A new policy to deal with cruise ships well into the Century is set to be unveiled soon.

The Department of Tourism is currently putting the finishing touches to a new document that will serve for the next ten to 15 years as a cruise ship rule book.

There has been widespread consultation in preparing the policy and Tourism Director Richard Calderon said a cross-section of the community had had input.

"A significant number of people have been interviewed for this and a wide variety of views, concerns and suggestions made,'' he said.

In addition to local opinion, the Department of Tourism has also canvassed a range of cruise lines across the world, including ones not currently serving the Island.

Tourism officials are keen to assess other cruise options available, with some of the current contracts due to expire in the next few years.

And they are interested in the various sizes and standards of ships plying the oceans.

Although the new breed of mega-cruise ships are unlikely to visit Bermuda, there could be a move towards smaller, more luxurious vessels bringing fewer, more well-heeled visitors to what the travel industry recognises as a premium destination, Mr. Calderon said.

A few of those ships already call here during the summer, typically bringing a few hundred upscale visitors.

The Bermuda Hotel Association has made it clear that they would like to see a higher class of clientele from the cruise ships and they are keen for yearly totals to be cut from 190,000 to 130,000.

They feel the current numbers, which can top 6,000 a day in the summer, do not sit well with hotel guests, who have paid substantially more for their vacation and find themselves having to share the same spaces.

Mr. Calderon would not reveal what was in the policy, but said it would be a document that would try to find the right balance.

The cruise policy is expected to be available in mid-January.