could work to the benefit -- not just the detriment -- of merchants there, a Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. official has said.

But Mr. Rick Strunck, manager of vessel deployment and development for Royal Caribbean in Miami, said he did not anticipate problems moving the 705-foot Song of America in and out of St. George's.

Royal Caribbean has talked with Marine and Ports pilots, and unspecified modifications were made to the ship to help her navigate the town cut, he said.

Still, Mr. Strunck said there could be "a day or two'' this summer when it is too windy to navigate the cut. That would not necessarily mean the Song of America would bypass St. George's for Hamilton, since it could already be berthed in the East End, he noted.

"If we end up staying in St. George's for an extra day, so be it,'' Mr.

Strunck said during a recent visit to the Island.

The 1,412-passenger Song of America , which replaces the 1,012-passenger Nordic Prince , represents a 40 percent increase in capacity on Royal Caribbean's Bermuda service.

And the larger ship, which serves the Caribbean in the winter, is selling well, Mr. Strunck said. When Song of America arrives George's on May 4 for her first visit before moving to Hamilton, she will be fully booked, he said.

Meanwhile, the Nordic Prince has moved to Alaska, where she will also increase Royal Caribbean capacity to that area by 40 percent.

Named Ship of the Year several times by the World Ocean and Cruise Liner Society, the Song of America has visited Bermuda several times since 1985. She will be a regular visitor until the end of October.

Mr. Strunck said Bermuda has lasting appeal as a destination.

"Bermuda also, on the other hand, has the pink beaches and the turquoise waters, which have probably held equal sway. Most places have a lot of positives and a few negatives that are overcome by the positives. Here, I really don't believe the cruising population has any negative perceptions that need to be overcome.'' Royal Caribbean, which today has nine ships, recently signed a $1-billion letter of intent to build up to three large ships in France.

Royal Caribbean will soon join Carnival to become the second cruise line company to make a public share offering.

Mr. Rick Strunck.