lobbying the Ministry of Tourism to permit Carnival Cruise Lines to sail into the Island's west end.

But Minister of Tourism David Dodwell has said Carnival, which still has not formally applied to sail here, may be waiting in line for a few more years.

"Carnival has approached us and we're definitely interested,'' Wedco Development Manager Ed Williams told The Royal Gazette "We have a tremendous resource out here and that's what has interested them.'' Wedco, a Government quango, has joined west-end retailers in looking for a new ship to take up the slack at their King's Wharf terminal following news that Dockyard regular, Celebrity Cruise Line's Meridian , had been sold and was to be replaced with the Horizon .

But instead of berthing for three nights -- like the Meridian -- the Horizon will tie-up for only two nights before shifting to Hamilton for its final night on the Island.

Carnival meanwhile has formed a partnership with the Port of Baltimore and has indicated that whatever Bermuda wants they'd be prepared to deliver, said Mr.

Williams, adding the cruise line would be ready to start regular service next year.

"We are charged with continuing to develop the particular resources of the west end'' said Mr. Williams, and because of the loss of the Meridian , retailers feel they are losing a day's worth of cruise ship customers.

Carnival -- the world's largest and most successful cruise line -- has said they would be ready to step into the void, possibly berthing over between Thursday and Tuesday, said Mr. Williams.

Despite recent overtures to Bermuda officials however, Carnival has not formally applied to Government to sail here, said Mr. Dodwell.

And even if Carnival does apply it will have to line up behind Celebrity, which has the first option on new ships coming to the Island; Celebrity's contract expires in 1999.

Government's new policy on cruise ships allows for up to 6,000 passengers per day, except in cases that would put at least 50 percent of the passengers into a local hotel, said Mr. Dodwell.

Wedco's position was understandable said Mr. Dodwell, but any attempts to bring in another ship has to be within the terms of the cruise ship policy.

"I think Carnival is serious; they've always wanted to come to Bermuda,'' said Mr. Dodwell.

A spokesman for Carnival yesterday told The Royal Gazette the company last week wrote to Government indicating its interest in cruising to Bermuda.

"If that constitutes a formal application or not I don't know,'' said Vance Gullikson.