Do you recommend Bermuda for Cuises?

Question

I am thinking about visiting Bermuda for my next cruise. Does anyone recommend it? Which cruise ship or cruiseline do you recommend? I have been to the Carribeans twice (once to Bahamas with Carnival, once to other southern islands with Royal Carribeans). I had a good time on both and would love to do it again and maybe try a different cruiseline. Please advise.

Answer 1

YES !!!!!    I have been to Bermuda twice on cruise ships. Bermuda has some of the best beaches anywhere; pink sand beaches that you can easily find a deserted spot on. In my two visit it seemed to me that the majority of the people visiting the island were those on the two or three cruise ships which docked there during my stay. There are a few hotels in the town of Hamilton and about a dozen other properties/beach hotels, but they are nice. There are NO slums and ghettos in Bermuda like you may see on other islands. All of the houses are well maintained and painted in pastel colors. All of the public beaches are great.   You want to be  sure to go to Elbow Beach and Long Beach. Royal Caribbean, NCL and Holland America have cruise to Bermuda from many cities on the each coast; Boston, NY, Philly, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston and Florida.   When you cruise there its less expensive than flying and staying in a hotel because, you stay and eat on the ship. You will probably want to eat on ship anyway because meals (and everything else) are expensive since everything has to be imported.

A five, six, or seven day cruise to Bermuda is plenty enough time to see and enjoy everything there. There is not a lot to do in Bermuda other than water sports and golf. There are two main towns Hamilton, the largest (where most cruise ships dock for at least a day) and St George (also a port stop) which is like a small town and has just a few shops. The third place ships may dock while there is The Kings Dockyard.. The Dockyard is on the far end of the 22 mile long island and has a small mall with shops and a museum. The Crystal Cave and Fantasy Caves are worth visiting as a tour, or on your own. I also visited one of the lighthouses, for lack of anything else to do. You can visit one of the many forts on the island like Fort St Catherine if you like that type activity.

In the town of Hamilton we took a walking tour which took us to the Cathedral of the Most Holy, a maritime museum and a nice garden/park a few blocks from the port. There is shopping in Hamilton and restaurants, but not much else. You will not find a lot of nightlife there either.  

The best way to get around in Bermuda is to buy a transportation pass (may be able to get it on ship) which will let you take the buses, and the ferry, all over the island. There is a big bus depot just a couple blocks from where ships dock in the town of Hamilton and also a boarding point at the Dockyard.   You can take the buses to the beach, they are not very far away and easy to get to from the bus stop. You want to go to Elbow Beach and Long Beach, both open to the public.  If you want to snorkel, the Tobacco Bay Beach near the town of St George is great, and its walking distance (about 3/4 mile from town and the ship's dock).

Answer 2

I have stayed at Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda several times. A cruise there does not allow you to see everything. And price wise you can get just as good of a deal for a 7 day stay there as a cruise. Has for no slums that is a joke. Watch 60 minutes who did a special on unsolved murders there & the drug trade. Just behind the main section of Hamilton are the slums. However a cruise or a hotel there is very safe. Just stay on the main roads.