Mayor of St. George Mariea Caisey wants special ferries to collect people from Dockyard after cruise ships' visits to the Old Town were cut.

Only the Norwegian Majesty, which will make 21 trips to Ordnance Island, is scheduled for St. George's this year, with the Norwegian Dream not repeating its 2008 visits to Penno's Wharf.

Meanwhile Dockyard will get five contract ships, one more than last year, following the completion of the new Heritage Wharf pier.

Bermuda will have 138 cruise ship visits in 2009, bringing a projected 314,152 people — up 11 percent from the 282,438 projected figure for last year.

Reacting to the newly released cruise ship schedule, Ms Caisey told The Royal Gazette: "It's a big problem for the Corporation because that's half the revenue we get from the cruise ships we are losing.

"For us, it's very bad. It's also bad for the retailers in the town. When we have cruise ships there, there's more activity: they use our beaches, things of that nature.

"Hopefully, Government will ferry Dockyard passengers down to St. George's. I believe they have someone trying to organise something down there."

Ms Caisey said the Corporation has struck a deal with Mark Soares of Bermuda Yacht Services to use Penno's Wharf as a mega yacht marina in a trial run. Mr. Soares has been operating a similar project at Fairmont Hamilton.

She said events such as weddings already booked at Penno's Wharf will be honoured.

Regular callers to Bermuda this year will be: Norwegian Majesty, 21 visits to Ordnance Island; Norwegian Spirit, 22 visits to Heritage Wharf; Grandeur of the Seas, 17 visits to King's Wharf, Dockyard; Explorer of the Seas, 23 visits to King's Wharf; Norwegian Dawn, 22 visits to Heritage Wharf; Caribbean Princess, 12 visits to King's Wharf/Heritage Wharf. There will be an extra 21 visits from occasional callers.

Only seven ships will call at Hamilton, and those visits will take place in April, May and November. Last year saw ten visits to the city and the previous year 87.

Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown has said it's been difficult finding ships small enough to visit both Hamilton and St. George's. However, Holland America Line will run cruises to both from 2010.