Embarking and self guided excursions (NYC to Bermuda)

[sld2727]

We live local to Manhattan so we are driving to the port. When we board, do we have the option to carry on our own luggage or do we have to give our bags to NCL? It's only 5 nights and we're light packers. Just thinking through packing strategy. Are there cons to keeping the bags with us (other than having to roll them around the ship until our cabin is ready)?   

Also we're in Bermuda overnight and don't want to pay for expensive excursions. How easy is it to do a beach trip on our own? The kids want to see a pink sand beach! Thanks! 

[1025cruise]

As long as your bags fit through the scanners, no issue.

 

Search the Bermuda ports of call board for excursion ideas.

[cruiseny4life]

Our first cruise was to Bermuda from MCT and lasted 7 days. We just carried on one bookbag for each of us. We didn't have to wait for our luggage. Since then, we have taken a few more cruises. We did pack one carry-on sized bag, plus one bookbag. We generally check the bag with the porters as there's no need for us to have anything in it until that evening or next day. We typically get the bag delivered between 5 and 7 PM. We don't mind carrying the bookbag, but wouldn't want to carry a carry-on bag with us given the crowds and lack of space until rooms open up (seems to be around 3 - 4 now). 

 

BTW, the scanner @1025cruise mentioned are roughly the same size as airport scanners, maybe a wee bit bigger. 

 

Super easy to do an excursion on your own in Bermuda, especially given you're there overnight. You can jump on the Horseshoe Beach shuttle from Dockyard. It's much cheaper than the shuttle NCL provides. Generally, NCL provides a free ferry to St. George and Tobacco Bay is within fairly easy walking distance - probably under a mile with one hill between you and the bay. Or, just hire a cab to take you. You could also take a taxi to Clearwater Beach from St. George. It's a better beach and really, really lovely! We took public transit which was unreliable as we waited for the next bus for an hour, then hoofed it to a restaurant about about two miles away where we called a taxi. Clearwater is worth the longer drive with a taxi! 

 

We were there in April and only one other couple was on the beach at the time. 

 

[stinkyharriet]

You can bring your bags on yourself.  They usually have a space set aside, like the comedy club, on the first day where you can drop your bags if you don’t want to carry them all over the ship.

 

Bermuda is pretty easy to navigate.  NCL has their own free ferry to get to the other end, there’s the public Bermuda ferry, buses and taxis.  I think the public ferry to St. George’s only runs April-October but the ferry to Hamilton is year round.

[lgrover]

I just looked at the webcam  and the free ferry  that goes to St. Georges is dockside.

 

[BirdTravels]

8 hours ago, sld2727 said:

We live local to Manhattan so we are driving to the port. When we board, do we have the option to carry on our own luggage or do we have to give our bags to NCL? It's only 5 nights and we're light packers. Just thinking through packing strategy. Are there cons to keeping the bags with us (other than having to roll them around the ship until our cabin is ready)?   

Also we're in Bermuda overnight and don't want to pay for expensive excursions. How easy is it to do a beach trip on our own? The kids want to see a pink sand beach! Thanks! 

Check your bags with the porters. Because rooms are not available until 2:30isg, don’t be one of “those people” dragging your bags through crowds and jam packed elevators. 
 

“Taxis” are at the dock and you can cheaply take one to/from the beach. 
 

‘Here’s my live post from a 5 night last month