Bermuda?

[singbluesilver1]

I loved st Thomas and Cozumel and most every other one, except for Freeport

 

I just didn't find anything to do in Bermuda, we just went to the beach

 

I didn't even like the shopping options

[singbluesilver1]

And I prefer to see a few ports than just one

[iheartbda]

I loved st Thomas and Cozumel and most every other one, except for Freeport

 

I just didn't find anything to do in Bermuda, we just went to the beach

 

I didn't even like the shopping options

 

And I prefer to see a few ports than just one

People find so many things to do that they find they didn't have enough time even with staying a couple of days but, to each their own. Sorry you didn't like it.

 

Mitsugirly was there in June and is heading there again in Oct. I was almost exhausted after reading everything she found to do.:D You can quickly scroll through to see her gorgeous pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2221726

[aztekpm]

I'm currently booked on the 7 Day Pride sailing next Sept. for Bermuda. Originally booked NCL, but at 700.00 USD per person saving for a balcony cabin and everything else factored in, the beverage package certainly wasn't 'free' and the time in port is actually pretty even when you consider an 8 am arrival time the first day, so we cancelled and rebooked with Carnival!

[marco]

Bermuda is our favorite island to cruise to and we've done it well over 25 times in the past 30 or so yrs. We've sailed on many ships and "once upon a time" the ships were small enough to dock overnight in St Georges and then 2-3 day in Hamilton. We went this past June on the "Summit" out of NJ and we loved it. A couple of years ago we sailed on the "Veendam" out of NYC and docked in Hamilton. Now, the "Veendam" sails out of Boston to Bermuda but still docks in Hamilton. That would be my first choice. Second would be the "Summit" out of NJ. I prefer docking in Hamilton not only because of it's location but because it's the only ship docking there. When we were on the Summit, we came/went/docked in tandem with the NCL Breakaway which discharged close to 4K pax along with us. (We've been on NCL and that definitely would NOT be an option for any future cruise) The dockyard was like Times Sq on New Years Eve. Queues for ferries and buses were VERY lengthy and time consuming. Dcking in Hamilton is more central and much more manageable when you're on the only ship docking there. Being in Bermuda for 3-4 days is relaxing, there is plenty to see/do in 3-4 days, you can get on/off the ship 24/7 and you don't have to rush to be back aboard at 5PM to sail off to another port.

[leaveitallbehind]

The Liberty of the Seas does not have the casino open while docked in Bermuda.

 

If it is part of the 9-day itinerary with a single day stop it wouldn't, as it can only be open between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM, not during the day. But it could if it is the 5-day with the overnight there. Perhaps it is open - or not open - at the Captain's discretion. There also is a license fee required with ships over 2,000 passengers, but would affect the majority of those that sail there.

[navybankerteacher]

We will be flamed for this, but as long time cruisers who have cruised all over the world (6 continents) we do not particularly like Bermuda cruises. Why? Because those cruises are more like a ferry boat between the USA and Bermuda. Once in Bermuda the ship shuts down many onboard activities and serves more like a docked hotel then a cruise ship. If we want to go to Bermuda we can fly to that island in about 2 hours. When we want to cruise....we want to cruise.

 

So to sum up, Bermuda is a nice island where we would be happy to spend a few days (or a week) in a hotel/resort. But we cannot be thrilled by a cruise from NYC, Baltimore or Boston to Bermuda.

 

Hank

 

I see your point - especially concerning ships mooring at Dockyard, but I have seen small ship cruises to Bermuda as something of a hybrid: a more pleasant way of getting to the island than flying - especially since I can drive to either Boston or New York in three hours or less. Then, once there, I have a very reasonably priced place for, say, a three day stay. Because I have driven extensively in the British Isles, and ride a motor scooter to get around at home, I am happy to have a scooter to get around while on the island.

 

My only reservation these days is that the overwhelming sailings are now these gross behemoths shuttling to Dockyard - with virtually nothing going to St. George.

[sail7seas]

Carnival does not have much that goes to Bermuda.

 

Check out Royal Caribbean: the new ANTHEM SHIP out of New Jersey

 

Celebrity: The Summit out of New Jersey

 

Norwegian: The new Breakaway out of NY

 

 

Absolutely fantastic. One of our FAVORITE places to go.

