Tourism Minister Renee Webb has admitted she is disappointed that Carnival Cruise Lines has not signed up as regular visitor next year - but has promised that a replacement will be found.

The Royal Gazette reported on Friday how Carnival had opted to sail to the Bahamas and Orlando, instead of Bermuda, next season, because it could not get the schedule at King's Wharf, Dockyard, that it wanted.

Carnival's mega-ships have visited the Island nine times so far this year and are due to come a further twice in October - bringing much-needed business to the West End and taxi drivers.

However, the Department of Tourism was hoping Carnival would sign a contract for next year agreeing to arrive most weekends throughout the summer period.

As it stands, only two weekend arrivals are scheduled.

The Royal Gazette understands one of the problems for Carnival was that it did not wish to have weekend-only schedules, which means it has to leave and return to the US ports on Wednesdays.

Apparently, Saturday to Saturday vacations are more popular with passengers, where ships arrive on the Island on Mondays and leave on Thursdays, but that schedule was not available in Bermuda.

"We are talking to a number of companies and we are seeing who is interested in sailing weekend ships," said the Minister.

"We are looking for smaller ships or any ship that fits the profile, but if something like Carnival came along, with 2,000 plus passengers, we will entertain it.

"We are looking for something to replace them, definitely, for 2004. The retailers and tourism industry in general need not lose out here.

"We are disappointed about Carnival not signing, but we are glad we knew early enough so we can get some other spots filled."

Ms Webb said she was still in discussion with Carnival to get more occasional visits signed up for next year, and she was still hopeful that a full contract could be signed for the 2005 season.

However, she said she was hoping to attend a cruise line conference in Miami next month, when she could have face to face talks with any possible contenders.

But Ms Webb said the Island, and the West End in particular, had to do some work in order to attract cruise ships to Dockyard.

She said Carnival Cruise Lines had voiced concerns that there was little entertainment in Dockyard for passengers in the evenings, and that the planned beach and activity area had still not materialised.

Former complaints about lack of transport had been addressed, she said, with the fast ferries.

She said the West End Development Corporation (WEDCO) was on board, but was taking longer than she wished to get the wheels in motion.

"All of these issues we are looking at," she added.

"They (cruise companies) have their wish list and we have ours. The cruise ships are asking for more up there in Dockyard. Wedco is on board to do it, but they are not moving quickly enough.

"We understand that people in Dockyard are probably disappointed that Carnival has not signed, but the retailers up there are not the only ones. The taxi drivers are affected, Government is affected because of the loss of the head tax, and these passengers just do not stay in Dockyard the whole time, the move around to other parts of the Island. The whole industry is affected.

"That is why we want to replace them."