Charles4515

They think they are posting something profound when all they are doing is being ignorant.

I think a tour is a great option for Saturday or Sunday. You can do a taxi tour $50 an hour minimum 3 hours now but taxi rates ar going up soon. There are also private minibus tours. You can pre arrange tours which is best but usually you can get a taxi tour or minibus tour when you get off the ship. They also have 2 seater electric vehicles for rent in Bermuda but you must book those in advance. We used to have a good list of tour operators but because of the covid hiatus it is pretty dated. One tour operator that I know is still going strong is Heidi Cowan of Bermuda Byways. https://www.bermudabyways.com/tours/

Bermuda anounced the changes dropping testing late last week so my insight is that the cruise lines have not caught up to change yet. You will have to comply with what NCL tells you but what they tell you will likely be updated before your sailing. https://www.gov.bm/cruise-travel-authorisation

Elon Musk jokes aside I would reserve judgement on Starlink onboard. Lets see what people think in six months. All I read in this thread is that one person making Facetime calls was disappointed. So on an iPhone or iPad, don't know what model. There could have been hardware or software problems on the device or there could be just plain operator error. Or maybe OP was on when there were some network issues. We can't expect there never to be network issues.

If someone stole my iPhone all they would have is paperweight. It can’t be reset as it has activation lock. That said I don’t leave my phone or iPad unattended or where I can’t keep an eye on it. A casual dumb thief of opportunity may not know that they won’t be able to use the phone. With 3000 onboard I am sure there are some idiots among them. If I am alone and have to go to the toilet. I take them with me. I have lands swimwear with pockets.

It happened at Labadee too. The phone was recovered after the local "boss" stepped in.

Elon is a "genius". A genius at overpromising.

I beleive that is what happened. Bermuda boxed itself in by signing a contract with a company to administer the protocal through March 2023. They have been steadfast about that date so far. Testing and vaccination requirements will end on October 25 but they have not decided on the fee because there probably is some penalty. NCL has added a lot of off season sailings to Bermuda. Winter sailings at non desirable times of the year. Will be interesting to see how that goes for NCL. There is not a lot to do in Bermuda in the winter and the air and water are chilly. .

So you think they will drop Austrailian and Greek ports? I don't think so.........

That is the thing. It is somewhat misleading because no matter what NCL says about dropping protocols they have to follow the protocols of their destinations. Royal has seemed to be more honest.

I think it is fine for you but as I said I think it is looney for NCL to do cruises to Bermuda in the winter low season. I don't think you are looney. To each their own. I think it is a looney business decision. I am all for inovation but cruise lines have not traditionally done Bermuda sailings in the winter for a reason. We shall see how it works out for NCL. You said it was not inexpensive but I looked it up and the February sailing is inexpensive. Don't see them making money on it. Bermuda is very important to NCL that is why I chuckle at people who have posted that NCL would or could drop out of Bermuda over testing or $40 fees. NCL wants to do more Bermuda port calls not less. It would be great for Bermuda if it could become a year around cruise destination but I am a sceptic. I would be fine with being proved wrong and winter Bermuda cruises becoming popular.

I am sure they will shortly. The change was announced by Bermuda on Thursday. The lawyers have to read it and new wording written for the website. Those people probably don't work weekends. it is not just newspaper articles. The Bermuda government website has been updated. The link is a few posts back. It is official. Of course a cruise line could have their own requirements but I think Royal won't have stricter requirements than Bermuda.

The average temp will be 65 and it will likely be windy making it seem cooler than that. The sun sets at 6 so less daylight in the winter. Bermudians wear parkas in February. Your reading the stats in a way to justify the cruise in your mind. If the temp does reach 70 that will be a short time high. Most of the day it will be closer to 60. The voyage to and back is likely to be rough and the sea days are going to be brisk on deck at that time of year. NCL is not a good cruise line for that type of voyage at that time of year. I did an NCL cruise in the winter to the Bahamas and the first day out was miserable. They have water slides and the like. RCL at least has ships with indoor pools. Anyone doing research wanting a break in the middle of the winter should fly to Florida, Mexico or the Dominican Republic. Or cruise out of Florida or Texas. That would be a real winter break.

You will be able to get a taxi to Blue Hole (I prefer to call it that) from Horseshoe. Getting back you could ask the taxi driver to return at a prearranged time as it might be luck finding a taxi back from Blue Hole. I walked to the Crystal Caves and found a taxi threre. Swizzle Inn is also nearby.. You could take a public bus to Hamilton and then catch a ferry to the Dockyard. There is also a taxi dispatch app called Hitch and you could call a taxi with that. If the day you go is not your last day and you are not in a hurry you can wing it. You will get back.

