Bermuda has reached its plateau in its numbers of cruise ship visitors, Transport Minister Terry Lister told a town-hall meeting.Modifying Bermuda’s shipping channels would spread out cruise arrivals instead of overwhelming the West End at the expense of the rest of the Island.Along with a Marine and Ports panel, the Minister fielded some tough questions, at the second of three public meetings soliciting feedback on plans to expand the channels to accommodate bigger cruise ships.About 60 people attended the meeting at the Anglican Cathedral. Transport Ministry consultant Larry Jacobs said that “the magic of cruising to Bermuda” lay in cruise passengers being able to experience the Island from more than one port.Asked if expanding the channels was intended to allow a rotation of cruise ships to different ports, Mr Lister said 400,000 annual sea visitors was Bermuda’s top capacity. “What we want to do now is rebalance that,” he said.An East End resident, concerned that a wider Town Cut would allow ten foot waves into St George’s Harbour, asked if Government had considered developing a cruise pier at another location, such as the oil docks.Cautioning that a thorough environmental study would precede any actual work, Mr Lister said such suggestions would be welcome in writing at Marine and Ports. Participant Henry Hayward brought along his proposal for a 1,000 ft pier to be extended into Murray’s Anchorage, as an alternative to opening the Old Town’s harbour.The Minister also said the number of businesses lost in St George’s since the demise of regular cruise ship service was proof enough that cruise passengers brought significant business to the Island.Asked “When are we going to start and how will we finance it?” the Minister said the present arrangement was putting a lot of strain on Bermuda’s public transport, and needed to change.“In terms of costs, the figures are high,” he added. “We would be looking to partner.”Another audience member warned Government to avoid “Trojan Horse” partnerships, like the unfavourable Club Med deal.Taking a question on dock modifications, Mr Jacobs said Hamilton’s dock would require “extensive work” for larger ships to dock but that Penno’s Wharf in St George’s already offered good room for ships.One man challenged the logic of spreading out ship arrivals to different ports, charging that on certain days it would leave expensive projects like King’s Wharf and Heritage Wharf sitting empty.But the Minister said the new piers have brought in enough revenue already to pay for themselves. He also fended off suggestions that the budget for channel modifications would be better spent on improved public transport to ferry tourists around.The third and final public meeting will be held tonight at Penno’s Wharf in St George’s.