Bell Ringer

My friends and I toured with Quinton Bean on the 28th of September, at the recommendation of a good friend of mine.

He is a wonderful, very intelligent, gentleman, native Bermudian and is so very proud of the history, and had many stories to tell and explain about the places we went and saw.

I gave him a list of places that I wanted my friends to see, as some of us were repeat Bermuda tourists, and one friend was a newbie.

We had a wonderful, but windy, day with him. He showed us many places that I (who was on my 7th visit) hadn't seen.

I thoroughly recommend Mr. Bean as a fantastic tour guide, and he can be reached at: quianreu@logic.bm

If you will be more specific as to whether you family will do everything together, like beach time, climbing the light house, historical places,, museums, shopping.....what do you like? Many of us can help with a little bit of information!

There will be lots of vendors with handmade ornaments in the local craft market at the dockyards.

If you are buying at the clocktower mall stores, check where the items were made.

It's been a while (2011) but the rides were available in the town square of St. Georges. I believe I have seen ( other visits, too) 2 or 3 buggys waiting for customers. Ours was a pleasant, peaceful ride with plenty of opportunity for photos along the way, and a driver who didn't talk all the time, but did answer questions. I think it was about an hour ride.

Bermuda is British, clean, with friendly, helpful people and more than enough to do and see for 3 days. Not having to watch the time as closely with only 1 partial day to visit an island is the best. Depending on whether the young couple likes to be very active with water sports, or likes historical places, scenic areas, shopping, or climbing a light house. Photography opportunities are excellent. Public transportation is safe, and makes it easy to get around. Many opportunities to take a taxi tour to get the "lay of the land", or just do some reading and use the public buses and ferries.

I can't think of a more pleasant place to visit using the ship as your hotel and try a restaurant or two while out on the island, but still having the meals prvided back at the ship when they are on board.

This Sept. will be my 7th cruise to Bermuda, and I will never be bored with all it has to offer.:)

You could probably enjoy just doing one of the caverns, not both. Our service at Swizzle Inn was pretty slow, so that takes more than 1/2 hour. Since Hamilton is more the business center, stores an business close around 5:30 unless it is a Harbor Night celebration on Wed. I imagine you can't tour the cathedral or Ft Hamilton that late in the day. But stop at one of the fine restaurants for dinner.

Yes, you will want to come back to Bermuda often.

No...it's the ticket books that are only sold in Hamilton. Tokens and transportation passes have been sold at Dockyard for as long as I can remember.

I guess we have only purchased 2 or 3 day passes, so I never asked about tokens, as DH was doing all the work, and I was enjoying the results!

I thought that tokens were only sold in Hamilton. Has this changed? Would love that convenience, as we only plan on taking the Hamilton ferry over and back once.

We went on the Helmet dive, and after seeing the first group go down, I felt more comfortable, knowing how we would be started. I don't like ( or feel comfortable) snorkeling, and it was a real challenge to try this, but it had been on my "bucket list" for awhile. I loved it, carefully going down the ladder, having the helmet on my head, the weight belt on and getting to the sandy bottom floor. It was worth my anxiety, and I felt very comfortable under water! Try it! Good luck.

we just made plans for the same cruise for next June and I loved seeing all the photos, and clear descriptions of what we will see again. We cruised in July 2005, so I believe a few things have changed in Alaska since then. I think I will be most shocked at how much they have added in Icy Strait Point. The Whale Watch Tour sounds fantastic.

I am really glad we were able to get a port side veranda room, now that I have read your detailed summary.

We just reserved the Coastal Classic Gold Star train ride today for next summer in June when we are taking the same cruise! I saw where you deposit your luggage before checking in for the train, but when you get to Seward, where do you find your luggage. We plan on getting off the train, and trying to get a taxi to take us straight to the ship to check in. I don't know if we will get off again to look around or not.

The photos were magnificent, and it was fun to follow some of what we will be doing next June! Thanks for all the specific information!

we are a party of 14. Does anyone know if any tour guides would have room for all of us in one vehicle? thank you!

George's van will hold 14, we enjoyed his tour and he stopped when ever we wanted, plus took us to places he thought we would enjoy.

http://www.gartours.com/html/about.html

He will respond to your inquiry rather quickly. Good luck, and hope he has your date available.:D

George was a fantastic host for the island tour. He stopped any time we asked, added a few stops that had not been in our agenda, and didn't charge us for the hour that we ate at the Swizzle Inn. We offered to buy his lunch, but he said he doesn't eat mid day. He is very informed about his home islands ( he's also a realtor) and pleasant. There were 10 of us in our group and his van is a 14 person van, with a/c and a sound system, so that those in the back could hear what he had to say. A very pleasant start to our visit in Bermuda!

He responds promptly to emails which was accommodating. He also met us as we got off the ship ( with his sign which was easy to find). If you care, tell him that Mary Lynn sent you.

