In spite of its cruise policy, which was intended to limit cruise tourism, Bermuda can expect a 20 percent increase in passengers in 1993 contributed by the larger ships deployed by Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

And, now that its transportation strike is over, the Bermuda government is developing specifications for an additional cruise ship in 1994. According to Bermuda Office of Tourism Director, Gary Phillips, this past May the government decided it would introduce the next phase of its cruise ship policy, namely permitting a fifth ship to call during the Bermuda summer season.

Meetings will be held at the end of the month to finalize specifications such as which port(s) the ship would call in, what size the ship should be, what days the ship would call, etc.

According to Phillips, Celebrity Cruises has until the end of the month to decide whether it is interested in putting a third ship in Bermuda. If Celebrity does go ahead, the government then has to approve the ship prior to deployment in May of 1994.