conandrob240

Yes, but the books of 15 tickets for $30 were not available anywhere in the dockyard.

There was no age limit. It actually was 3rd, 4th guests sails free. We had a 4,7 and 15 yr old get the free sailing but even when I put itin as a 3rd adult, it came up free as well.

You board on deck 7.

The laundry bag was on Thursday.

There are a few pics of menus in my review but I can tell you that none oft he drink prices increased since the change to UBP and almost everything I had, including all of the speciality martinis was included.

The shop had various liquor specials throughout the cruise. There were jewelry sets on sale and a large % off watches on the last sea day. However, it was so crowded, it was impossible to enjoy shopping.

Such fun.w e have traveled extensively with just DH, me and our nephew ( no 15). It has been a great experience for all of us. He has been on a number of cruises and loved them all especially as he's become a teenager.

We have a 7 yr old niece and planning to do solo trips with her as well. So far, all her trips have involved nephew as well but she needs some alone time as well.

Probably nor Dora at her age but Spongebob still attracts the older kid crowd. There were lots of activities that seemed like older age ranges would enjoy- balloon games, dysfunctional family party. I am sure she'll have a great time

Harbour Nights IS the street fair in Hamilton. And it is only on Wes from 6-10pm. I saw some signs in the dockyard for something else- seemed like it was a bar/band sort of thing. The hours for that were late the 11pm- 3am sounds right.

I'll add that if you want NCL and you see that Kids Sail Free promo come again, jump on it and at least hold the rooms. I don't think you'll see that one come around too many times per year.

Ships like BA to Bermuda in June have seen pricing dropping steeply 30 days and then 14 or so days before sailing. Unless it is a holiday week and/ or you are very particular about cabin type/ location, there is no rush to book this. Once the new RCCL ship starts to also sail out of NY in November! I also suspect we'll see even further price drops with the increased competition especially in that "family" market.

No Haven specials. GOLD gets standard % off but only on "Signature" = most expensive treatments while in port. Almost every day they had a $99 pick 2 or 3 special (pick hand massage, neck massage, foot massage, mini-facial) which basically amounted to a 50 minute treatment for $99. We were also offered an extra 15 minutes added to the regular 50 minute massage if we booked early am appointments or "filled in" someone's schedule. So, they are doing free few minutes chair massages to drum up business- if your person had a certain slot(s) unfilled that day, she was able to offer extra minutes or 10% off for those slots.

Yes, in Bermuda it is open from 9pm until 5am while in port.

No, NCL will not allow you to switch dates. You have to go through insurance. You have 5 days until sailing. Wait and see how you feel since you can cancel last minute with your insurance anyway. If not, book the 6/21 sailing later this week. Still,plenty of cabins available and prices have been dropping last week or so anyway.

Warwick had bathrooms at the top of the hill sort of where the bus let's you off. There is a bathroom in between Horseshoe and Warwick along the beach path at the end of the paved parking lot you cross. I did not see chair rentals at any of the south shore beaches except for Horseshoe.this is one of the reasons we brought an old sheet and carried two foldable chairs - so that we could enjoy those less- traveled beaches.

We swam all over the beaches on our May 25th cruise. I will say, though, I actually think I saw one of the "plugs". I was in the water at Horseshoe at the beach behind the rocks all the way to the left and saw what I thought was a stick or piece of wood. I got closer and saw it was not wood or anything that belongs in the ocean. Looked sort of like a cork- shaped hair ball. Gross. I got out of the water there but went in the water again rest of our days there. Not sure but I assumed that's what the object was.

You cannot walk from Church Bay to Horseshoe really. Unless you want to walk for about 2 miles on the street itself. You can, however, walk from Horseshoe Beach to Warwick Long Bay very easily. So, you can see all the beaches in between via a beach path. Simple 15 minute walk, mostly level. Horseshoe, the beach next to it, then Josbson's cove and Warwick are all amazing beaches. You can take the bus from Warwick a few more minutes to Elbow Beach. Not sure if you can walk from Warwick to Elbow. Church Bay can be accessed by a bus a stop and about 30 stairs. In my opinion, the other beaches I mentioned above were nicer than Church Bay which I felt was too rough for snorkeling and really didn't have as nice a Sandy beach as the others ( small, sand wasn't as soft and lots of seaweed, rocks)

Can you consider changing the cruise date so you can be with him?

