currently running cruise ship contracts expire in the next couple of years - very soon in scheduling terms.

"Renaissance will not present us with a bill for the time our party was aboard, so the Government will pay only air fares and personal expenses.''