offer from Carnival Cruises to run a replacement ship for the Crown Dynasty this summer.

Tourism is scrambling to find a new ship for the run to Dockyard in late April to take the place of the Crown Dynasty , whose owners, Commodore Holdings, have filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States.

VSB reported that Mr. Allen had rejected an offer from Miami-based Carnival Cruises to take over the route.

Mr. Allen told The Royal Gazette : "That report is erroneous. We have rejected no one.

"We are reviewing several offers from various lines and others interested in chartering. We have made no decision.'' When asked if he was confident of finding a replacement in time for the season, he said: "That is still the subject of negotiations.'' A Carnival Cruises spokeswoman in Miami told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "We have for a number of years expressed interest in bringing a ship to Bermuda.

"We are constantly attempting to communicate and make overtures to the Government of Bermuda to the extent that we would like to bring a vessel.

"As far as recent action on the part of the government in declining an overture, that, I am not aware of.''