A significant step toward reviving Bermuda's tourism fortunes was taken yesterday with the signing of a "cruise, fly, and stay'' pact.

Tourism minister David Allen said he was pleased to approve a contract with Crown Cruise Line and Apple Vacations to introduce a dedicated weekend cruise ship with up to 200 berths earmarked for people who will sail to or from the Island and sleep at a local hotel.

"Some of the Islands in the Caribbean can only dream of this,'' Mr. Allen said. "Because of our high level of exclusivity, this is a very high load factor.'' Mr. Allen said: "Today marks a most significant development in the annals of Bermuda tourism and indeed on a much broader scale, the history of Bermuda's cruise and hotel industries.'' Mr. Allen said it was "no ordinary agreement'' and added that in the past there had been an "adversarial'' relationship between cruise ships and hotels.

"Today we see the culmination of the forging of a new and positive partnership between these industries and indeed, Bermuda,'' he added.

"Bermuda is once again assuming the role of trendsetter in the international tourism industry.'' Mr. Allen continued: "Above all it is a significant day in that it heralds a new experience for our visitors and therefore Bermuda tourism.'' The new agreement will see the alteration of the line's flagship Crown Dynasty to a Bermuda theme, with local artwork, food, and deck names.

In the first year, 100 berths per trip to and from the Island will be dedicated to the programme, a number which will increase to 150 in the second and 200 in the third year.

Mr. Allen said hotels could see up to 26,000 bed nights each season or up to one thousand per week.

Apple Vacations will handle the fly portion of the programme with its flights from Philadelphia and Baltimore and connections throughout the US.

Apple will have a direct flight from Chicago which gives the Island a direct flight from the largest city in the Mid-West for the first time in 15 years.

Thirty young Bermudians will be given internships on the ship each summer season to get industry experience.

The signing was attended by local hotel managers, Muriel Richardson, Michael Kaile, Billy Grifith, two members of the tourism board, and Crown cruises local agent Henry Hayward.

Mrs. Richardson, head of the Hotel Employer's Association, said: "Our relationship had become adversarial. But today we can get together, hand in hand, and together we can grow tourism in Bermuda.'' An added benefit of the programme, Mr. Allen said will be when the ship is on its winter runs in the Caribbean.

Guests will still be traveling on a ship with Bermuda artwork and cuisine, and may be enticed to come to Bermuda.

New partnership: Tourism minister David Allen yesterday inked an agreement between Crown Cruises and Apple Vacations to provide a "sail, fly, and stay'' vacation plan. Flanking Mr. Allen are Crown Cruise Line's Fred Mayer, left, and John Mullen of Apple Vacations.