 

Add:

 

NCL Dawn out of Boston (I did that cruise this summer and it far exceeded my expectations. ) :)

 

HAL's Veendam sails from Boston, 7 days round trip, and is one of the very few ships that can dock downtown Hamilton which is wonderful.

 

[sail7seas]

We will be flamed for this, but as long time cruisers who have cruised all over the world (6 continents) we do not particularly like Bermuda cruises. Why? Because those cruises are more like a ferry boat between the USA and Bermuda. Once in Bermuda the ship shuts down many onboard activities and serves more like a docked hotel then a cruise ship. If we want to go to Bermuda we can fly to that island in about 2 hours. When we want to cruise....we want to cruise.

 

So to sum up, Bermuda is a nice island where we would be happy to spend a few days (or a week) in a hotel/resort. But we cannot be thrilled by a cruise from NYC, Baltimore or Boston to Bermuda.

 

Hank

 

What you like is not necessarily for everyone and what lots of us like may not be for you.

 

I sailed Celebrity from NYC to Bermuda and back..... could have been we did that cruise twice.

 

Just this summer, I sailed NCL Dawn, round-trip Boston, and that cruise was very enjoyable.

 

I don't wish to flame you but to point out not everyone likes or wants chocolate ice cream. Some folks like vanilla. :)

 

[dmrrn73]

LOVE cruising to Bermuda! As you can see in my Sig below I have done quite a few.

 

Added bonus: no one bothers you on the beach to braid your hair

 

That was one of the Best things about the beaches there!! :D

[maryjaden]

If it is part of the 9-day itinerary with a single day stop it wouldn't, as it can only be open between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM, not during the day. But it could if it is the 5-day with the overnight there. Perhaps it is open - or not open - at the Captain's discretion. There also is a license fee required with ships over 2,000 passengers, but would affect the majority of those that sail there.

 

We are going on the 5 day and will be there overnight. Evidently according to the casino host and RCL, it won't be open. Corporate did not get permit for Liberty.

[iheartbda]

Add:

 

NCL Dawn out of Boston (I did that cruise this summer and it far exceeded my expectations. ) :)

 

HAL's Veendam sails from Boston, 7 days round trip, and is one of the very few ships that can dock downtown Hamilton which is wonderful.

 

 

Would you please say what it was that you enjoyed about the cruise?:) I wish the Veendam sailed out of NYC.:(

 

We have friends that cruised to Bermuda any number of times but have started flying and staying in a cottage. They can do a whole week for not too much more than they paid for a cruise. However, they have pretty basic breakfasts/lunches and they take food, condiments, coffee and even meat which was recommended by the cottage owners.

 

I don't know about anyone else but, I sure don't want to drag food and other things with me. :eek: Plus, they're pretty much stuck in the cottage at night with nothing to do

Edited September 29, 2015 by iheartbda

[dorisis]

No one has mentioned the smaller Oceania ship; Regatta' which we took to Bermuda several years ago. It was a round trip out of Miami and made stops along the eastern coast on the way home. It did dock at both Hamilton and St George but Bermuda is easy to get around by ferry boat from city to city, Busses also travel all around the island.

 

Unlike most Caribbean islands, Bermuda is not so dependent on tourism. it is a far more affluent society.

Edited September 29, 2015 by dorisis

[navybankerteacher]

Would you please say what it was that you enjoyed about the cruise?:) I wish the Veendam sailed out of NYC.:(

 

We have friends that cruised to Bermuda any number of times but have started flying and staying in a cottage. They can do a whole week for not too much more than they paid for a cruise. However, they have pretty basic breakfasts/lunches and they take food, condiments, coffee and even meat which was recommended by the cottage owners.

 

I don't know about anyone else but, I sure don't want to drag food and other things with me. :eek: Plus, they're pretty much stuck in the cottage at night with nothing to do

 

Bermuda is a very expensive place to visit on land. The only way you can do it "...for not too much more than...a cruise..." is by bringing your groceries with you - and even then it costs a lot more to fly and rent a place for three days than it costs to cruise; especially if you want to sit in the cottage at night.

