ComfyOne

Oh well, I stand corrected! I'm taking the buses and not reading your schedules.

The drivers go like mad and then have a break at the end before the next run.

I have been a number of times from Hamilton to St. George and it takes about 45 to 50 minutes...but seriously, if you have to clock your vacation down to the minute...that is not my kind of vacation. I love taking the buses. It's like Mr. Toads Wild Ride!!

I only popped into this conversation because you all were talking so much about

the terrible bus situation here and it had me quite worried about coming. Now

I see that isn't true...not at this point.

Some of the buses do need maintenance (no air conditioning etc) but they are definitely trying to keep up.

I'm heading off to the Dockyard this morning. I will bring a stop watch!! ;p

It's 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the stops (Route 8).

I'm still in Bermuda (not on a cruise this time - we have rented a house) and the buses still seem to be running fine. We have not waited more than a few minutes. The system is ticking along okay.

We are in Bermuda right now. Getting a bus at the Dockyard has always required some patience but don't be afraid to climb on and ride to Hamilton. It's a lovely drive. We have been riding on buses back and forth across the island and haven't encountered any delays (yet).

It was VERY quiet in St. George yesterday. The bus arrived on time and we were the only

passengers for a good while. There were no people waiting at the stops.

At the Bus Depot in Hamilton, the routes to the Dockyard were also on time so don't be afraid to go...just skip rush hour if you can.

We used $5. bills the last time we used the ferry. There was a group of us all using cash and the guys (attendants) didn't look twice. The buses however....as stated on the official transportation website - take coins (exact change), tickets, tokens or passes. It's $3.50 for 3 Zone and $5. for 14 Zone if using coins.

361 until we cruise out of Venice! :D

The day we spent with Heidi was probably the "best" day of touring, with any guide, in 40 some years of travelling. She totally customizes the tours. If you don't eat fish, she'll get you something else. "Oh - this place looks nice!" and that's where you'll stop. During our tour, she invited a friend to join us for a picnic in Somers Garden (friend works at a popular historic site) and he met us, bringing various local food & treats to try. He mentioned spotting sea turtles near the fort so off we went to find the turtles. Later we ran into her friend and his elderly mum while getting ice cream. Yes, we saw all the various sights, but we also stopped on the side of a small, rural road to feed bread to wild chickens. We met some lovely locals. We got locked inside the Botanical Gardens (but that's another story!!). We laughed so much. We took great photos all over the island. We shopped for souvenirs at the lighthouse (best prices). It was a perfect day. You're going to have a great time.

We very much enjoyed this tour - may do it again this year!

 

http://www.bermuda.com/famous-homes-hideaways/

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Last summer, we did this tour as well. It was really, really well done. Very charming, informative and quite

relaxing. We did it on the last day, before we sailed, as we didn't want to wander too far from the ship. It worked out perfectly.

Good for young and old.

It sounds like a balanced plan to see the highlights!

Simple to say, but it would probably be wise to save the dolphin swim as the last activity on the last day. The dolphins are located in the Dockyard, and you'll be close to the ship. It will be a memorable way for your daughter to end the stay in Bermuda.

I wanted to add that if you find yourself eating at the buffet with your children, they only seem to put out little cartons of milk at breakfast time, not at lunch or dinner.

It is a good idea to grab a few for your cabin fridge in the morning, so your kids can have milk whenever they want it.

NCL has no splash areas for diapered kids.

Yes, that's the rule. I wouldn't assume that it is relevant to the OP's children (age 2.5 and 3). Many are potty trained by that age.

We cruised on the Breakaway last summer with our daughter and toddler grandson.

He was too young for the Kid's Club, but there is a nicely outfitted Guppy Room which is open most days. There is a cute selection of age appropriate toys and it became the toddler meeting place. (I spent lots of hours in there watching over little grandson!) A couple of times during the week, there was an organized toddler group activity with a staff member -- very cute. Time and place are announced in the daily activity sheets.

The kid's pool area is very toddler friendly (only about 6" deep), quite large and there is a comfortable space to sit close and supervise.

I guess my one real tip is this: when you exit the ship in N.Y. on the final morning, you can skip the l-o-n-g line that runs down the terminal, and go directly to the elevators, IF your little ones are in a stroller. That saved a TON of time!

The whole village is an easy walk, end to end. No worries there. :)

Mallory ~ We didn't go to Carierres de Lumieres but it looks amazing. You only get limited time there (perhaps 2 hours or so) and there is lots to explore. The village is enchanting. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been and was definitely a highlight of our cruise. You will love it.

Two years ago, we rented a home in Bermuda in May, and used that popular website. It worked perfectly, and the home was oceanfront and beautiful! The owners were very friendly and kind. They even gave us a bus pass for the week, and baked us a rum cake (couldn't have been nicer!) We met SO many lovely people.

We enjoyed living 'local', shopping at the Marketplace for groceries (the one near the bus depot in Hamilton is the best -- the huge buffet of ready-made foods changes daily). We took our time and explored the island from one end to another.

This year, in May, we are cruising to Bermuda on the Breakaway. Totally different vacation. The cruise will cost more -- but no cooking for me, and probably more relaxing with the sea days.

Whatever you decide, you're going to love Bermuda!!

You sound VERY excited about your trip! I would be too!

