Does it really take that long to travel to Bermuda?

[PeppErZ!]

I noticed on the itinerary for traveling on the Empress of the Seas that it takes 48 hours to get to Bermuda from Philadelphia...I understand that it takes between 7-8 hours to travel down the Deleware River and into the Atlantic Ocean...but from there it takes another 40 hours! I assume because RCI wants you to spend most of the time on their boat...am I correct?

So...if I do my math correctly then we are in Hamilton for a day and half and St. George's for a day....Right?

I am curious to actually find out how long you are in the ports, because it doesn't seem like a long time to enjoy Bermuda!

[Tmmull]

We took the Grandeur 2 years ago and just returned from the 6/30 Empress sailing. It took longer on the Empress out of Norfolk than the Grandeur out of Baltimore! The Empress is a slower ship (19 vers. 22 Knots.) Any length of time is too little for Bermuda IMO!

[Charles4515]

Originally Posted by PeppErZ!

I noticed on the itinerary for traveling on the Empress of the Seas that it takes 48 hours to get to Bermuda from Philadelphia...I understand that it takes between 7-8 hours to travel down the Deleware River and into the Atlantic Ocean...but from there it takes another 40 hours! I assume because RCI wants you to spend most of the time on their boat...am I correct?

So...if I do my math correctly then we are in Hamilton for a day and half and St. George's for a day....Right?

I am curious to actually find out how long you are in the ports, because it doesn't seem like a long time to enjoy Bermuda!

Look at your itinerary. It will show how long you are in port. I am sure you can do the math. Sailing out of New York or Northern New Jersey on a seven day gives optimal time in Bermuda. Out of Philadelphia and Baltimore you lose the time it gets out to sea. There is also some variance in the times because the different ships have different top speeds. A few knots difference in top speed will add time. Find the top speed of the ship, find the nautical miles and you will get a rough idea of how long it takes to sail to Bermuda. But you also have to consider that when a ship gets to Bermuda it can't sail directly into port there. Bermuda is surrounded by reefs. They caused many a shipwreck. So a channel must be negotiated and that takes added time. Yes, it really does take time to get to Bermuda.

[Writeratsea]

Originally Posted by Charles4515

Look at your itinerary. It will show how long you are in port. I am sure you can do the math. Sailing out of New York or Northern New Jersey on a seven day gives optimal time in Bermuda. Out of Philadelphia and Baltimore you lose the time it gets out to sea. There is also some variance in the times because the different ships have different top speeds. A few knots difference in top speed will add time. Find the top speed of the ship, find the nautical miles and you will get a rough idea of how long it takes to sail to Bermuda. But you also have to consider that when a ship gets to Bermuda it can't sail directly into port there. Bermuda is surrounded by reefs. They caused many a shipwreck. So a channel must be negotiated and that takes added time. Yes, it really does take time to get to Bermuda.

Yes it takes time, but it is worth the trip. It is such a beautiful place and the people are so nice. Hawaii is equally as beautiful, but from Boston where I live it is even more time consuming to get there. Both are worth the investment of time and effort.

[TPKeller]

You actually have to sail to the east end of Bermuda to enter the channel that goes to Hamilton or Kings Wharf. Apparently there is another way out from Kings Wharf, and I expect to have information on that channel when Radio returns from his current cruise.

In the mean time, you can see the channel to enter Hamilton on my Entering Hamilton map. It's a very interesting and scenic ride. The map opens up to show the entrance into Hamilton, if you drag the map, you can pan over to the beginning, east of St. George's.

Theron

[Keith1010]

Yes, it would take a little bit longer from Philadelphia than from New York City. It is nice to have a combination of sea days and time in Bermuda. Unlike other cruise you are not traveling between islands once you are there so you may indeed appreciate the time at sea.

Keith

[bdaguy]

Originally Posted by TPKeller

You actually have to sail to the east end of Bermuda to enter the channel that goes to Hamilton or Kings Wharf. Apparently there is another way out from Kings Wharf, and I expect to have information on that channel when Radio returns from his current cruise.

In the mean time, you can see the channel to enter Hamilton on my Entering Hamilton map. It's a very interesting and scenic ride. The map opens up to show the entrance into Hamilton, if you drag the map, you can pan over to the beginning, east of St. George's.

Theron

tpk, there's only one way in and out of bermuda's reef system for ships, and it's at the east end. however, there are two shipping channels on the north side of the island. most ships use the south channel, relatively close to the shoreline. larger ships like costa magica would use the north channel beacause it's deeper and the turns are less sharp, but they both merge off of st george's

[smeyer418]

From NY the ships can make it in 36 hours. Maybe a little less at full speed. As with everything they leave a little extra for unexpected things and don't go full speed if they can avoid it(it uses more fuel)....and of course they need to make money in the Casino....

[TPKeller]

Originally Posted by bdaguy

tpk, there's only one way in and out of bermuda's reef system for ships, and it's at the east end. however, there are two shipping channels on the north side of the island. most ships use the south channel, relatively close to the shoreline. larger ships like costa magica would use the north channel beacause it's deeper and the turns are less sharp, but they both merge off of st george's

Very interesting, and that makes sense, and matches the pictures that Radio posted today from Grandeur, and also matches what I saw when I was on the ferry from St. George's to Dockyard about 6 weeks ago.

Thanks for the info.

Theron

[TPKeller]

Originally Posted by bdaguy

tpk, there's only one way in and out of bermuda's reef system for ships, and it's at the east end. however, there are two shipping channels on the north side of the island. most ships use the south channel, relatively close to the shoreline. larger ships like costa magica would use the north channel beacause it's deeper and the turns are less sharp, but they both merge off of st george's

I got the track data that Radio took on his GPS during his recent Grandeur cruise to Bermuda. Just as we've discussed, they entered Dockyard through the north channel. It appears to be quite a bit longer than the south channel. Interestingly, Grandeur departed through the south channel on this particular trip.

Unfortunately, the Google map set for Bermuda still does not allow you to zoom OUT far enough to see the whole island, but you can pan the map around and see where the two channels run and how they converge back together just off St. George's.

Two channels into Bermuda, May and July, 2007

Theron