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March 2005 -- A no-frills cruise line called EasyCruise is expected to commence service May 13th on a regular weekly Riviera run with seven stops between St. Tropez, France and Portofino, Italy.

EasyCruise is charging about $56 and up per person per night for spartan cabins that start at about 100 square feet and do not have windows. That does not include food, and you will pay extra too if you want housekeeping services while you are aboard. For those who want to go a bit more upscale, the ship does have four suites that include balconies.

You can sign up for a a minimum of two nights or as many as you want. In addition to St. Tropez and Portofino (both of which are ports where you get to and from the ship by tender), the ship will dock in Cannes and Nice in France; Monaco; and Imperia (San Remo) and Genoa in Italy.

The 170-passenger EasyCruiseOne has few amenities: no gym, no swimming pool, no casino. But it does have cafes and bars with food and alcoholic beverages for sale.

Instead of the normal cruise ship pattern of arriving in a port in the morning and sailing in the evening, EasyCruiseOne will arrive in ports about 1 p.m., stay through the evening and depart about 4 a.m., giving passengers an opportunity to sample nightlife along the French and Italian Rivieras.

The firm is marketing to younger cruisers, and you won't encounter any children aboard. Guests must be at least 18.

For information,you can visit www.easycruise.com