Sorry, I don't know exactly what time they do the re-enactment in the town square in St george. Hadn't planned to see it, it was just happening soon after we got off the ferry.

Mimi, did you enjoy? Di you have good weather?

Robin, we bought those camp-style chairs that you carry in a bag with a strap.

Thank you!

If you are asking which ports are better-of course, Bermuda wins hands down. Simply gorgeous. However, which is the better cruise may depend on many other factors. We just got off BA to Bermuda with 3 adults. Perfect cruise for us. We are sailing again in Nov with 10 people ages ranging from 4-70. Bermuda wouldn't have been right for that group. That cruise is all about the ship and we will get off only at NCL private island. The rest of the time is about the kids getting to spend all their time in the clubs they love and the adults relaxing not too far away in the pool or decks. It would have been a hassle with all those people and Bermuda. The two little kids hate the beach. Too much running around so Bahamas itinerary is the right one for that group.

On this cruise 2 yrs ago, we were literally in the room to sleep & shower. Period. We passed out from exhaustion at night so size of the room didn't matter one bit. The three of us never even noticed space was a little tight. Use the $600 on something else.

Oops, in post 32, I messed up the pics. That is indeed Horseshoe but THIS, not the 3rd pic above, is Jobson's Cove:

More About BERMUDA

so, as described on Day 1, we headed to Horseshoe on an early bus, walked the path, bus back to ship from Warwick bus stop. Later that day, we took the ferry to Hamilton ( maybe around 3pm). Quick ferry ride, not crowded (yet, got crowded as we were coming back for Hamilton Nights). We walked a round the town for about an hour. Curate town. Saw the pretty churches, Thea do table post office, browsed in a few shops. People were friendly, streets were clean, people dressed very proper ( no teens had their butts hanging out- LOL). We stayed about 90 minutes and headed back. While quaint and clean and pretty, not much to do there if you weren't eating and not all that interested in shopping.

Day 2, we ferried to St George early. Walked around there for an hour or two. Beautiful little town. So quality so chic, so clean. Saw the old church and the town center with the re- enactment, walked around the Deliverance ship. Took a taxi to Tobacco Bay which we decleared nowhere ear as pretty as horseshoe. Got on a # 11 bus headed to Hamilton. Got out at Sandy Bay beach - very windy and rough, lots of seaweed and not as nice as south shore beaches.got back on a us to Hamilton, changed to #7 and got out at Elbow Beach. This one was a bit of a walk along the street, past the private drives and the hotel- follow the signs. Down a few flights of stairs. Very pretty beach. We stayed about an hour and packed it in to head back to the ship because it was very windy that day. I liked the way we did it ( sans the extra beach stops) because we got to see the whole island but weren't stuck on a us for hours. It was a very scenic drive and the bus between St George and Hamilton was empty.

Day 3- Horseshoe beach and path to Warwick again for a few hours. Walked around the dockyard a bit.

All in all, a great experience. I'd definitely return to Bermuda but probably on a cruise again or for a long weekend since it was absolutely incredibly expensive.

Cove at Horseshoe at around 9am:

Horseshoe Bay as walking towards path to left, looking back towards cove:

Jobsons cove:

Warwick Long Bay:

Bermuda: Beaches

We saw Horseshoe Beach, Chaplin Bay, Church Bay, Warwick Long Bay, Jobsons Cove, Elbow Beach, Sandy Bay Beach (north shore) and Tobacco Bay (north shore). I am a beach fanatic. I can tell you just simply not waste your time with any northern beaches. The southern beaches are much, much nicer- jaw- droppingly nicer. Amazing! Until now, my favorite beach in the world is Exuma. But I do think these are even nicer. The softest, most powdery sand you have ever felt. With such a beautiful pink hue to it. Heavenly. Crystal clear water and the way the rocks and coral just out and created the little coves is simply stunning.

Horseshoe Beach- take the bus right here first. There is a steep paved walkway down to the beach- 5-7 minute walk. To go back up ( if you don't do what I describe below), there is a to the top shuttle for $2. There are immaculately clean bathrooms and showers when you reach the beach as well as a concession stand and a place to rent snorkel gear, chairs, umbrellas. We brought our own snorkel gear, a sheet, a few towels and a foldable chair with us and it worked out perfectly since we went to so many beaches.

