avoid Bermuda on Sunday, one day in port

Thoth · #1 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 02:21 AM

I just returned from the Fantasy from Charleston to Bermuda and wish to give fair warning. We had 4 sea days and only one port day which was on Sunday when much is closed. To make matters worse the ship docked at Royal Dockyard which is the boon-docks...back 40... of Bermuda.
I took a 5 hour island tour which was rushed. We stopped for a photo at Gibbs Lighthouse, but didn't have time to climb the stairs, we stopped for a photo at a "pink sand" beach, but didn't have time to wade into the water, we stopped at St George for about 15 minutes and Hamilton for maybe 30. Not much was open anyway !!
If you decide to cruise to Bermuda, make sure that you get at least two full days in port and attempt to avoid a Sunday visit when the island virtually shuts down. Docking in Hamilton is probably preferable to the Dockyards as well.

ruthlessboss · #2 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 06:28 AM

I'd be disappointed too. Did the initial info state the sea days and port days? I'd want more port days. That itinerary would have been zero on my list, though some cruisers love multiple sea days.

green_rd · #3 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 08:07 AM

Some of the cruises out of NYC have multiple days in port in Bermuda. I think HAL specifically has a very port heavy trip.

Moiraine · #4 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 08:27 AM

Sorry Thoth. Sounds like Bermuda sucked for you. Hope you can go back sometime and have a better experience.

Trip · #5 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 09:25 AM

I would like to see Bermuda as a day on my itinerary with other ports. It's too bad you were in fast forward mode, with basically, not much to see, or, do.

This happend to us in Guadaloups, on Easter Monday, basically a beach holiday for may ports inthe Caribbean, and, sorry, the island is closed.

To go to Bemuda from here, half the time is going there, and, getting back, and I think I would not be a happy camper either.

Donna · #6 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 09:39 AM

Gosh,
I didn't quite understand 4 sea days and only a short stop there?? Was the the origional itinary for this cruise??

nlb1050 · #7 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 10:28 AM

Donna, we are doing the same cruise Oct 6. when we booked (May 2010) the itinerary was to arrive at Kings Wharf at 4Am on Sat then Carnival changed the arrival time to 4PM on sat. I have no idea why. And I have asked John heald a couple of times with no response. It definitely changes what you can do. At least we mainly plan on going to a beach to snorkel.

Trip · #8 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 10:33 AM

Wow, Nancy, thats a big differential. On a cruise with many ports, one might understand, things getting changed,[even then 12 hrs is alot] but, on a one port itinerary, you have to wonder, what made such major change...

Henry43 · #9 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 10:59 AM

We docked in Hamilton and had 4 days on our HAL cruise this past July

LisaK · #10 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 11:18 AM

some lines do Bermuda better than others, and sad to say Carnival isn't one that is noted for its Bermuda cruises. If you want to do Bermuda you would be much better off going with HAL, Celebrity or Princess each of which have been doing Bermuda for a long long time. 4 days in Bermuda is ideal for a cruise

blueliner · #11 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 01:23 PM

I'm just 8 days away from my Bermuda cruise on RCI leaving from Baltimore. Our Bermuda itinerary is to arrive on Monday at 10 am and depart on Tuesday at 2 pm. We get 2 full sea days plus the departure day from Baltimore makes this a 5 night cruise. My plan is on Monday to take the ferry from the Kings Wharf Dock to St. Georges and spend some time touring and maybe a beach depending on the weather. On Tuesday we plan on sticking around the Kings Wharf Dockyard to see the Maritime Museum and maybe Snorkle Beach Park if the weather is good. I thought about also going to Hamilton, but I think I would like the history of St. Georges over the shopping of Hamilton.

Trip · #12 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 02:11 PM

I wonder how the shopping is, with Trimminghams and Brown & Co. gone. Those were big draws there. Were they replaced with anything in their spots?

Mike M · #13 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 06:05 PM

I was VERY close to booking the September 16th, Norwegian Dawn, for a seven day Bermuda cruise. It would have had three days in Bermuda. I didn't book because I couldn't find a "babysitter" to cruise with me. It would have actually been less expensive to go by myself since there was no single supplement and I could have had a balcony for $750.

