Airtours and Royal Caribbean International (RCI) are tight-lipped about a sale of the Song of America to Airtours’ Sun Cruises.

However, Airtours’ director of business development, John D sdale, said, “We are interested in the vessel, but we are looking at three prospective ships – it’s a question of which comes home first.”

The Delta Queen Steamboat Company is set to contract a 200-passenger coastal cruise ship for delivery in spring of 2000.

Louis Cruise Line will charter its newly acquired 1957-built, 700-passenger Ausonia to First Choice.

Residensea is said to be “very close” to signing a building contract with Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft for the the 85,000-ton World of ResidenSea.