new tendeck Inspiration by invitation this past Saturday.

Bermuda played host to the cruise ship Inspiration this past weekend when it paid its inaugural visit to the Island with a full complement of more than 2,000 passengers.

In commemoration of its visit, Government, press and travel industry representatives were invited to a luncheon on the board the vessel in order to give them an inside glimpse of what the Carnival ship has to offer.

Those invited included the acting Premier and Tourism Minister Eugene Cox, Mayor of Hamilton William Frith, Tourism director Gary Phillips, and other notable names in the annals of the Island.

The Inspiration , which made its way back to its port at Newport News, North Carolina on Sunday afternoon, is 855 feet long and has ten decks.

At full capacity she can carry 3,534 people, including a crew complement of 920.

Facilities on board include a 12,000-square-foot fitness gym and spa, three swimming pools (including one with a water slide), a casino, a shopping mall, two restaurants and a running track.

The Inspiration looks like one would expect a cruise liner to look in this day and age -- enormous, painted white enough to blind anyone who looks at her in the sunlight, and with two ends that do not really seem to do justice to the very long middle section.

In fact, it looks as if someone decided that she wasn't long enough and added an extra couple of hundred feet in her middle.

But one should not, as they say, judge a boat by its hull.

The interior is lavishly decorated in a number of different styles, from a Titanicesque staircase (complete with faux finished marble statues) to the Romantic era chandeliers hanging from the ceilings.

At more or less the centre of the ship is a five-storey atrium with glass elevators and a modernist sculpture in the centre that stretches up to the see-through ceiling with shiny golden arms.

It all adds up to a kind of art deco mish-mash, which is complemented by the names of the various restaurants and clubs along the ship's Promenade Deck.

One can have a drink in the Chopin Bar or sit back and watch the world go by in the Cafe Des Artistes to name but a couple of them.

Passengers are allowed the option of sampling the various types of cuisine 24 hours a day and as many times as they want.

One ship's hostess explained that the average weight gain for passengers while on a ship such as the Inspiration is seven pounds.

This is not surprising considering that there are in excess of nine eating establishments on board.

These include a pizzeria, a buffet and two formal restaurants.

There are also numerous hot dog and ice creams stands dotted about the ship.

Additionally passengers can indulge in 24 hour room service if they so desire.

Carnival `fun ship' offers 24hr wining and dining Carnival Cruise Line representative Graeme Seaton said: "Such a feature is a tremendous attraction for passengers who want everything included in one price.'' Mr. Seaton did note, however, that such gluttony is counteracted by the presence of a 12,000-square-foot gymnasium complete with every exercise machine anyone could ever want, a jacuzzi, a beauty salon and the option of taking part in various group fitness exercises.

If this still fails to satisfy the avid fitness freak then there is a running track on the sun deck around which one can run a mile in eleven laps.

Evening entertainment on board is provided in spades.

If one feels lucky one can try their hand at the blackjack, roulette and poker tables in the casino. Or, alternatively, they can just pump quarters into one of the many slot machines and gambling computers.

There is a huge selection of bars and clubs on board catering for a whole range of tastes, from Shakespeare's Library, where one can have a quiet drink and a chat, to the Rock and Roll Dance Club, where one can party on down to their heart's desire.

It cannot be denied that the three-and-a-half-year-old Inspiration is an impressive ship.

While everything may not suit everyone's tastes, there is a suitable variety of styles and moods created throughout the vessel by the imaginative design work and, not least, by almost 1,000 crew members, nearly every one of whom is friendly and, at least, seemingly proud of the vessel on which they serve.

At the luncheon last Saturday, Bermudian travel agents were invited aboard to take a first hand glimpse (and taste) of how Carnival measured up. Mr. Seaton said there was an "amazing turnout'', with a total of about 150 agents and guests coming along.

He added: "Most of the feedback about the ship was very positive. Carnival is known as the fun cruise line and, even though most of the passengers were out and about on the Island at the time, the guests appeared to really enjoy themselves.'' Asked if this visit was a sign that Carnival was hoping to make regular visits to the Island, Mr. Seaton said: "Carnival has applied for permission to come to Bermuda regularly. We have been interested in the past and we are certainly interested in coming here in the future.'' Apparently the passengers' reaction to Bermuda was very positive too.

"They had great things to say about our Island,'' Mr. Seaton said. "Luckily we didn't get hit by Hurricane Cindy and had beautiful weather.'' Photo By Ras Mykkal Inspiring: Carnival Cruise Line ship the Inspiration paid her inaugural visit to Bermuda this past weekend. Berthing at Dockyard.