\We are a group of 10 and have reserved GAR tours for a 5 hour tour, with a 14 passenger van, which is A/C and has a sound system...for the few of us who are becoming hard of hearing. We have had very pleasant responses to all our requests, and will report on the tour when we get back later in April. The price for us is $50 / person for the 5 hours out.

When we got off the ship, there was George waiting with a sign for us. His van is neat, clean and comfortable. He had umbrellas in the van ( which we didn't need,) binoculars if we wanted to use them and was ready to get on the road. Matter of fact, we were the first van that left the dockyard area!

We really got a 6 hour tour, as he didn't charge us for the time at the Swizzle Inn, that some of our group really wanted to experience. There were many photo op stops, and if anyone mentioned a location, he tried to get it included. I had given a list of places we really were interested in seeing, and our tour took us from the Dockyards all the way to St. David's and Clearwater Beach. You can either let him plan, or you can add what you want to add to the stops. Have a great experience with George.

3 days, but who's counting. I am ready now.

We have a group of 10 sailing on NCL Breakaway to Bermuda in June and were thinking about doing a tour together. Do any of the private tour guides have 12 passenger vans? Any thoughts what their hourly charge would be for 10 people? One of our party has mobility issues so this is the best option for an excursion that we can all do together. Would appreciate any ideas.

\We are a group of 10 and have reserved GAR tours for a 5 hour tour, with a 14 passenger van, which is A/C and has a sound system...for the few of us who are becoming hard of hearing. We have had very pleasant responses to all our requests, and will report on the tour when we get back later in April. The price for us is $50 / person for the 5 hours out.

I've never used either of these services, however, I did see the Affordable Ride minibus on the road a fair bit last year so he was quite popular. It's an older vehicle that is used by that company, but the driver is as Bermudian as they come. I believe he has some YouTube videos which will give you an idea of what you can expect on his tours.

 

I believe the GAR vehicles are a bit newer, but your driver may not be as much of a 'personality' as the driver of the Affordable Ride minibus, however, that's not to say you won't get a tour that's of the same quality level. They're just a little more 'low key', from what I can tell.

 

You probably can't go wrong with either one, to be honest. Just search around online a little more, see what you can find out about each and go with the one that gives you the best "vibe".

 

Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

We are still messaging with both companies. I am very much looking forward to the adventure. We are traveling with 4 friends that have never been to Bermuda and 4 that went once. I want to acquaint them with the place we really love.:)

Do you know anything about the tour groups that I am looking at? We have gotten basic responses from each of them, but references would be appreciated.

A group of us are heading to Bermuda on the Explorer. On the first day (of 3) we would like to see some places that are not on the regular bus lines and enjoy hearing more history and local lore. I know taxi tours are great, but there are 10 of us, and I am more less the planner.

If you have used either of the tour groups above, I would appreciate evaluations of them.

I would probably stay away from using it on kids. Its active ingredient is in the same family as aspirin, and that's not recommended for children because of the risk of Reye's syndrome. For adults, it probably helps with nausea (a common symptom of stomach viruses), but there's nothing in it that will prevent or cure the virus. Plus, your tongue and p$$p turn black, and you will probably get constipated to boot:eek:

Not a good idea for all those reasons.

After 12 cruises, we have never ordered RS. This trip to Bermuda, we may have to order something to eat a bit earlier than the Cafe is open for dinner. If we order about 5pm, how long is the wait till delivery? I can't imagine it will be very busy with orders at that time. But, for someone in the know, I would like an estimation. :)

If the ship stops in Key West someone will be selling them and also shell shops in USA seaside resorts sell them like nearby Ocean City and Fenwick Island .The Conch Fritters at Sloppy Joes in Key West are Yummy along with a local Brew

:cj

There are quite a few souvenier shops in OC that have the shells. Any time you come to the eastern shore, you will see them for sale. Happy travels.

I enjoyed Kirk Detweiler the most, probably because he was our very first cruise director on the Emerald Seas in 1991( Admiral Cruise lines- the old liberty ship) and has been very easy to visit with, as well as running many activities on the ship. We got reacquainted last year while he was on the Voyager. We also like his music.

Hands down, such an easy choice, his name was Warren....we had him on our first cruise (Grandeur) and then again on Empress on our third. I forget his last name, but on our Empress cruise, I wrote a positive letter to RCL telling them that we appreciated the guy for all that he did.

 

During a real fire onboard, we watched him climb stairs (faster than anyone I've seen go up stairs before) to the scene to assist....he was always the center of attention, was always there and working around the ship. I have never seen anyone so actively involved in practically everything.

 

This guy is dedicated.....you can't miss him!

He was great on our Empress cruise last summer (07). We enjoyed chatting with him. I heard from a third party that he may do the Radiance South American cruises.

I think the store is called English Sport Shop. There is one in Hamilton at 49 Front Street and one in St. Georges on Somers Wharf. We really liked the merchandise at the one in St. Georges as well as the helpful workers there. Good luck. Have a wonderful honeymoon!