Bermuda service and a cruise ship in the Dockyard four days a week.

The new contracts, which were unveiled by Tourism Minister David Dodwell yesterday and will be signed by the end of next week, will also open the door for Bermudians to work on the cruise ships.

Three of the five contracts held by regular visiting cruise ships -- the Zenith , Song of America and Norwegian Crown -- are set to expire at the end of 1999.

To prepare for the new contract negotiations, a review of the present cruise ship industry was launched by the Tourism Department and carried out by the Bermuda Tourist Board's Product Committee, explained Mr. Dodwell.

This review highlighted six key factors that had to be considered when negotiating the new contracts.

The committee recognised the need to balance the number of cruise ship and air arrivals and give Dockyard additional cruise ship service. It also felt stronger ties between the cruise ships and the Island were required.

It also noted that the five cruise ships visiting the Island belonged to only three cruise lines so more diversification in ownership was needed while both the cruise lines and Bermuda needed to be able to adapt quicker to changes in the cruise ship industry.

And Bermuda had to be prepared for the increasing number of large cruise ships. In March, the Product Committee approached Princess Cruises who they felt met the Island's criteria of being a premier cruise line with upscale clients and a new market place for the Island on the West Coast of the US, continued Mr. Dodwell.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited -- who are also the parent company of Celebrity Cruises -- decided to pull the Horizon from its current contract at the end of 1999.

Mr. Dodwell said the committee seized the opportunity and bid farewell to the Horizon and welcomed Princess Cruises' Pacific Princess which brought the number of premium cruise lines serving the Island to four.

The Song of America is already scheduled to be replaced by the Nordic Empress next year and this vessel will fill the Horizon's slot when it departs the following year.

The move provides diversification of ownership -- the five regular callers will now be represented by four cruise lines -- and the Pacific Princess has a total capacity of 650 people so the total number of cruise passengers per day in 2000 will be about 6,800.

New cruise ship lined up This figure is closer to the cruise ship policy limit of 6,000 passengers which will help maintain the balance between cruise ship and air arrivals.

This compares to 1999 when there will be capacity for almost 8,000 passengers as the Nordic Empress -- with a capacity for 1,712 passengers -- replaces the Song of America .

The Pacific Princess will begin operations in the year 2000 from New York with a three port schedule which will take it to St. George's first, then Hamilton and finally to the West End.

Presently, the Horizon is the only ship which calls in at Dockyard but the Pacific Princess' introduction means the West End will now get a ship from Tuesday morning until Friday afternoon.

In 2000 the Nordic Empress will take over the Horizon's itinerary of two nights and two days at the West End while the Pacific Princess will berth at King's Wharf for two days and one night.

Shorter contracts enable quicker adaptations to the changing cruise industry so the new contracts with the Zenith and Norwegian Crown will be for five years and the contract with Princess Cruises will be for three years with an option to extend for a further two years.

The contracts for the Nordic Empress -- which was originally for the Horizon -- will run until 2006 while the Norwegian Majesty's contract expires at the end of 2003.

A Cruise Industry Management committee has also been established under the chairmanship of the Tourism Minister which will include cruise ship representatives, local shipping agents, Government representatives, Corporation officials and Chamber of Commerce members amongst its number who will meet regularly to foster a closer working relationship between the Island and the cruise lines.

Cruise ship principals have already agreed to provide opportunities for Bermudians to either work or train on the cruise ships themselves. Employment opportunities will be advertised in the local papers and will give locals the opportunity to gain valuable work experience.

Meanwhile, a Port Facilities Committee under the chairmanship of the Director of Marine and Ports will be evaluating how the Island should handle the introduction of larger liners.

King's Wharf is the only dock presently equipped to handle the larger cruise ships.