Miracle crusie to Bermuda in april

[Libra14]

Hello all,

 

I was wondering if anyone here has ever crused to Bermuda in april?

We are considering booking a crusie on Miracle for april 08 but I'm afraid Bermuda won't be warm enough to partake in swimming there but not sure.

Any input would be great.

Thanks:)

[Cruisegoer]

Hi, I've been to Bermuda in May and although the air temps are warm the ocean water isn't very warm...I can't imagine that April would be much different. I love Bermuda though and would go in a heartbeat.

[cruisernh]

went last April. In order to swim you would probably need a wet suit very cold water. Weather can be iffy the week before we went was horrible and we had great weather. Make sure you read the Bermuda boards for great tips. Bermuda is so beautiful.

[Sandi149]

I can't tell you about Bermuda because we did the E. Caribbean sailing, but I can tell you about the Miracle. She is a great ship. You are going to love sailing on her. :D

[Libra14]

Hi, I've been to Bermuda in May and although the air temps are warm the ocean water isn't very warm...I can't imagine that April would be much different. I love Bermuda though and would go in a heartbeat.

Thanks for your reply.

One of the reasons I'm so interested in this cruise is because it will leave a NY port so I don't have to fly and also because my childrens spring vacation will be the length of the cruise and the cruise also fits within my budget.

I just don't want to get there and be disappointed because it's too cool for swimming and snorkeling etc. Another plus to this cruise is that we will be docked in Bernuda for just over 24 hours so it will give us a decent amount of time ashore instead of running ashore doing an excursion and running back to the boat.

My other concern is while on the ship cruising down, will it be warm enough to go in the pool? On the atlantic in april has to be chilly imo.

I know my children will want to use the pool.

[mafig]

We were in Bermuda last April on Costa Magica.

 

Fortunately, we had good weather, the week before they had rain.

 

It was warm enough for many passengers to be sunburned. However, no one that I spoke to went in the water --- too cold for swimming.

[Libra14]

I can't tell you about Bermuda because we did the E. Caribbean sailing, but I can tell you about the Miracle. She is a great ship. You are going to love sailing on her. :D

 

Thanks for the input:) I have heard the Miracle is a great ship.

Can you tell me how the pools were? are they heated well enough that even in april the kids would be able to use them?

[trock]

One year we cruised May 2 to Bermuda.. The first day at sea was FREEZING so much so we brought our blankets to the pool area to stay warm.. once we were nearing Bermuda the weather was beautiful

It was worth it!

[Sandi149]

Thanks for the input:) I have heard the Miracle is a great ship.

Can you tell me how the pools were? are they heated well enough that even in april the kids would be able to use them?

 

The pools weren't heated so when we left NY the water was a bit cold and probably that is what you will experience also since you are going to Bermuda in April. The ocean water unfortunately is not warm that time of year.

[yst347]

Growing up in New Jersey I can recall shoveling snow in early April and getting a sunburn down the shore in late April. :D Bermuda is at the same latitude as the Carolina's and while I would expect generally warmer weather than New Jersey I would not expect swimming/beach weather. It is possible, but I would not plan on it. :(

 

On summer break during my college years we would charter sailboats in Newport RI for a few weeks. Most years we would sail to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island etc. One year we sailed to Bermuda in early June. Let me tell you it was damn cold due to the windy conditions. It could have been very different in another year. Bottom line is it's the weather. Don't expect to be swimming.

 

I can tell you that you will not run short of things to do during your 1 night and two afternoons on the island. Honestly, you will only begin to scratch the surface of what that beautiful little island chain has to offer. If your kids are at all interested in history you will have made a great choice. I hope you decide to go. I think you will also enjoy Newport, but as you live within driving distance of New York City you may have already visited Newport.

[Sandi149]

Growing up in New Jersey I can recall shoveling snow in early April and getting a sunburn down the shore in late April. :D Bermuda is at the same latitude as the Carolina's and while I would expect generally warmer weather than New Jersey I would not expect swimming/beach weather. It is possible, but I would not plan on it. :(

 

On summer break during my college years we would charter sailboats in Newport RI for a few weeks. Most years we would sail to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island etc. One year we sailed to Bermuda in early June. Let me tell you it was damn cold due to the windy conditions. It could have been very different in another year. Bottom line is it's the weather. Don't expect to be swimming.

