The Radisson Seven Seas cruise line is coming to Bermuda next year with a series of regular summer visits by the luxury Seven Seas Navigator, according to the company's official website.

But the Ministry of Tourism last night refused to confirm a deal had been struck, and would only say that discussions are on-going with Florida-based Radisson and a statement will be made shortly.

The Seven Seas Navigator is scheduled for 11 journeys from New York between May and September, docking in Hamilton for three days and St. George's for one.

The ship is also slated to visit the Island twice in April on runs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which will also include stops in the Bahamas.

And Hamilton will also see the 490 passenger ship in October and November when it calls in on cruises from Montreal, Canada, and Palm Beach, Florida.

Last week, Tourism Minister David Allen said he would be making a statement this Friday about two cruise ship contracts which expire this year and next, although he did not give any details.

The ships currently serving Hamilton are Celebrity Cruises' Zenith and Horizon, Princess Cruises' Pacific Princess, and Royal Caribbean International's Nordic Empress.

Acting Director of Tourism Deanna Wade said yesterday: "We are currently in negotiations with Radisson. As is the policy of this Ministry, we will not comment on such matters until their conclusion."

Radisson has built up a fleet of six small luxury ships and it regularly tops polls in the travel industry. In 1999 and 2001, Radisson was voted `Best Small Cruise Line in the World' by Travel and Leisure magazine readers, and in 1995, Conde Naste Traveller proclaimed it the `World's Best Cruise Line'.

Radisson cruises are expensive, which is in line with the Ministry of Tourism's objective of attracting smaller ships with wealthy passengers.

Prices for the eight day, seven night cruise to Bermuda out of New York next year range from $2,995 per person to $9,195 per person. With the passengers scheduled to spend three days in Hamilton, it could provide a welcome boost to city retailers.

The Seven Seas Navigator has 245 ocean view suites, 90 percent of which have private balconies, a spa and cordon bleu dining options.

Radisson scored a first last year when it introduced the Seven Seas Mariner, the world's all-balcony suite cruise ship. The company has a total of just 2,224 suites on its six ships, but they target high earning travellers.

Last week, the Chamber of Commerce called for the Carnival Cruise Lines' mega-ship Triumph to be given regular summer visits to Dockyard next year.

Struggling businesses in the West End reported a surge of up to 50 percent for revenues in June after the 3,000 passenger Triumph was allowed three weekend trial runs.

But there is still confusion over what Government's final position is on cruise ships, and it's long-awaited cruise policy has still not been published.

In December 2000, then Director of Tourism Richard Calderon said the Ministry of Tourism was putting the final touches on the cruise ship policy.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said February 2000 that Government does not want mega-ships, and in May last year Mr. Allen said mega-ships - those with 2,500 passengers or more - did not fit the Bermuda profile.

However, Mr. Allen allowed the mega-ship Triumph three weekend trial visits to Dockyard this June, and it is not known if Government will bow to pressure from businesses to have a regular West End mega-ship next summer.

A consultants' report in 2000, however, recommended that Bermuda should prepare itself to cater for the new generation of mega-ships.

Business in Dockyard have been suffering because they have not had a regular cruise ship for the past two seasons following the bankruptcy of the company which owns the Crown Dynasty.