A group of Japanese tourists making a pit-stop in Bermuda were whisked out of St. George's on buses leaving merchants high and dry.

The group - 255 tourists and 146 crew - arrived on the and are taking part in a 100-day world tour.

The cruise ship was moored at Penno's Wharf in St. George's.

They arrived on Friday from Dublin, Ireland, at 10 a.m. and left at 6 p.m. the same day for Key West, Florida.

The tourists were taken in buses around the Island, but spent little time and even less money in St. George's, the merchants claimed.

E. Michael Jones, the owner of Caf? Latte, said the tourists got on three shuttle buses and went on sightseeing tours around the Island.

"It's a bit disappointing, but that's the way it goes," said Mr. Jones.

"I met the ship as Town Crier. It was a lovely ship and the interpreters told them stories about Bermuda.

"The interpreters I spoke to said they really enjoyed it.

"We knew they were coming so my staff were all ready to say hello in Japanese, but we didn't meet many of them."

The manager of the White Horse Tavern said he saw very little of the Japanese tourists.

John Burcher said: "We may have had about ten to 15 couples stop in at the restaurant.

"When the cruise ships are in we average 150 tables a day. We knew they were coming in, because they were on the ship's schedule and although we didn't buy extra, were expecting more people."

The Tavern By the Sea had a similar experience, but they were busy with visiting US Coast Guard sailors.

"A few Japanese people popped in for a drink, but they were only drinking," said Monica Ogg, manager of The Tavern by the Sea.

"We do better with the crew of the Seven Seas Mariner, which comes down from Hamilton on Sunday morning.

"We get most of the crew in here and we open up earlier to try an accommodate them."

Akhtar Hussain, manager of the Carriage House, said the tourists who stayed in St. George's did mostly window shopping.

"The Japanese were looking around, but there was no business for the restaurant," said Mr. Hussain.

"Nothing at all."