Considering a Bermuda Cruise

[CruisinRoxy]

Hi all

I have never thought of cruising to Bermuda until now. The Norwegian Breakaway sounds great - and also the Norwegian Dawn is one of my favorites. My concerns for Bermuda (haven't been there in 20 years, and then a resort vacation) are: When you are accustomed to cruises being in a different port every day, how does it feel to wake up 3 days in a row in the same port? Also, how long can you stay on island in the evenings? Is there a "curfew" for boarding? It will seem odd to not be sailing during the nighttime - one of my favorite experiences cruising. I love the ship's motion and the idea of a new port the next day. I am assuming that there is more than enough to do in Bermuda to fill 3 days. Any thoughts?

[njhorseman]

There's more than enough to do in Bermuda for a three day stay...so much that we've been cruising to Bermuda on a regular basis for 25 years. Do some reading on this board to get an idea of what Bermuda has to offer.

 

Staying on the ship is no different than staying at a large resort hotel on land.

 

You can come and go as you please...the gangway will be open 24 hours a day.

[searoses]

LOVED the 3 days..... so much that 2013 will be 3 yrs in a row for us. we are not frequent cruisers but love bermuda and it is the perfect way to see it...:D took the gem for the sailaway in nyc and the dawn the second year. will stick with the dawn as only 90 min to port...no plane is GOOD.

[iheartbda]

Hi all

I have never thought of cruising to Bermuda until now. The Norwegian Breakaway sounds great - and also the Norwegian Dawn is one of my favorites. My concerns for Bermuda (haven't been there in 20 years, and then a resort vacation) are: When you are accustomed to cruises being in a different port every day, how does it feel to wake up 3 days in a row in the same port? Also, how long can you stay on island in the evenings? Is there a "curfew" for boarding? It will seem odd to not be sailing during the nighttime - one of my favorite experiences cruising. I love the ship's motion and the idea of a new port the next day. I am assuming that there is more than enough to do in Bermuda to fill 3 days. Any thoughts?

 

With the things you like in a cruise, you may very well not like Bermuda. Not going to try to convince you except to say, many of the regular posters here have been there multiple times and still can't get enough.

[Keith1010]

We've done several cruises for Bermuda but on Celebrity.

 

We've enjoyed each one.

 

You can come and go as you please and you are truly using the ship as a hotel.

 

Keith

[DeltaOne]

When you are accustomed to cruises being in a different port every day, how does it feel to wake up 3 days in a row in the same port?

 

We grew to love Bermuda and cruised there three summers in a row. The next year we flew to Bermuda and spent a full week exploring the island. Best vacation I've ever had.

[CruisinRoxy]

Thanks everybody! This is the kind of stuff I was hoping to read! And the Dawn sails out of Boston, where my son lives, and it's only a 1 hour flight for us from Buffalo! Sounding better and better.

[flowers44]

If you are into driving, it would be a one day drive, stay overnight with your son and sail in the moring. No airport hassel involved. We are driving to Boston in July for a trip on the Dawn to Bermuda with our whole family. Love being able to drive to the port. You can park right at the port or leave your car with you son if he has room. No airplane cost, no parking cost, no baggage charges= more money to spend on the cruise.

[SailBadtheSinner]

Hi all

I have never thought of cruising to Bermuda until now. The Norwegian Breakaway sounds great - and also the Norwegian Dawn is one of my favorites. My concerns for Bermuda (haven't been there in 20 years, and then a resort vacation) are: When you are accustomed to cruises being in a different port every day, how does it feel to wake up 3 days in a row in the same port? Also, how long can you stay on island in the evenings? Is there a "curfew" for boarding? It will seem odd to not be sailing during the nighttime - one of my favorite experiences cruising. I love the ship's motion and the idea of a new port the next day. I am assuming that there is more than enough to do in Bermuda to fill 3 days. Any thoughts?

 

I've posted this before, but you may have missed it. The reasons I cruise to Bermuda instead of the Caribbean are because Bermudians are helpful and genuinely friendly, the island is clean, the beaches are beautiful, there is much to see and do beside the beaches, and the island is not a tourist trap. I've never been approached by a panhandler, and have never seen a street vendor. I feel safe when out & about.

 

To sum it up, you are made to feel as a welcome guest in their home, not someone who is just to be tolerated.

 

 

SBtS

[CruisinRoxy]

Wow - thanks for that impressive "see and do" list of Bermuda! I bookmarked the page on my favorites and will explore it little by little.

[searoses]

we visited a number of carib islands before going to bermuda. the one thing that does drive me crazy is not being able to rent a car....my husband and i love to poke at our leisure but have adapted to using a combo of public and private trans. that is the one thing that has prevented us from doing a land trip. the ship makes an adventure out of going there...

[jdarch]

LOVE LOVE LOVE cruising to BERMUDA:p

[cruising forever]

LOVE LOVE LOVE cruising to BERMUDA:p

 

 

AND IT SHOWS!!! :eek:

 

We have only been cruising to Bermuda once before so I'm looking forward to going back there in September!

