assisting disabled passengers.

Princess Cruises has become the first cruise line to employ a full-time professional to focus on accessibility for passengers with disabilities.

Jan Tuck, a 22-year Princess employee, has been appointed to the position of access compliance manager with the Love Boat Access programme.

Ms Tuck will be responsible for monitoring the accessibility of Princess ships and land operations, in addition to directing efforts to increase comfort levels for passengers with physical disabilities.

"Princess has long been committed to providing accessibility for all of our passengers, including the physically challenged,'' said Rick James, Princess Cruises' senior vice president of customer service and sales.

"As we continue to expand our fleet and increase the number of passengers we carry each year, we remain dedicated to our role as an industry leader in providing an outstanding vacation to travellers with disabilities.'' The Love Boat Access programme was officially begun in 1992 to raise the standards of cruise ship access while keeping in mind the inherent constraints and special considerations of a ship at sea.

The Pacific Princess is due to call in Bermuda from April to October. The 800-passenger ship will berth in St. George's, Hamilton and Dockyard.

Information and reservations on all Princess cruises can be obtained from all Bermuda travel agents or the Princess representative office in Bermuda at 295-4721.