 

I can tell you that you will not run short of things to do during your 1 night and two afternoons on the island. Honestly, you will only begin to scratch the surface of what that beautiful little island chain has to offer. If your kids are at all interested in history you will have made a great choice. I hope you decide to go. I think you will also enjoy Newport, but as you live within driving distance of New York City you may have already visited Newport.

 

We had snow in early April only about 3 years ago. :eek:

[Libra14]

:(

Growing up in New Jersey I can recall shoveling snow in early April and getting a sunburn down the shore in late April. :D Bermuda is at the same latitude as the Carolina's and while I would expect generally warmer weather than New Jersey I would not expect swimming/beach weather. It is possible, but I would not plan on it. :(

 

On summer break during my college years we would charter sailboats in Newport RI for a few weeks. Most years we would sail to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island etc. One year we sailed to Bermuda in early June. Let me tell you it was damn cold due to the windy conditions. It could have been very different in another year. Bottom line is it's the weather. Don't expect to be swimming.

 

I can tell you that you will not run short of things to do during your 1 night and two afternoons on the island. Honestly, you will only begin to scratch the surface of what that beautiful little island chain has to offer. If your kids are at all interested in history you will have made a great choice. I hope you decide to go. I think you will also enjoy Newport, but as you live within driving distance of New York City you may have already visited Newport.

I live on Long Island and we have an above ground pool that my daughter will go in in June, the water is freezing to me but she'll go in and say it's not cold..LOL She will be 7 by the time of april 08 and I just asked her is it a top priority for you to go swimming in the pool on the ship and she said yes. Also I know darn well how cold it can be out on the ocean, even is chilly in the warmer months so in april I know we'd be wearing jackets on the ship. I'm having second thoughts about booking :( As much as I'd love to see Bermuda I'd like to go when we can swim, at least swim on the ship.

[yst347]

I have never before tried to steer anyone away from a carnival cruise but I guess there's a first for everything. I think you should look into the smaller ships that call on Hamilton and St. Georges. I know RCCL and Celebrity used to make this run and probably still do. The ships may be a bit older but the port calls are much more desirable. King's Wharf has some tourist interest but it is out in the boondocks.

[MrPete]

Never. Have only gone in the summer.

 

April is too early in the season for me. We sailed out of NY one May, and froze our tails off. I can only imagine going a month earlier.

 

And then, unless they've changed, you no longer get three days in Bermuda. They throw Newport in the mix. :confused:

 

BTW, I LOVE Kings Wharf. If I want to go to Hamilton, I can take a quick ferry ride across the Bay.

 

My latest Bermuda pix are in my webshots below.

[cruisernh]

We were in Bermuda last April on Costa Magica.

 

Fortunately, we had good weather, the week before they had rain.

 

It was warm enough for many passengers to be sunburned. However, no one that I spoke to went in the water --- too cold for swimming.

 

What week were you on? we were on the last week of april

[njmetfan]

Let me first say that I thoroughly enjoy Carnival. I've been on 15 cruises with them in the past 6 years. I was on this cruise in April 2006 on the Legend. On the surface, this seems like a great cruise but there are two BIG negatives.

The first is that you're docked over the week-end in Bermuda. You get to the Royal Dockyard about 2:00 PM on Saturday. If you want to see either St Georges or Hamilton, you must go there immediately. Shops in both towns close between 5 - 6 PM, and are closed on Sunday. We made the mistake of going to Hamilton on Sunday. The town was a ghost town. We counted 5 or 6 stores open, and 3 were of the convenience stop type.

 

Newport RI is no picnic either. Keep in mind it is a tender stop. Carnival visits Newport only once a year, so they do not have their act together. They only have 2 tenders boats in use. And, the whole ship needs to pass thru US customs before passengers will be cleared to leave the ship. We dropped anchor about 10:00 AM, and the first tender didn't leave until 12:30. The ship leaves at 6:00, so the last tender is about 5:15. That doesn't leave much time to visit the port.

