press conference.

Tourism Minister David Allen and Tourism Director Gary Phillips are expected to name the company which has been successful in gaining the lucrative contract.

Carnival Cruise Lines are understood to be among the front runners, which include two other lines. And the ship is expected to operate from Philadelphia to Dockyard when it starts next year.

Tourism officials have been locked in negotiations for weeks, trying to get the right company and vessel for the Island.

In addition, part of the contract will see a proportion of guests on a "cruise and stay'' package, whereby they spend three nights in an Island hotel.

Those visitors will either sail to Bermuda and fly back, or vice versa.

Carnival Cruises have visited the Island and hosted a reception when the UBP were in power.

Mr. Allen is to make the announcement before the North American travel press.