We did this trip (very similar) on the Epic a couple years ago. Everyone is different. I didn't find the ship overcrowded. Perhaps if you go to the buffet for breakfast at 8 a.m. you may have trouble finding a table but otherwise, it felt fine to us. Make reservations for dinner and shows, if you can.

I'm with you on the NCL excursions, because like you, I was afraid to miss the ship by arriving back late with a private tour company.

Probably our worst tour *ever* was the NCL tour of Rome and the Vatican. Too many places in one day, and a terrible tour guide. Our bus arrived on time in Rome but the guide arrived very late. After that it was a mad dash chasing her around the city (almost impossible for everyone to keep up with her) only to be deposited at a gift shop near the Vatican for an hour at the end. She left us at an underground bus depot to meet the NCL bus, which was 'lost' & late...very late. So late that we were sure we were driving to the next port, Florence, on the bus. Fortunately, the ship did wait for us. (Thank you Epic.) But don't worry because I'm sure that guide is long gone. Count on a very long day though.

In contrast the other NCL excursions were lovely. Night and day. Sorrento and Pompeii - fabulous. We also went to Les Baux and it's a simple little excursion. Drive through the gorgeous countryside, up the mountain, and a couple of hours of time to yourself to shop and explore. So beautiful and relaxing.

You're going to love this trip and Barcelona is a wonderful city to wander about. Take advantage of the hop-on-and-off buses to get around. So many amazing sights (& watch your wallet!) Wishing you a wonderful vacation.

Apparently, all that glitters in not gold.

Our TA called in and the price quoted for "on par" bookings, (same cabins/category) is about 25% higher than the original price we locked into a few months ago.

So the cost is (significantly) higher now ...and they give it back to us in a promotion. Even with 'par' we'd still end up paying a little more. Interesting...

Yes, this is just the same as having our Canadian dollars on par with American ones, which saves us 30+ % which is HUGE.

This is of great interest to me, as we've booked one of these trips listed (to Bermuda) but haven't reached the final payment date. Our family cruise was booked through Air Canada, and they had promised to honor any price drops, so we'll see if they honor this one. I've put in a call to our TA to check into it. It might be worth cancelling and rebooking if it's a couple of thousand $$ savings for the family.

Thanks for mentioning all this in the thread. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Thank you VERY much for all the input. Yes, there are pros and cons, and traveling with an active (rather impatient) toddler, a stroller and a car seat can be a bit of challenge. Kind of leaning towards the shuttle, as at least NCL will handle the luggage.

I really appreciate you all sharing your experience. These boards are so valuable. Thanks again.

I just checked with NCL and they do have a shuttle. It's $50. (Cdn.) per person each way but it seems a good, easy option. Thank you for mentioning that. I appreciate it.

So you think that's the way to go? Seems so hectic where you catch the line of cabs....just wondered if a N.Y. cab driver would even want to take the time to attach it properly. Thanks for your response.

I'm sorry if this has been discussed many times previously but I'm fairly new to cruising, and this is all new territory to me. I would love some feedback, if you don't mind.

We are leaving at the end of May from N.Y. on the NCL Breakaway to Bermuda. We're taking my daughter, s.i.l. and 18 month old grandson with us. We are flying in from Toronto, and of course have a car seat for the trip to the airport. My concern is the trip through New York city to the port, and of course, also the trip back to LaGuardia airport.

If we bring the car seat, would a taxi driver even be bothered to put it in? Is it better to just book a car service with a car seat for trips from and back to the airport? Is it fairly easy to use a car service ?? (never done that before) Sounds like it might be a bit tricky to meet up being such a busy port, and airport. How far ahead do you book this service? Is it reliable?

I know we don't need the car seat in Bermuda, as it's fairly easy to just get around with the ferry and a stroller. So I guess the guestion is: taxi + carseat, or car service to and from ship?

Thanks so much for any insights.

We are also sailing to Bermuda on May 29. We booked a tour about 2 months ago, and her dates were filling up quite fast, so by all means, now isn't too early to look for and book a tour. Everyone seems to have their favorite guide.

Second trip to Bermuda for us. Can't wait. You are going to LOVE it. It's SO beautiful, and also very easy to get around on your own. Have a great trip!

However, check to see what kind of room you have. Hopefully this will make sense. There are two different configurations. One has the bed when you first walk in followed by the couch and balcony. The other has the couch first. We had the bed first, which made the pnp in front of the balcony door. If the couch would have been when we walked in I think it would have been fine. When you look at the deck layout you'll see little bump outs into each diagram. The part that bumps into the room is where the couch is. See if you can tell what configuration you have.

OP: Sorry to hijack this thread. You didn't say which ship you were on, so maybe this is helpful for you, maybe not.

I also apologise for hijacking this thread. (Very sorry!)

It is the Breakaway, and the configuration is bed by the balcony.

Thanks for your input.

Thank you so much for both replies. The photo is really helpful. Little guy has to be contained somehow, as he's very restless when he sleeps.

We have balcony cabins on the Breakaway booked. Hopefully I can sort this out. Thank you again.

Thank you so much for the size. I think it would be a bit too small. He actually slept in one at our home (while visiting) until recently. I can buy one that is longer and bring it along, but just, I guess, wonder about bringing it on the plane and would it get damaged when checking it with other luggage.

Thanks so much for your feedback.