[marco]

We've cruised to Bermuda at least 30 times in the past 40 yrs and will continue to go. There's plenty to do, and it's my very favorite island (we also do a Caribbean cruise every winter and have for the past 40 years, as well) You can get on/off your ship 24/7 and it makes a very leisurely, relaxing trip rather than rush, rush, rush to get back on board by 5PM to sail to another island. There is history, sites, shopping, culture and enough to do to keep us going back year after year. And if you live in close proximity to NYC or Boston, a short drive has you at the ship and ready to go. No hassle or expense of flying to take a cruise.

[mpcaruth]

We sailed the Explorer of the Seas to Bermuda last month and LOVED BERMUDA. I am one of those people who loves ports and typically take port-intensive cruises. We are one of the first off the ship in port, and one of the last back on the ship. With 3 days straight, I was a little more relaxed and not rushed to get everything done in 8 hours.

 

I just completed by pictorial cruise review on the Royal Caribbean board. I included lots of photos from our three days in Bermuda, including underwater snorkeling photos. And we did not nearly do everything I would have liked to in the three days there.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1728780

 

One of my favorite photos I took in Bermuda:

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We cruised to Bermuda last month on the Explorer. We had been there one time before --seven years ago. I know we will go back in another few years. We like to cruise to lots of places--so, we are not Bermuda "groupies."

 

Bermuda is a safe, clean , interesting place to visit. They have an excellent transportation system and it is inexpensive. [$28/pp for a 3-day pass]The pass is good for the buses and ferries.

 

We were not able to get to all of the things we wanted to do in Bermuda. You will not be bored.

 

Life on the ship is a little different than what you are used to while you are in other ports. The casino and shops are closed all three days. There were not any cruise ship activities in the Promenade or even on deck--that we saw. [Kind of quiet]

 

Go for it--you will have a good time.

[couple_cruisers]

Hi all

I have never thought of cruising to Bermuda until now. The Norwegian Breakaway sounds great - and also the Norwegian Dawn is one of my favorites. My concerns for Bermuda (haven't been there in 20 years, and then a resort vacation) are: When you are accustomed to cruises being in a different port every day, how does it feel to wake up 3 days in a row in the same port? Also, how long can you stay on island in the evenings? Is there a "curfew" for boarding? It will seem odd to not be sailing during the nighttime - one of my favorite experiences cruising. I love the ship's motion and the idea of a new port the next day. I am assuming that there is more than enough to do in Bermuda to fill 3 days. Any thoughts?

 

 

Bermuda was my first cruise so I had nothing to compare it to but I went with my mom who had done the traditional cruising in the Caribbean with a port intensive itinerary. She LOVED IT! She said it was the most relaxing vacation she had ever been on. Two days at sea to learn the ship inside and out. Then three days at port, never having to rush back to the ship for sail away, staying out late at Harbor night on first night in port. The people were sooo nice, always helpful and smiling. No one is pushy and trying to sell you anything at the port or any where else on the island. The transportation is great there, you use there own public transit. It was inexpensive and easy to navigate. There was tons of stuff to do in Bermuda. There are three main sections the dockyard, Hamilton and St. George. We never made it to St. George because there were things we wanted to do in the Dockyard and Hamilton.

I think you should go and give it a try!! I really was a great experience!

[Keith1010]

I highly recommend a cruise of Bermuda. There is lots to do and it is a beautiful island.

 

Keith

[cruisingnana87]

I went to Bermuda on my first cruise on explorer of the seas. I loved it. The beaches are beautiful and look just like post cards. My favorite place to visit was the lighthouse and cheapest place for souvenirs too!!

 

You wont be board there are so many things to do. The water is so clear you and see the bottom and see the stingrays and other sea life easily. The best deal is the bus pass and water taxi. Be aware that it is best if you eat on the ship as food prices are high. 15.00 for a burger for lunch.. omg....:)

[bug18]

I'm planning on a Bermuda cruise from NY in June but concerned with the seas as I hear they are rougher as I have only cruised to the caribbean from Florida. Any thoughts or experiences?

[leekel619]

Do any lines go to Bermuda year round?

[SailBadtheSinner]

Do any lines go to Bermuda year round?

 

ttbomk, No.

 

For 2012, the first cruise ship (Artania) was at Heritage Wharf on 4/5; the last (Pacific Princess), in Hamilton on 12/17.

 

I don't think there would be enough passengers to make this a profitable year round route. Cruise lines will move their cruise ships to routes where they can make a profit.

 

 

SBtS

[iheartbda]

Just to add, most people who cruise Nov.-April are looking for much warmer weather than Bermuda has during that time. As sbts says, not enough pax.....they're all goinbg to the Caribbean.

 

I flew in and stayed once in Jan. Although it was quite nice, it was not warm enough to sit on the beach or enjoy any water activities.

[leekel619]

Thanks for the replies. It makes perfect sense.

[Cyber Kat]

I'm planning on a Bermuda cruise from NY in June but concerned with the seas as I hear they are rougher as I have only cruised to the caribbean from Florida. Any thoughts or experiences?

 

I've cruise to Bermuda in June, and I've been on 2 NY to the Caribbean cruises in June - all three were smooth sailing!