For the first time, a cruise ship has been chartered specifically for college students during spring break.

The 800 passenger SS Veracruz will offer two charters. Both will depart from the Port of Tampa, Fla., one on March 12 and another on March 19.

“Cruise ship programs have been virtually inaccessible to college students,” said Kirk Riley, program director for Travel Center International. TCI found the cruise favorable during a spring break survey in South Padre Island, Texas, and Cancun, Mexico, said Riley.

Many cruise lines have limited the number of 18 to 24-year-olds on a ship to 10 percent, said Riley. Over the past five years, cruise companies have received complaints from “typical” passengers who are 51 years of age, he said.

When younger groups of passengers sail together “they tend to take over the ship,” said Riley. To cater to the younger group, the SS Veracruz will have cruise directors who are graduate students from major universities and have recreation-oriented majors, said Riley.

The cruise directors have designed activities for the cruises which resemble those found in other popular spring break sites.

Some of the events planned will include “wet T-shirt contests, best male buns, and erotic banana eating,” said Riley. The ship is also the home of five bars, some with disc jockeys and some with live bands. It also has a duty-free shop, cinema and a casino. The drinking age is 18 in international waters only.

iley said the cruise reservations are 75 percent filled. For information, persons can call 1 (800) 258-9191 or write the Campus Beach Club at 1888 Sherman St., Denver Col. 80203

The prices are $449 per person for quad occupancy.