There are many disadvantages to being there Saturday and Sunday. Transportation runs on a reduced schedule. Ferries don't run to St. George on the weekend. Stores will be closed in Hamilton and St. George. There will be stores open at the Dockyard as it is a cruise tourist center. Restauarnts will be open. Attractions like the Caves and Aquarium will be open. The weekend is good for the beach but May is not ideal beach weather.

The pharmacy might but I suggest the Pier 41 Dockshop at the marina in the Dockyard. In Hamilton there are two or three wine stores on Front Street walkable from the ferry. https://www.pier41.bm/dockshop

I have been on Alaska, transatlantic, etc cruises. Norway, North Cape. I have been to Iceland. Been to Bermuda over 15 times and it is my opinion that taking 2500-3000 passengers in February is off kilter. It is off season there for a reason. I fear that a lot of those NCL passengers will be under the impression that Bermuda is tropical. Most of the tourist busnesses will be closed. The ferries run on winter schedule with reduced service. It is going to rain a lot. A lot of Bermudians will be vacationing in Florida in February because there is not much to do in Bermuda in the winter. I would go to Bermuda in the winter if I golfed or I wanted a very quiet do nothing getaway. But I would fly in as hotel rates are low then. Since this is the Royal Caribbean board I think it is within bounds to say NCL is looney for going then. Been on NCL a few times and they are less professional than Royal so maybe they don't care or it is an experiment.

I don’t have any affiliation and I don’t like their governments policies. It is understandable that a small island with one hospital would be defensive about Covid but their TA was confusing and the fee is past it’s due date. I object to misrepresentations like the one that it is a shakedown. The fee has been in effect for over a year and no one was forced to book. The whiners could have canceled if they didn’t know about it when they booked. Many countries had restrictions and fees and the $40 fee should not be a dealbreaker. The US charges visitors a $21 fee and many countries have visas with fees. Fees unfortunately are part of International travel. Bermuda’s mistake was probably not adding it to the port taxes. That would have hidden it. Also they did not need the separate TA bureaucracy as the cruise lines could have verified vaccination status and tests at embarkation but they boxed themselves in by outsourcing the TA with a contract ending in March 2023. Foreign governments have the right to decide who enters and with what documents, requirements, fees but Bermuda’s government did it pretty stupidly with negative effects to it’s residents. It will be up to Bermudian to deal with that.

The $40 is still required as they have not made decision about the fee. https://www.royalgazette.com/health/news/article/20220929/ta-form-to-be-phased-out-but-no-decision-on-fee/

More than appears that they have. It is actually a fact. We posted the info here as a thread and several other places on Thursday but as it was only a couple of days it is only now getting around. https://www.royalgazette.com/health/news/article/20220929/ta-form-to-be-phased-out-but-no-decision-on-fee/ https://www.gov.bm/cruise-travel-authorisation

You will need to prearrange taxis to be sure to get one for 7:00 am. I have been out there at 7 and 7:30 and the only taxis at the early time were pre arranged. We have prearranged at those times for friends who had an easy tee time and other friends who went to mass. Non prearranged taxis don't seem to be around until 8 or 8:30. As far as Horseshoe Bay late November that is not beach season so possibly taxis won't be hanging out there like usual. You might have to call the taxi company or use the Hitch Taxi app. The food and rental concession does close at some time for the winter but I don't know when that will happen.

Who is the sucker? Sorry bud you don't get any points for quoting an infamous scammer and enslaver.

It is a fee not a shakedown. I guess posting an untrue rant must have made you feel better. Oh the horror a $40 fee.

What day of the week? Assuming it is a weekday you will have about four hours. Ferry at 4 to Hamilton, arrive 4:30 and return at 8:30. Enough time to check it out. There is a waterfront and pretty park near the ferry terminal, Queen Elizabeth, with a Moongate at the entrance on Par La Ville. Shops close early, most close around 5:00 pm so if you want to do some shopping do that first. Restaurants and pubs will be open. Eat, well there are casual pub type restaurants like Flanigans (Irish style) or Hog Penny (English style) both are good, and there are more fancy restaurants which I will leave to others to comment on. There are a good number of restaurants.

The TA as it is ends on October 25 but they have not made a decision yet on the fee. The way they have worded the end of the TA it could be surmised that they might continue collecting the fee by some means.