2015 Bermuda: Your opinion, please!

I am planning a trip to Bermuda for late May-early July, 2015. I am conflicted as to which of these two vessels I ought to select for such a cruise.

Veendam from Boston, docking the entire time at Hamilton.

Summit from Cape Liberty, docking the entire time at the Dockyard.

I would appreciate learning experienced Bermuda cruisers thoughts about the pros and cons of each of the above.

Flights are not an issue. I would fly into Boston or New York for either of these trips. I would not drive to either port. An overnight hotel stay the evening before the cruise departure would be booked. My travel agent has indicated that HAL does a better job at airport-hotel-ship-airport transfers than Celebrity. (She said that Celebrity does not provide EWR to their New York hotel(s) transfers at all, but does transfer from hotel to ship. Anyone with experience with this situation? I assume they would transfer from the ship-EWR.)

Certainly, I am aware that hotels, etc. can be possibly booked more inexpensively on my own. I will make that decision before I book. I am just looking for basic information and experienced opinions about the two cruises and any transfers that one might have booked.

Thank you for your input!

Could you give us a little info about you? What do you look for in a vacation - action, peace, is the cabin important to you or is it a place to change clothes, shower and sleep? What would you like to be able to do in Bermuda? Are you bringing children or are you looking to get away from children?

Could you give us a little info about you? What do you look for in a vacation - action, peace, is the cabin important to you or is it a place to change clothes, shower and sleep? What would you like to be able to do in Bermuda? Are you bringing children or are you looking to get away from children?

Thank you for your response. But, I do not believe that any of your questions have anything to do with my basic question:

Docking the entire time at Hamilton or at the Dockyard.

Thank you for your response. But, I do not believe that any of your questions have anything to do with my basic question:

 

Docking the entire time at Hamilton or at the Dockyard.

If you don't care about the differences in the ships, their facilities, food, entertainment and ambiance , then IMO. docking in Hamilton is somewhat better (although not as much of a difference as existed in prior years, since Hamilton is no longer geared to be a center of tourism, while Dockyard is).

By the way, you did ask about "basic information and experienced opinions about the two cruises and any transfers that one might have booked" so I think meglet's questions were quite appropriate.

I'd agree that Hamilton is a better place to dock if you want to sightsee or visit different restaurants on the island or if shopping is a big draw for you. Many of the buses will stop on Front Street and obviously the ferries are there, but if you need to walk to the bus terminal, it is a very steep hill to climb to get there and that might be a factor for some older people. Will you want some evening entertainment thats not alcohol centered? If in Hamilton, you've got Harbor Nights and you might hit it lucky with seeing the Bermuda Regiment. If watersports are your thing, there are many available in dockyard and many of the major stores have small branches in the clocktower mall. When I cruise, part of the fun is my cabin. Caribbean and Bermuda cruises are so crowded in the summer which is the only time I can travel, so if getting away from the crowds is something you want in your vacation, then the best cabin for the best price would be a factor in determining ship. It's been a little while since I've been on Celebrity, but I would pick a Celebrity ship regardless of where it docked in Bda.

Sorry if I offended you by asking about your vacation style - just trying to give you the best answer.

meglet,

No offense taken and I regret one might have thought that. I appreciate your thoughts and njhorseman's as well.

I hope others may respond to my question as well. Always good to have several opinions.

I am planning a trip to Bermuda for late May-early July, 2015. I am conflicted as to which of these two vessels I ought to select for such a cruise.

 

Veendam from Boston, docking the entire time at Hamilton.

 

Summit from Cape Liberty, docking the entire time at the Dockyard.

 

I would appreciate learning experienced Bermuda cruisers thoughts about the pros and cons of each of the above.

 

Flights are not an issue. I would fly into Boston or New York for either of these trips. I would not drive to either port. An overnight hotel stay the evening before the cruise departure would be booked. My travel agent has indicated that HAL does a better job at airport-hotel-ship-airport transfers than Celebrity. (She said that Celebrity does not provide EWR to their New York hotel(s) transfers at all, but does transfer from hotel to ship. Anyone with experience with this situation? I assume they would transfer from the ship-EWR.)

 

Certainly, I am aware that hotels, etc. can be possibly booked more inexpensively on my own. I will make that decision before I book. I am just looking for basic information and experienced opinions about the two cruises and any transfers that one might have booked.

 

Thank you for your input!

I have been on both ships and think they are both fine. Celebrity is a plus as a ship for me as a non smoker, no smoking in Casino or on balconies. Smokers would prefer Veendam. Both ships are upscale over the NCL or Royal Caribbean choices. Can't comment on cruise transfers from either port. Generally I have found that do it your self transfers and hotels are better than thru the cruise line.

Veendam does Hamilton which would be an advantage for shopping and some sightseeing. It is a little closer to the south shore beaches but not much.

Summit does the Dockyard. Easy to take the ferry to St. George, Hamilton or buses to the South Shore beaches.

I did Veendam out of New York as I preferred Hamilton over the Dockyard. This year I did Summit since Veendam was not in New York this year. Next year I would still pick Summit because Boston is not New York. The choice matters to me as the New York area is much easier for me to get too.

I have to say that the transport from the Dockyard to other parts of Bermuda was much improved over the last time I sailed to the Dockyard. WEDCO has put up much improved signage and there were officials directing passengers. They had zones set up so you could find taxis, Blue Flag taxis, shuttles, mini buses, tours, the Pink Buses and Ferrys. So while I prefer Hamilton, it is by a lessor amount than before. I used to really dislike it. I won't use the word dislike about it anymore.The Dockyard is okay as long as the transport workers don't go on strike.....

Doing only Hamilton or only Dockyard, neither is the itinerary that I loved. Hamilton and St.George on the same itinerary. If any ship does that agian my choice will be easy.

I love Celebrity but preferred to be docked in Hamilton on Veendam a few years ago when I had the opportunity.

Another real plus of being docked in Hamilton is the view of the Harbor Nights entertainment above the crowd from the promenade deck.

If you are there to shop then Hamilton is the place to be. Personally I found that getting around in Bermuda a piece of cake so either is an easy bus ride away from anything you might want to do.