[iheartbda]

Bermuda is a very expensive place to visit on land. The only way you can do it "...for not too much more than...a cruise..." is by bringing your groceries with you - and even then it costs a lot more to fly and rent a place for three days than it costs to cruise; especially if you want to sit in the cottage at night.

I was simply showing how another option to cruising is not all that it is cracked up. We've been there enough times to know how expensive it is and our friends amaze us with what they pay for things. $10 for a bag of chips?:eek:

 

I also spent a week at the Hamilton Fairmont so I know how very expensive it is to fly in and stay which someone else mentioned. Also, as I previously said, flying in is not an option for many due to the cost.

[CPT Trips]

Holland America ,7 nights from Boston, 3 night in Bermuda .

 

Holland America from Boston dock's in downtown Hamilton " The best dock on the rock ".:D

 

Ncl from Boston dock at the west end of the island " tourist trap " :(

 

J.M.H.O.

 

.

 

Aha . . . thanks.

[sail7seas]

We are going on the 5 day and will be there overnight. Evidently according to the casino host and RCL, it won't be open. Corporate did not get permit for Liberty.

 

Casino was open every evening were in Bermuda. We actually stayed overnight one extra night on our cruise which was wonderful. Captain announced early in the morning we would be overnighting that extra time as they were doing some routine maintenance. We had no difficulty returning to Boston as scheduled as the ship sailed just a bit faster.

 

 

 

Would you please say what it was that you enjoyed about the cruise?:) I wish the Veendam sailed out of NYC.:(

 

We have friends that cruised to Bermuda any number of times but have started flying and staying in a cottage. They can do a whole week for not too much more than they paid for a cruise. However, they have pretty basic breakfasts/lunches and they take food, condiments, coffee and even meat which was recommended by the cottage owners.

 

I don't know about anyone else but, I sure don't want to drag food and other things with me. :eek: Plus, they're pretty much stuck in the cottage at night with nothing to do

 

The cottage vacation you describe is very different from any cruise I've ever heard of. If lugging groceries, making your own bed, cooking your meals etc is the vacation of choice, fine. That is not a vacation that appeals to me.

 

I enjoyed everything about a cruise most of us like on my Dawn cruise. My cabin was extremely comfortable, great crew and service, very large verandah to enjoy, food was good to often very good at the restaurants in which we dined. The ship was clean and casino was busy and open each night. We didn't go to shows but there was plenty of entertainment offered and we saw the people emptying out of the theater each night and many seemed to enjoy them.

 

I wrote some lengthy 'random' comments on the HAL forum about that cruise and also on the NCL forum provided a link to that thread. (July 31, 2015 was the date of our cruise.)

 

[sapper1]

My husband and I have done two cruises to Bermuda on the Veendam, which is small enough to be able to dock in downtown Hamilton---a big plus. We also spent the day there as part of a transatlantic on the Prinsendam.

 

Bermuda is a clean, beautiful and friendly place. We never use local busses and ferries but in Bermuda we bought a couple of two-day passes and travelled all over by ourselves without ever feeling unsafe.

 

You can browse the shops without being harassed to buy something and people don't follow you and annoy you on the street.

 

The Dockyard, where the larger ships have to dock, is an interesting place to spend a day but I would not want to have to dock there---only because it is inconveniently located in relation to getting around the island. Hamilton is far more central.

[marco]

Bermuda is a very expensive place to visit on land. The only way you can do it "...for not too much more than...a cruise..." is by bringing your groceries with you - and even then it costs a lot more to fly and rent a place for three days than it costs to cruise; especially if you want to sit in the cottage at night.

 

Quite a different vacation experience..going on a cruise is just as much about what you're going on as where you are going. If you're going to do that, might as well save the air fare and rent a cottage at the Jersey shore! At least you could still go to Shop-Rite and use your savers card for groceries! And heaven forbid....what if that suitcase full of meat got waylaid and delivered to you four days later!

[barante]

I booked this one, which still has available roomy 4Ks -- my favorite bargain. Bermuda is the destination, not the ship. But the Pride is fine. Seven days for this price!

