How to Get to Bermuda

[Buttercup229]

I'm considering a trip to Bermuda and I am looking for a general opinion on which cruise line is the "best" in sailing to this destination. I'm already on the east coast to traveling to a port is not a factor. I know everyone's has a different opinion and different experiences. Please tell me what you think. Does it really matter? How's the Atlantic in the summer verses a fall sailing, etc.

 

Thanks

[caribsun]

Almost impossible question to answer since we don't know your expectations on a cruise.

[sebas030]

I think the best line is the line that gives you the most hours on the Island and that fits your budget.

 

IMO the itinerary arriving on Wednesday is better than the one arriving on Sunday because almost everything on the Island is closed on Sunday and there is no ferry to St-George on Sunday either.

 

I would sail the Breakaway because it arrives in Bermuda a little earlier than the Summit and you have a chance of catching the ferry to St-George early...if St-George is something you want to do...

 

 

Anyways, for me the ship is just a way to get to Bermuda...

 

 

Have fun !

 

.

[biker@sea]

Next year Holland America will be docking in Hamilton , Bermuda which I prefer over the Royal Navel Dockyard on the west end of the Island that the other cruise line's must use.

[sshs]

We were on the Veendam a couple of years ago when it was docked for 3 days in downtown Hamilton. It was great - felt like we were in the middle of everything.

[chrisc71]

Go with the Norwegian Breakaway or Celebrity Summit as those give you the most time in Bermuda.

[biker@sea]

Go with the Norwegian Breakaway or Celebrity Summit as those give you the most time in Bermuda.

 

Temporarily .

 

Next year when HAL returns they dock for three nights in Hamilton , NCL & X only for two nights ,I think . Someone correct me if I'm wrong . :)

[jdarch]

Temporarily .

 

Next year when HAL returns they dock for three nights in Hamilton , NCL & X only for two nights ,I think . Someone correct me if I'm wrong . :)

 

Kind of apples and oranges time-wise:

Veendam arrives 1:00 pm on Monday and leaves 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. So yes, three nights - but as far as visiting, only two complete days; one other day is half gone by the time you get there, and the last day you have only the morning - which pretty much limits you to Dockyard...

[njhorseman]

Kind of apples and oranges time-wise:

Veendam arrives 1:00 pm on Monday and leaves 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. So yes, three nights - but as far as visiting, only two complete days; one other day is half gone by the time you get there, and the last day you have only the morning - which pretty much limits you to Dockyard...

 

It was similar when the Veendam sailed from NY. You got an extra night in Bermuda, but relatively few usable daylight hours over what the ships staying two nights provided. I thought the much-ballyhooed additional time was largely illusory. After dark it doesn't matter very much to me whether I'm at sea or in port.

[biker@sea]

Kind of apples and oranges time-wise:

Veendam arrives 1:00 pm on Monday and leaves 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. So yes, three nights - but as far as visiting, only two complete days; one other day is half gone by the time you get there, and the last day you have only the morning - which pretty much limits you to Dockyard...

 

Docking In Hamilton your have full access to the island with public transportation till midnight .

 

 

The herds of tourists are corralled in pretty early with only one bus route stopping at 9:00 P.M. and are not released at arrival until the transportation union feels like it .

Dockyard ( should be renamed Stockyard ) is not user friendly .

 

Three night docked in Hamilton trumps two in Stockyard .

 

J.M.H.O.

Edited August 15, 2014 by biker@sea

[DPurcell58]

What else will NCL and X do if they only stay 2 days? More days at sea? Had not heard that. I just looked at see X there for the same 3 days next Aug.

Edited August 15, 2014 by DPurcell58

[sebas030]

What else will NCL and X do if they only stay 2 days? More days at sea? Had not heard that. I just looked at see X there for the same 3 days next Aug.

 

Ncl and X are still having 2 nights and 3 days at the Dockyard.

 

HAL will have 3 nights in Hamilton.

[biker@sea]

Ncl and X are still having 2 nights and 3 days at the Dockyard .

 

HAL will have 3 nights in Hamilton.

 

Are you aware of the fact that only in recent years NCL cut back on their nights in Bermuda ?

 

Boston to Bermuda on NCL Spirit was 3 nights in Dockyard ..

 

Spirit arrived on Sunday and departed Wednesday .

 

NCL Dream And NCL Majesty always spent 3 nights in Bermuda too.

 

NCL retaliated when Bermuda would not allow casinos to open in port as promised when the 10 year agreement was signed .

 

I feel NCL should return to the old 3 nights as it was. Now that casinos are open so we could have a full Tuesday there and not have to rush back to the ship .

 

Just sayin .

Edited August 15, 2014 by biker@sea

[beachin' GiGi]

It was similar when the Veendam sailed from NY. You got an extra night in Bermuda, but relatively few usable daylight hours over what the ships staying two nights provided. I thought the much-ballyhooed additional time was largely illusory. After dark it doesn't matter very much to me whether I'm at sea or in port.

 

You are down two hours taking HAL (docking at 1 pm compared to 11 am and we won't even get into how long it will take to clear a ship of 4,000) but up 5 daylight hours on the day HAL departs (12pm all aboard) Those five hours on Bermuda is a lot more appealing to me than taking the slow ride back. But, as one poster mentioned, what are you looking for in your cruise. For me, as much Bermuda land time I can get :D

[sebas030]

Are you aware of the fact that only in recent years NCL cut back on their nights in Bermuda ?

 

... Just sayin .

 

Yes,

 

I was just replying to the poster below that seemed to have understood that Ncl and X were changing to 2 days in Bermuda...

 

What else will NCL and X do if they only stay 2 days? More days at sea? Had not heard that. I just looked at see X there for the same 3 days next Aug.

[marco]

The Veendam will sail to Bermuda out of Boston but pretty much for just the first half of "the Bermuda season". The schedule is something like from early May to early July only, so if you're planning on going later in the season, it's not an option. Three things I like best about taking the Veendam over other options is: 1) The ship will dock in Hamilton, it's the only one docking there as opposed to two larger ships (with lots more passengers) docking and discharging all of those passengers at King's Wharf. 2) The glass dome over the main pool. If it gets a little chilly or inclement, it's still very comfy to sit out by and use the pool. 3)I think HAL has the most comfortable bedding of any line I've been on, including the other Bermuda options, all of which I've sailed on: Celebrity, RCI and NCL.