Tourism Minister David Allen said yesterday it was "impossible to predict'' if the Island will have a full complement of regular cruise ships next season.

Government has failed to land a replacement this season for the Crown Dynasty , whose US owners filed for bankruptcy in December.

Mr. Allen said he empathised with businesses in Dockyard, who will suffer as a result of the Crown Dynasty not coming this season.

When asked if he thought the Island will have six cruise ships next season, he said: "It's impossible to predict.

"We are looking at it and if we get a candidate that has the right profile for Bermuda, that means no megaships... there are some companies we are talking to.

`Impossible to predict' when Island will have new cruise ship "There is one company that has told us they want to be here in 2003. Good things are worth waiting for. I empathise with people in Dockyard, but we have scheduled occasional ships this year.'' Mr. Allen was reported in the Bermuda Sun this month as saying he was "more confident for 2003 than I am for 2002'' for getting a replacement for the Crown Dynasty .

Meanwhile, he said he is about to receive the review of cruise ship policy and sign off on it before submitting it for approval.

He said it was wrong for critics to claim Government had no cruise ship policy, even though the much-vaunted policy has still not been produced.

Mr. Allen also revealed that Amman Capital, which is interested in developing the Club Med site in St. George's, has finally completed its proposals and Government is expecting to see them now.

And his staff have met representatives of the new owner of the Belmont. He said the developer's staff told the Department they are "anxious to get off the ground''.