 

7 Days Bermuda

Carnival Cruise Lines • Carnival Pride

Baltimore, King's Wharf, Baltimore

2 departure dates: Sep 4, 18 2016

Inside from

$679

$97 per day

 

OceanView from

$749

$107 per day

 

Balcony from

$909

$130 per day

 

Suite from

$1359

$194 per day

 

Last month we were on the Grandeur of the Seas, a six-day trip. Too short. Our third Bermuda journey. Have stayed overnight in St. George, Hamilton and Royal Dockyard. Now that Carnival has lots of sailings forthcoming I bet that the Dockyard, which has greatly improved anyway, will see feverish restoration.

 

Needless to say, I think a five-day cruise to Bermuda is a waste of money.

Edited September 30, 2015 by barante

[Toby1529]

I just signed onto this site. We are booked on the Breakaway for Bermuda leaving NYC this Sunday - first time on a cruise. I've got my eye on the hurricane. Does anyone have any insight on what could occur due to weather events? Thank you.

[barante]

It's great that there are alternatives for those who don't like Bermuda. Keeps the riff raff out. As to doing a land vacation in Bermuda, that's out. We are not that wealthy. Hotel, three meals a day. The costs would kill us.

 

So cruising is the best option. And I found Royal Dockyard to be a pleasant place to wander around, much improved. Snorkeler Park is an artificial beach just seven minutes walk from the ship. There is enough entertainment right at Dockyard; and a lot of comfortable benches away from the ship facing the water.

 

We all cruise for different reasons. Mine is to get a breather and enjoy some down time. If I don't want to go to a beach, strolling around and reading a book on a bench is just fine.

 

I don't know how many of Helsinki cruisers have been to Suomenlinna (Sveaborg), an old fortress that guards Finland's capital. It has become a center for artists and crafts people. Dockyard's fortress is more imposing. I predict a great success for this destination.

 

Because of weather uncertainty we did not use public transport on our last trip. But it has been a delight in the past. I saw that they now have somewhat roomier units, latest models, as are the vans for hire at Dockyard.

 

An additional word about 4K. That's our favorite cabin. It has french doors that open to a life boat that blocks your view. But you can get fresh air and some sunlight. A good-sized room, with a full sofa. We have downgraded from balconies twice because we thought 4K was so attractive.

 

Please note that 4Ks are above an activity floor. Consult the deck plan to identify possible noise sources.

[barante]

Toby -- The cruise will sail, as scheduled. Unless announced otherwise at the departure time. The ship will go somewhere, even if with different destinations and an abbreviated itinerary.

 

I use sea bands on my wrists and they seem to work. Don't go crazy with buying remedies. They have quite a supply on the ship, some available for free from the guest relations desk.

Edited September 30, 2015 by barante

[leaveitallbehind]

I just signed onto this site. We are booked on the Breakaway for Bermuda leaving NYC this Sunday - first time on a cruise. I've got my eye on the hurricane. Does anyone have any insight on what could occur due to weather events? Thank you.

 

Should the storm in its progress up the coast affect Bermuda directly with bad weather and high waves, the ship will leave port (or not dock at all) and head out to sea away from the storm. You will then have what is known as a cruise to nowhere whereby you will likely spend most or all of the time at sea. It is unlikely that as Bermuda is the only intended port of call that others will be substituted - especially as the options (if any) would be North America based.

 

If it is just rain and no adverse sea conditions, you will just have a rainy visit to Bermuda. Just hope for the best that there is no impact - which it doesn't look like there will be as the storm should be north west of Bermuda on Sunday.

 

Very possible that there will be bad weather and maybe high seas en route from NYC to Bermuda, however. But the Captain will take the least impacted route away from the weather to get there. And the ship will leave NY rather than stay in port if the storm tracks to hit there. No ship will remain in any port if a significant storm is tracking to hit the port. But Breakaway is a new, large, well stabilized ship which will help reduce any adverse motion.

 

Hope it all works out for you and enjoy your cruise! My guess is Bermuda will be fine and not affected by the storm while you are there.

Edited September 30, 2015 by leaveitallbehind

[marco]

Toby1529: "Just in case"...bring some cooler wear clothing. A couple of years ago friends were supposed to cruise to Bermuda. Because of the hurricane, it ended up being a Canada/New England cruise.