Horseshoe Beach itself is stunning. The little cove to your right as you enter the beach is amazing. Even though cold, I swam and snorkeled here. Lots of gorgeous fish to see. It will get packed around 10:30 am or so but if you get up and get on a bus around 8 or 8:30am, you truly will have it to yourself for an hour or two. The long beach to the left is also beautiful- so wide and long, beautiful colored water.

If you walk all the way to your left and first follow the trails along the beach, you'll come to a few beautiful little coves where no one sits. So if you want peace and solitudes and don't mind walking, go left after you have an hour at the little cove at Horseshoe to yourself. Then, follow the path up behind you to your right (when facing away from the ocean). If you walk along here, there are great look- out points or if you are brave and fit, you can climb down them to deserted beaches. Keep walking until you come to a parking lot, cross through it and follow the path past the bathrooms. Go a little way and you'll come to another large beach to your right and then go a little further and you'll come to another sheltered cove almost as nice as Horseshoe- Jobsons. Spend some time here. Keep walking on the path still headed away from Horseshoe and in a few steps you'll come to Warwick Long Bay. Gorgeous beach. Longer than Horseshoe, wider and pretty, pretty water.

Tip: The walk back to the road for the bus is much less steep here and if you are headed back to the ship, you'll get on before all the throngs at Horseshoe so you'll have a seat.

What we did on Day one and day 3 was bus early to Horseshoe and then walk the path to Warwick as described, bus back to ship from there. It worked out perfectly. The path I describe between Horseshoe and Warwick is not marked but it is a pretty clear path mostly in the sand. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from Horseshoe to Warwick if you don't stop and it is a relatively easy walk with just a few inclines and a little bit of challenge in some Sandy parts of the path that aren't packed down.

On Day 2, we did St George first via ferry and then we bused back, getting out at various beaches along the way back to the ship. Elbow Beach was really gorgeous as well but, IMO, not more so than Horseshoe and all the beaches leading up to Warwick along the path. If I went back again, I'd stick to visiting only the beaches between Horseshoe and Warwick.

I am going to try to see if I can post some beach pics in the next segment. I was having trouble yesterday.

Bermuda : Impressions!

What a gorgeous place! A cross between Exuma Bahamas (water color and powdery sand), Hawaii (surf and rock formations) and South of France/England (buildings in St george, landscape, quiet sophistication, elegance of people). I really enjoyed it. It was a little odd at first since we frequent Jamaica so much- it had some similar features (water, climate, lush greeness) but so many differences. It was quiet, refined, people dressed very conservatively, they were friendly but not very outgoing like the Jamaicans, immaculately clean, every building well- constructed and lovely. It wasn't loud or flashy like other islands. It was peaceful and just lovely.

We really saw all of the island touring on our own. I'll give you some tips and pointers.

Bermuda Transport: don't waste your time with anything but the bus/ ferry pass. So clean, so efficient, so simple. Not worth the cost or hassle of a taxi or taking tour life into your hands on a moped.

Passes: you can buy the 1 or 2 day on the ship. You must buy the 3 day off the ship. I saw no lines at any time to buy the passes. As you exit the ship, still inside the little terminal building, there is an information table with a local woman. You can buy them right here. Or keep walking until you see a smal building to your left before you go straight to head to bus or ferry. They sell them there. Or head to ferry and you'll see a tourism building/ gift shop they have them there. They also have them in a few of the little shops right there before you leave the port area. Not an issue.

Ferries: The ferries are clean, fast and pleasant. They leave when they say they are going to. However, the posted trip times of 20 minutes to Hamilton and 45 to St George are a little inflated. More like 15 to Hamilton and 35 to St George which was a pleasant surprise. They do get crowded. The first ferry to St George on the Thursday (full day) was packed and some people did not get on. Be out there by 9am for the 9:30 ferry. The late afternoon ferry to Hamilton ( for the Weds night party) was also very crowded with a long line. To go to the ferries, walk left as you exit the Horseshoe shaped pier area.

Buses: spotlessly clean, very helpful and pleasant drivers. Routes are very simple. They leave regularly- every 15 minutes or so. The Horseshoe beach bus ( special) comes often and makes very few stops. However, it will get crowded so go out early. The bus drivers drive fast and the roads a re very curvy so you will get bounced around. Line up early, skip a bus that's too full and make sure you get a seat especially if you are older or have issues standing. It is definitely hard to keep your balance standing and holding on to the handrails or loops. You want the #7 or special to the beaches. The #7 to Hamilton and the #10 or 11 Hamilton to St George.