forced at least two cruise ships to cut their visits to Bermuda short this week.

Meyer Agencies said the Zenith arrived on Monday morning with 1,691 passengers. But she left yesterday afternoon, some 24 hours ahead of her normally scheduled departure.

The Meridian , which entered local waters on Tuesday with 1,315 passengers, is also scheduled to leave a day before its normal Friday departure.

A John S. Darrell spokesman said the Song of America , which brought 1,491 passengers to Bermuda on Tuesday, was scheduled to leave tomorrow. But that was also subject to change, depending on the weather.

Meanwhile, Queen Eliabeth 2 is scheduled to arrive from New York on September 3 for a one-day visit. She will anchor at the Great Sound and leave around 6 p.m. that day.

Meyer also reported that the irregular caller MS Seabourn Legend was scheduled to make her second visit of the year to the Island this afternoon).

The ship, which brought American television talk show host Phil Donahue to Bermuda earlier this summer, will make one more call before the end of the cruise ship season.

In other shipping news, Cable and Wireless' cable ship Sir Eric Sharp returned to the Island yesterday after three months in the Caribbean where it was used to carry out cable laying work. Its last stop was Jamaica.

Turning to news from the docks, the Bermuda Islander brought in its biggest load for the year when she arrived in Hamilton on Monday morning.

Meyer said the container ship had 121 containers, including 11 refrigerated ones, one boat, and some structural steel.

Somers Isles , last Sunday, brought 93 containers, including 12 refrigerated ones and a boat.

Container Ship Management reported that the Oleander also arrived last Sunday with 106 dry containers, 35 refrigerated containers, construction steel, and a pick-up truck. It left on Tuesday on schedule.