St. George's traders are calling for Town Cut to be widened after the curse on cruise ships struck again this week when high winds and rain forced Zenith to remain in Hamilton.

Last week, strong winds saw Horizon head straight for the capital for the second week running rather than begin its week in St. George's - representing a total loss of 2,702 passengers.

Zenith, carrying 1,320 passengers, was due into Penno's Wharf yesterday morning but a Harbour Radio spokesman said winds of up to 26 knots meant the high-sided ship was at risk if it tried to negotiate the narrow Town Cut so it remained in Hamilton.

It is expected to head to St. George's today - the second time it has arrived late this season.

However the Pacific Princess was able to get out of St. George's and head to town.

Yesterday the manager of Trimingham's in St. George's, Leslie Swan, said it was time Town Cut was widened to ensure the cruise ships kept on schedule after losing thousands of dollars in business from missing passengers in recent weeks.

She said: “There has been talk about widening Town Cut in the past but not recently. I would definitely like to see it done if it means ensuring the cruise ship gets in.

“The cruise ship agents should look into it.”

Freddies pub owner Allan Powell said he no longer bothered booking extra staff for scheduled cruise ships but only called in more help when they actually came after years of disappointments.

He said: “It's three weeks in a row now. You never hear they can't leave this port but if it's cloudy in Somerset they can't come through Town Cut.”

He said widening work was long overdue if Bermuda was serious about being a multi-port destination.

“We have a two port concept. They move from Hamilton to another berth in Hamilton and only the Bermuda Government makes any money out of the cruise ships.”

He said he did not even anticipate extra business from the liners but said if they did bring extra customers that was “the icing on the cake”.

Mr. Powell said this year's weather problems were no different to the last four years.

Corporation of St. George's Town Manager Lance Furbert said Government should look at making cruise ship access easier but he stopped short of calling for it himself.

He said: “It isn't a happy situation. It's been a rather slow winter and store owners are looking forward to cruise ship business but there is not a lot we can do about the weather.”

He said the Corporation did not have a plan to widen Town Cut and he said it was a matter for Government.

Mr. Furbert said: “We need to be very careful about damage to the environment with any work. A very careful study would have to be done before we take that step.”

He said St. George's needed to be an exciting destination that tourists would flock to from bases across the Island.

Local merchants were working to bring in more evening entertainment this summer, said Mr. Furbert, and architectural digs were planned this summer as the old town seeks to capitalise on its world heritage status.

Improvements are underway in One Gun Alley while there will be a boardwalk erected from Somer's Wharf to Ordnance Island this summer, said Mr. Furbert.

He said a Heritage Centre planned in the Queen Street warehouse would ensure visitors got the most out of the town's history.