Bermuda?

Lafalum84 · 03-25-2012, 11:57 AM

We will be cruising to Bermuda this summer with our 2 adult kids (age 23 and 20). We get to Hamilton at 9am Monday, and leave at 4pm on Tuesday. I've been to Bermuda once, many years ago in high school. Same with DH.

The cruise line has some shore excursions, but I'm wondering what our options are if we just go out on our own. We might take an excursion to a beach one day - or maybe one that lets us snorkel around a shipwreck - but I'd like to take the other day to explore the island.

Any suggestions? I've heard we can ride the public bus system cheaply. I'm open to all advice from anyone who's been to Bermuda recently.

overseas · 03-25-2012, 12:21 PM

I would go in search of any early history I could "get my hands on." But that is me...including Mark Twain's visits and and much earlier the wreck of the Sea Venture.

oldfort · 03-25-2012, 12:39 PM

I haven't been to Bermuda in a while. There was a time when we went few times a year because it was so close to NYC.

We used to take the pink bus every where. The central bus station is right in the center of town. We would take the bus out to St. George. It is very old and quaint. Many good restaurants and stores out there.

Bermuda is expensive. There are some good restaurants, but I never found the food to be amazing. The one I highly recommend is Waterlot Inn: Fine Dining Bermuda Steakhouse at The Fairmont Southampton
It has been there forever, a lot of locals go there. You would need a reservation. A good way to get out there is take the Princess shuttle from Hamilton Princess to Southampton Princess. Jacket required at this place.

Another good way of seeing Bermuda is to take a ferry, it is a cheap way of seeing the island. You could hop off, walk around, then get back on. You'll get to see some amazing homes on the water.

Bermuda is very formal relative to other islands (hence Bermuda shorts), but since you will be on a cruise, you would have proper attire.

emilybee · 03-25-2012, 01:51 PM

I haven't been since before I was married but I love Bermuda. Renting mopeds and riding to St. George on the other side of the island is fun and a beautiful ride. It's a very neat place to visit, too.

Definitely spend one day at the beach. Best sand anywhere.

As the poster above said, restaurants (and Bermuda in general) are very expensive, so dine on the ship.

Chedva · 03-25-2012, 03:57 PM

Lafalum, if you haven't yet, check out the Cruise Critic forums, particularly the one on Ports of Call for Bermuda. There's one poster on that forum who is very knowledgeable and even posts the buses to take to get where you want to go.

I rented a moped many years ago. Since then, traffic has increased dramatically and there is at least one fatality a month involving a moped. I wouldn't rent one again.

"just"aMom · 03-25-2012, 04:13 PM

My D & I cruised to Bermuda 5 years ago out of NYC. We hired a driver at the port, who took us around the island. Cost $100 and it was wonderful. He was local, nice, and was ready to show us anything/any where we wanted to go. My favorite part of the trip was the exquisite water color(s). Never saw anything like it before.

Montegut · 03-25-2012, 07:04 PM

Can I ask a question, since you and your husband are going with your two adult sons? Are you getting two rooms on the ship, or are you getting a suite? We're looking into taking a cruise with our 20 year old son before he graduates and wonder if we'll have to get him his own suite. He's 6'2 and a big boy, as we are large, too, so I don't know how we should handle the rooms.

Looking forward to hearing about your trip to Bermuda. I've always wanted to go there.

kelsmom · 03-25-2012, 08:50 PM

When we cruised with our family after D and her cousin graduated, we got a room for H, D, and I with a balcony. S stayed in an inner room with his cousin ... he wasn't in there much, and he came into our room during the day. It worked out well.

msmayor · 03-25-2012, 08:56 PM

Which ship are you sailing on? To my knowledge, only one ship is docking in Hamilton this season and it is HAL's Veendam, from Tuesday-Friday. All other ships are berthed out at the Dockyard which is a ferry or bus ride into Hamilton.

Lafalum84 · 03-25-2012, 10:11 PM

Montegut, we have 2 rooms: H and I have a balcony, and our S and D will be directly across the hall in an interior room.

msmayor- we'll be on Royal Caribbean, Explorer of the Seas. Docks in Hamilton Mon-Tues.

Chedva, thanks for the Cruise Critic recommendation - will check it out! I have also heard renting mopeds is not a good idea. Between the driving on the left and the way the roads get slick when it rains, I will try to convince my clan to skip that idea.

kelsmom · 03-25-2012, 10:16 PM

I love Cruise Critic! We had an awesome time on our Alaska cruise, thanks to the fantastic information I found on that other CC.

msmayor · 03-25-2012, 10:43 PM

Ahhh...OK. Explorer of the Seas. That actually does not dock right in Hamilton though...its too large a ship. Double-check your itinerary; it probably says "Kings Wharf, Bermuda" which is the Royal Naval Dockyard. Its an area that has been built up a bit in recent years to accommodate the larger ships which cannot safely get into Hamilton.

My understanding is the ferry is the quickest way to get to Hamilton from the Dockyard at about 20-30 minutes. Travel by bus or taxi could take nearly an hour.

Chedva · 03-26-2012, 02:58 PM

I'm doing the Boston to Bermuda run on NCL this summer. We'll be at the Dockyard.

Laf, the poster on Cruise Critic who is so helpful is screen-named "SailbadtheSinner" or SBtS for short!

You should also check out the RCI forum on Cruise Critic. You'll get a tremendous amount of information there.

Chedva · 03-26-2012, 03:01 PM

I just checked Royal Caribbean's website. Explorer of the Seas does in fact dock at King's Wharf, not in Hamilton.

hayden · 03-26-2012, 03:46 PM

Don't bother going to Hamilton - it's largely the business center of Bermuda.

When I have more than a half day in Bermuda, I'd go to St. George's (old church, main square / gov't building), and take a taxi up to one of the lighthouses (maybe Gibbs?) and get a breathtaking view of the whole island.

The buses work well in Bermuda, but I'd take a taxi any day. The taxi drivers can be a tourist attraction themselves - usually natives, know everybody and everything. And their accents are wonderful.

Agree with those who recommend against scooters. They can be fun and a great time. But forget how to drive on the left for one minute, and it could destroy the vacation. I personally know two people who have wiped out, and it's no fun.