sail from Baltimore yesterday bound for Bermuda with its 800 passengers, in what Government hopes is smooth waters for the future of tourism.

Tourism Minister David Allen yesterday hailed the inaugural run to Bermuda as a fulfilled election promise and said tomorrow's arrival would see closure to Government's long-held belief of a dedicated weekend cruise ship.

Mr. Allen was pleased to announce that the cruise and fly scheme was officially underway with 100 berths on each voyage dedicated to the new scheme, which is designed to encourage repeat visitors.

"This is part of our own election promise of greater economic trickle down business for Bermuda,'' he said.

"This is the inauguration of cruise and fly, or vice versa, an innovative programme. I am told the ship is sold out for May and June and the rest of the season is doing well.

"We are getting enormous publicity and while numbers will be hard to quantify, there will be great benefit from this today with local television and regional print coverage.''