first ever voyage with passengers.

The Crystal Symphony which cost some $250 million to build belongs to Japanese shipping line -- NYK.

Built in Finland, the 800-foot ship arrives in Bermuda on May 6 from New York on her maiden voyage and is expected to berth at Dockyard.

Bermuda, however, will not be a regular port of call in the future, a John S.

Darrell spokesman said.

The arrival of a number of cruise ships this week and next week signal a busy season which runs until October for shipping agencies.

"We're looking forward to next week,'' said John S. Darrell spokesman Mr.

MacPherson. "It's when we get into the meat of the season.'' The first cruise ship to arrive this week was the Meridian on Monday.

Meyer Agencies reported 1,079 passengers arrived on board the vessel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Berthed at King's Wharf, Dockyard she returned to Fort Lauderdale yesterday.

The majestic Queen Elizabeth 2 also berthed at King's Wharf Dockyard over the weekend -- for the first time in many years, claimed John S. Darrell spokesman Mr. Donald MacPherson.

The 963-foot ship which stopped off in Bermuda on Saturday evening on her maiden voyage of the year carried 1,621 passengers and 1,067 crew.

However, after an overnight stop, she departed at 5 p.m. the following day.

Tomorrow, Horizon arrives in Bermuda at Number One Dock, Hamilton on a repositioning cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Meyer Agencies reported.

The trip marks her move from a Caribbean run over the winter to a summer northern route.

She leaves for New York the same day with 1,266 passengers on board.

And next Wednesday Royal Majesty is expected to stop overnight in Bermuda on route to Baltimore from Freeport, Bahamas, reported John S. Darrell.

She is due to leave at 5 p.m. next Thursday.

The trip is a repositioning cruise before Royal Majesty starts her regular Boston-Bermuda-Boston trip next month.

After a Baltimore-Bermuda trip on May 8, she will be arriving regularly on Tuesdays and sailing Fridays -- a change from last years Monday to Thursday schedule.

Song of America arrives on May 2 at Penno's Wharf, St. George's. The trip marks the beginning of her San Juan to New York route. She will stop off in Bermuda from Tuesday until Friday until September.

In cargo ship news, Oleander arrived on schedule on Sunday with 143 dry containers and 44 reefers.

Twenty International Race Week sailboats were also on board along with a 26-foot motor boat and two 33-foot and 25-foot yachts.

A transformer and two 40-foot mafis carrying building materials, were also on board.

A number of horses took the outbound trip on Tuesday which left at 9 a.m.

Meyer Agencies reported Bermuda Islander arrived from Salem, New Jersey at 8:24 a.m. at Number 7 Dock, Hamilton on Tuesday and sailed at 4:30 p.m. the same day.

She brought with her one boat and 79 containers of which eight were reefers.

The US Navy container ship Strong Cajun arrived at Marginal Wharf yesterday and was due to depart later in the day, a spokesman from Meyer Agencies said.

Also this week, SS Clark berthed at Dockyard for food and provisions, John S.

Darrell reported.

The ship arrived on Tuesday morning and departed in the evening.