The first cruise ship of 1998 is set to arrive next month, it emerged yesterday.

However the full schedule for the 1998 cruise ship season will not be released until the end of January.

"Due to a number of late arriving applications, the 1998 Cruise Ship Schedule will not be available until the end of January,'' Department of Tourism spokesman Charles Webbe said yesterday.

On January 16, the Saga Rose is scheduled to arrive from Ponta Delgada in the Azores and berth at King's Wharf in Dockyard for the day.

The Columbia Ship Management vessel was formerly known as the Sagafjord . It will be en route to Miami as part of a round the world voyage when it visits the Island.

The second ship of the year is scheduled to arrive on March 24 from Port Canaveral, Florida.

The Europa is set to spend the day at anchor in the Great Sound before continuing on to Praia da Vitoria in the Azores.

Mr. Webbe said: "The regular cruise ship season commences early in April with the arrival of the Norwegian Crown on April 1. This vessel will continue late into November and early December after taking a five-week break in September and October.'' The Norwegian Crown replaces the Dreamward . Further details of next season's regular callers, including the Meridian's replacement Horizon , were not available yesterday.

Two vessels from the prestigious Seabourn Cruise Line are set to visit the Island in April.

The Seabourn Legend is due in on April 3 while en route from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Ponta Delgada. It will spend the day alongside Hamilton's Number One Shed.

On April 24 the Seabourn Pride is set to arrive from Fort Lauderdale. It will berth at Number One Shed as well before departing for Ponta Delgada later that day.

Scheduled to join the Seabourn Pride in Hamilton on April 24 is the Fred Olsen Cruise Line vessel Black Watch . The vessel is spending the day in Bermuda while en route from Nassau, Bahamas, to Dover in the UK.

The Royal Viking Sun will make its first trip of the year to the Island between these visits.

It is scheduled to arrive in Hamilton on April 18 from the Azores and spend the day at Docks Five and Six before departing for Fort Lauderdale.

The Cunard liner returns on May 9 from Wilmington, Delaware, for an overnight stay at Dock One and on May 16 from Fort Lauderdale and October 18 from Funchal in the Madeira Islands for day visits.

On April 30, Holland America Line's Rotterdam is scheduled to steam into the Great Sound where it will anchor for the day. The ship is due to be en route from New York to Horta in the Azores.

A second Holland America vessel is due to make two visits to the Island later in the year.

The Veendam will October 16 in port at the West End while en route from Boston to New York. On October 26, she is slated to overnight in Hamilton while on the same route.

In May the Topaz is due to berth at Dock One while en route from Ponta Delgada to Port Canaveral, Florida. It will spend the night of May 2 in port before departing.

On July 16 the Regal Empress is set to make her visit to the Island for the year.

The Regal Cruises liner is slated to arrive on July 16 and spend the night at Penno's Wharf while en route from New York to Martha's Vineyard.

It is scheduled to return on similar runs on August 13 and August 27.

On August 7 it is the Leeward's turn to visit the Island in the first of two scheduled voyages from Alexandria, Virginia. The second trip is scheduled for August 14.

The Norwegian Cruise Line vessel will spend two days in port on both occasions before returning to Alexandria.

The Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 is also scheduled to make two trips to the Island this coming season.

The ship is set to arrive from New York on September 6 and November 12.

The QE 2 will overnight at the West End on her first trip before returning to New York. However her second trip will see her only spend the day at anchor before continuing on to St. Maarten.

Poetto Shipping Company's Astor is due to spend the day in Bermuda on October 9 while en route from Freeport, Bahamas, to Ponta Delgada. It will berth at Docks Five and Six.

FIRST CALLER -- The Saga rose, shown here in her previous incarnation as the Sagafjord, will call in Hamilton next month as part of an around the world cruise.