Take care,
Mike

Thoth · #14 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2011, 10:12 PM

I knew we only had one day, but expected more could be done in that one day in port. One day works for other ports. Bermuda is a lovely place and I can recomend it if given more time.
Those sea days are no problem. Carnival sea days are to live for.
Those who get 2 or more nights in Bermuda should have a great time. Those who are there anytime between Monday through Saturday should be fine.
No, I haven't written Bermuda off for a future cruise. Another cruiseline or Carnival's Baltimore or New York trips would be a different story...no doubt.

jlauntz · #15 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2011, 10:34 PM

WE actually cruised in April and docked at Kings Wharf. We sailed on Carnival Pride out of Baltimore and were docked for 2 and 1/2 half days on a seven day cruise. I suggest that if anyone is docking at Kings Wharf, get a transportation pass, it is good for unlimited travel via bus or water taxi. The water Taxis are much faster to either Hamilton or St. George. I think the price was around 28 dollars for a three day pass. and 20 for a 2 day pass. Buy them dockside not on the ship and save a few dollars. I love bermuda and look foward to returning.

nlb1050 · #16 (**permalink**) October 16th, 2011, 10:24 AM

We are just back from the Charleston/Bermuda cruise. We did not dock (at Kings Wharf) until 4pm and by the time we got a 2 day ferry/bus pass it was almost 5. We took a bus and stopped at Horseshoe beach to see the pink sand. Got the next bus into Hamilton and found that the stores were closed. We did find on liqour store open and bough a bottle of Black Seal ( then after leaving Bermuda the ship had it for less). Sunday we took the ferry into Hamilton, found the bus terminal and went to the caves, very interesting and if you want to see both buy the combo ticket. Took a bus back to Hamilton and only saw a couple of cloths stores open. Ferry back to the dock. The dockyard does have stores open to shop at.

We had thought about going to the aquaramine but there just was not time.

At least with having the bus/ferry pass we did get to see some of the island. Each time we rode a bus it was a different route.

If Carnival had done the cruise as the Wed departure it would have been better at least more would be opne on Sat.

Cruznut2 · #17 (**permalink**) October 16th, 2011, 12:04 PM

I loved Bermuda both times. The first time we stopped in Hamilton and were docked right there in town. I loved that. The bus station was a short walk. You could go anywhere on the island easily by bus. The second time I went we were docked out at Kings Wharf. I did not mind that too much. The bus and water taxi made it easy to get around. There was a nice place to shop out there and a small village close by with a few shops. Bermuda is such a nice change from the Caribbean islands.

Laura

Thoth · #18 (**permalink**) October 16th, 2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlb1050

We are just back from the Charleston/Bermuda cruise. We did not dock (at Kings Wharf) until 4pm and by the time we got a 2 day ferry/bus pass it was almost 5. We took a bus and stopped at Horseshoe beach to see the pink sand. Got the next bus into Hamilton and found that the stores were closed. We did find on liqour store open and bough a bottle of Black Seal ( then after leaving Bermuda the ship had it for less). Sunday we took the ferry into Hamilton, found the bus terminal and went to the caves, very interesting and if you want to see both buy the combo ticket. Took a bus back to Hamilton and only saw a couple of cloths stores open. Ferry back to the dock. The dockyard does have stores open to shop at.

We had thought about going to the aquaramine but there just was not time.

At least with having the bus/ferry pass we did get to see some of the island. Each time we rode a bus it was a different route.

If Carnival had done the cruise as the Wed departure it would have been better at least more would be opne on Sat.

Welcome back !!
Sounds like your experience was similar to mine.

I loved the Fantasy and found Bermuda interesting, the problem was Carnival's Charleston itinerary just didn't work for me.

Thoth · #19 (**permalink**) October 16th, 2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruznut2

I loved Bermuda both times. The first time we stopped in Hamilton and were docked right there in town. I loved that. The bus station was a short walk. You could go anywhere on the island easily by bus. The second time I went we were docked out at Kings Wharf. I did not mind that too much. The bus and water taxi made it easy to get around. There was a nice place to shop out there and a small village close by with a few shops. Bermuda is such a nice change from the Caribbean islands.

Laura

a bit more classy...I would say.