president of Carnival Cruise Lines hitting back at the Tourism Minister for his "derogatory'' personal attack.

Mr. Bob Dickinson said he was appalled to be described by the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge as shallow, ignorant, frivolous, scurrilous and opportunistic. "I am just disappointed he has chosen to attack me personally rather than staying on the issues,'' Mr. Dickinson said yesterday from Miami.

"I'm amazed he would call into question my repuation and my accomplishments.

The man has given new meaning to the word insular.

"If I thought the Minister of Tourism represented Bermuda I would be put off.

But I have to believe he is speaking on his own account.

"His derogatory words would not be tolerated in this country. He's avoided the issues completely.'' On Friday, Mr. Dickinson said the Boston market was too shallow to support a regular cruise ship to Bermuda -- a statement that challenged the essence of Government's impending deal with Boston-Bermuda Cruising Ltd.

Mr. Woolridge shot back that Mr. Dickinson was trying to denigrate any decision that Government might make.

"This chap is seizing on the ignorance of people,'' Mr. Woolridge said of Mr.

Dickinson. His comments, he said, showed a "lack of understanding... of what the real world is about.'' Mr. Dickinson said the Minister "doesn't know me... and if he knew anything about tourism and the United States he wouldn't attack me''.

"He's ducking the issues and going after the emotions. I can only assume he's not comfortable with the issues,'' he said.

Carnival is Government's second choice after Boston-Bermuda to supply a ship for St. George's.

One of Government's prime objectives in the East End deal is that the fifth ship have minimum effect on the business supplied by the regular calling ships out of New York.

In his comments on Friday, Mr. Dickinson said his company was interested only in sailing out of New York, not Boston.

"All we're trying to give the Country is 25,000 high-spending customers a year. We can do it week in and week out.

"We have the largest sales force in the US northeast. And we can tap into our six million customers with a private offering (of the Bermuda sailings).

"But the man (Mr. Woolridge) doesn't understand it. How can he? He won't even talk with us.'' Mr. Woolridge has publicly rejected Carnival's Tropicale for St. George's. And as of Sunday he maintained that position despite the Premier's election-eve pledge that the decision would be between Tropicale and Boston-Bermuda's Royal Majesty .

Government appears to want to first see what kind of a deal it can swing with Boston-Bermuda before it seriously considers Carnival.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dickinson said he objected to Mr. Woolridge's continued inference that Carnival is not good enough for Bermuda.

He said Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, which sends the Song of America to Bermuda, and Norwegian Cruise Line, which sends the Dreamward , were Carnival's direct competitors.

"If Bermuda is happy with RCCL and NCL they should be happy with us,'' he said.

It is understood the cruise issue will be addressed this morning in Cabinet with discussions possibly centring on a new draft contract with Boston-Bermuda.

Of Carnival's position on the cruise ship deal, Mr. Dickinson said: "We're hopeful the Government of Bermuda extends beyond the Minister of Tourism and that at one point it will at least consider the options.

"It will go with either an upstart, unproven entity or with us.

"We have the money and they don't. If the Boston-Bermuda venture fails it will be considered a St. George's failure. Why won't the Minister of Tourism stay on the issues? I'm tempted to question his motives but then I'd be playing at his level.'' Mr. Dickinson was backed by Mr. Llewellyn Peniston who has acted as Carnival's unofficial representative in Bermuda.

Mr. Peniston said he was dismayed by Mr. Woolridge's language.

"He has demonstrated his long-standing personal habit of reducing broad business propositions to a personal level and it appears his only response is to insult,'' said Mr. Peniston.

"The question now is whether the insults and accusations of commercial greed is an expression of the intended Government fairness in reviewing this matter which had been promised.'' The Hon. C.V. Woolridge.