time in 15 years.

Carnival Cruise Lines' MS Inspiration will operate a six-day cruise to Bermuda from Newport News starting on August 25 of next year. The ship will be in Bermuda for three nights and the cost of the trip starts at $879 per person.

Carnival has wanted to come to Bermuda for a while and has offered to do whatever the Government wants if it will allow it to come.

However the one-off voyage will not signal the opening of the flood gates, stressed Tourism Minister David Dodwell.

"This is the equivalent of an occasional caller,'' he said.

The voyage, along with three "Cruise to Nowhere'' one-night trips and three six-night jaunts to the Bahamas, plus a similar series out of Charleston, South Carolina, mark a deviation by Carnival from its regular US ports.

And it illustrates the line's desire to expand its cruise operations.

Carnival president Bob Dickinson said: "Sailing from Newport News provides a tremendous opportunity for people in Virginia and the surrounding region to sample the world's most popular cruise line on a choice of three different "Fun Ship'' itineraries departing from their own backyard.

The two-year-old 70,000 gross-registered-ton Fantasy class Inspiration has capacity for 2,040 passengers and features a seven-deck-high glass-domed atrium, a 12,000-square-foot health and fitness facility, three pools, six whirlpools, a 7,500-square-foot casino, a two-level show lounge and 24-hour complimentary pizzeria and stateroom service.