How much does the Cullen family of Long Island love Bermuda? Quite a bit, given that Nancy and Peter Cullen, both 77, are now on their 50th visit to the Island and three generations of their family will spend their honeymoons here.

Nancy first met her husband on a cruise ship to Bermuda and later married him in St. Andrews church in Hamilton.

Her four daughters also spent their honeymoons in Bermuda and grandson, Chris, 23, plans to carry on the family tradition.

But sadly, Mrs. Cullen said her husband now finds it difficult to get around and this may be his last visit to Bermuda.

"He wanted to come back one more time," she said.

Whatever happens in the future, however, Mrs. Cullen still plans to return.

She first came to Bermuda on the in 1960, where she met her husband.

That year they rode rented cycles ? "the kind you pedalled" ? down to Albouy's Point to see Sidney Bean who used to have a cruise boat down there.

But, the soon-to-be Mrs. Cullen had a problem with her bike, she could not find the brake and rode her cycle straight into Hamilton Harbour off the dock.

There was a Greek ship alongside Albuoy's Point that day, she recalled. "I had never seen so many Greek sailors jump into the water."

They pulled both her and her cycle back on land but this untimely swim did not discourage her from riding bikes.

She even rode the water-logged bike back to the .

This week, when the Cullens caught theto Bermuda for the fifth time, her grandson gave her a bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day.

But he made her promise that she would not ride a bike now that she is in her 70s.

The 50th trip was originally planned for September 2003 but the cruise ship could not dock in Bermuda because of Hurricane Fabian.

So, the Cullens had to spend their vacation in Nova Scotia, where they could not get much sightseeing done, because they had only packed "Bermuda shorts".

They have made many friends on their visits Mrs. Cullen said, including staff from "every hotel on the Island" and entertainers.

This year, the couple cruised to Bermuda then checked into the Rosedon hotel instead of staying on the ship.

When the boat is about to leave, they check out of the hotel and catch their ride back.

Mrs. Cullen has stayed at the Rosedon Hotel 25 times.

She said it is "her favourite" and promised to soon return.