[Libra14]

Let me first say that I thoroughly enjoy Carnival. I've been on 15 cruises with them in the past 6 years. I was on this cruise in April 2006 on the Legend. On the surface, this seems like a great cruise but there are two BIG negatives.

The first is that you're docked over the week-end in Bermuda. You get to the Royal Dockyard about 2:00 PM on Saturday. If you want to see either St Georges or Hamilton, you must go there immediately. Shops in both towns close between 5 - 6 PM, and are closed on Sunday. We made the mistake of going to Hamilton on Sunday. The town was a ghost town. We counted 5 or 6 stores open, and 3 were of the convenience stop type.

 

Newport RI is no picnic either. Keep in mind it is a tender stop. Carnival visits Newport only once a year, so they do not have their act together. They only have 2 tenders boats in use. And, the whole ship needs to pass thru US customs before passengers will be cleared to leave the ship. We dropped anchor about 10:00 AM, and the first tender didn't leave until 12:30. The ship leaves at 6:00, so the last tender is about 5:15. That doesn't leave much time to visit the port.

Thanks for the info. didn't think of the weekend with store hours.

Honestly I thnk I'm going to pass on this cruise because of the time of year and the temps will not be warm enough for my liking.

I'm now considering a cruise to Bermuda on Norweigian only beacaue they dock for 3 days there. My only problem with it is that I'm not sure I want to cruise Norwegian, I've heard some stories that were not good concerning the cruise line changing ports at the last minute and I heard the food is not good as well. Would rather do a Carnival on the Miracle and may do that but go to the carribean nstead in June or July. I'm still trying to find the right cruise for us. I dn't want to fly to fla, and would love to be able to sail out of NY. Anyone here ever cruise on the Norwegian Dawn?

[njmetfan]

I forgot to mention trying RCCL Explorer of the Seas out of Cape Liberty in Bayonne. It does 5 nights to Bermuda (Sunday to Friday). There should be 2 sailings next April.

[minivanmama]

I have a courtesy hold on the cruise for 4/17 also. I looked into the NCL Dawn but found it was a lot more money than the Miracle. The kids are out of school the following week which is a perfect time for a family vacation. I have the same concerns you have about the weather. The Miracle, please correct me if I am wrong, has a glass dome over the lido deck so the pool area is covered. I was on the Legend out of NY Oct. 2002 and it also had a covered pool area and the water was heated.:) The average temperature for Bermuda in April is 70 degrees, so your kids will be able to swim on the ship. I am considering an island tour or maybe the Kayaking excursion with my teen boys. I am not going to Bermuda to shop or go out to eat since we will eat on the ship. Since other posters have said that Kings Wharf is away from everything it sounds like we will book our excursions thru Carnival. Newport, I will stay on the ship and just chill.(No pun intended) As for the Dawn. Great Ship. The lido deck (pool area) is great but not covered. The only indoor pool and hot tub area is in the adult only spa. Your kids will not be permitted to use this area. I know this because my family was on the ship Oct. '04 Florida/Bahamas.

[sinkers22]

We love Bermuda. Have been there twice, our 1st and 2nd cruise. The first was the last week in April. We left on Sunday and it was nice by Monday evening. The weather in Bermuda, though, was not warm enough to swim. We went to Horseshoe Bay and had the whole beach pretty much to ourselves. We did go in the water, but it was only to say we did! We did the NCL Majesty and it stayed in St. Georges for 2-1/2 days. We loved that and got a 3 day bus pass for $23, that took us everywhere, but the casino was closed while we were in port. Since we love to gamble, not much to do in the evening for us.

 

Our second one was on the RCCL Nordic Empress, now Empress of the Sea, and it was in July. What a difference. We enjoyed that a lot more. We docked at Kings Wharf the first day and the next day she sailed to Hamilton, so we met the boat there after our snorkeling excursion.

 

I would go again in a heartbeat, but only in the summer.