The number of cruise visits to Bermuda will sink this year for the second season running.

But the Island will get a one-off boost in April when the world's first floating offshore community known as the ResidenSea, visits the island on its inaugural world voyage.

The draft cruise ship schedule, which will be published later this month, shows there will be 149 visits this season compared to 154 last year and 173 on 2000.

It confirms that Government has failed for the second year running to find a replacement for the Crown Dynasty, which pulled out of its regular run to Dockyard last year after its owners filed for bankruptcy the previous December.

The Crown Dynasty was slated for 26 scheduled runs to Dockyard in 2001, but for this season the West End is to get five visits from Carnival superliners Triumph, which can hold 3473 passengers, and the Legend, which has a maximum of 2680 passengers.

The ResidenSea, which will provide 110 fully furnished residences and 88 guest suites, is described by its owners as the "world's first ocean-going luxury resort".

The ship will allow owners of the units, which begin at $2 million, to live on-board permanently while they sail the world in style.

Residents will enjoy around 250 days in port each year in an itinerary which will allow them to enjoy star-studded events such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix.

The 43,000 ton ship is being built in Rissa, Norway, and is scheduled to begin its inaugural round the world journey from Oslo, Norway, in February this year, calling in at Hamilton on April 22 for a one day stopover.