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Spirit to join Dawn with Bermuda cruises next summer

Don Haynes

By Don Haynes,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Don Haynes

Don Haynes

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MIAMI - November 17, 2005 - NCL Corporation (“NCL”) today announced that its New York year-round ship Norwegian Spirit will join Norwegian Dawn in her calls to Bermuda for the 2006 summer season. Norwegian Spirit’s new 8-day itinerary will feature a day-long call in Bermuda, an overnight stop in St. Thomas, USVI, and a call into Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.

 

The new 8-day itinerary begins May 20, 2006 and runs through the September 30, 2006 cruise. The itinerary is on sale now starting from $699 per person.

 

Norwegian Spirit will alternate this itinerary with her scheduled 6-day Bahamas and Florida itinerary calling in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.

 

“The addition of Bermuda as a port of call for Norwegian Spirit offers our guests the perfect combination of Bermuda and the Caribbean, offering an even greater selection of cruise vacations to these very popular destinations,” said Andy Stuart, NCL’s executive vice president marketing, sales and passenger services.

 

After its new Eastern Caribbean/Bermuda season, Norwegian Spirit will then commence its published 10- and 11-day Deep Southern Caribbean cruises.

 

Norwegian Spirit joins Norwegian Dawn in its year-round New York deployment on November 18, 2005 with alternating 10- and 11-day cruises to the Exotic Southern Caribbean. The 10-day itineraries call at St. Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, St. Maarten and Tortola. The 11-day itineraries call at St. Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica and Tortola. These itineraries are offered through February 2006. Rates for either itinerary start from $949 per person.

 

On February 19, 2006 through the May 7th itinerary, the ship offers her seven-day Bahamas & Florida itinerary from New York calling on Port Canaveral (Orlando) and Miami, Florida, and Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.

 

The recently renovated Norwegian Spirit features eight restaurants, 12 bars and lounges, a state of the art spa and fitness facility, a pirate-themed activity complex for kids, a teen center, basketball court, golf driving net, casino and conference center among other amenities.

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Baitman19

Baitman19

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Only problem with that, is ONE day in Bermuda is not long enough. Have cruised to Bermuda twice and stayed 3 1/2 days there. Can't cram all the beauty into just one day.

 

I say, skip Nassau and stay another day in Bermuda.

 

Happy Sailing,

Monty

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Don Haynes

Don Haynes

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Currently yes. But in the near future two Super Mega sized ships will be able to dock at the Kings Warf and one Panamax sized ship will be able to dock in St. George and Hamiliton each. Bermuda is upgrading their docks for larger ships in a two phase program....

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mathfanjan

mathfanjan

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I think the Bermuda stop may be replacing Samana on the 8 day cruise. The 8 day itinerary doesn't include Nassau, only the 6 day one. I know there are several people who are booked on the June 3 trip, which is 8 days, who post here regularly, so they can let us know for sure.

Jan

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RichNY

RichNY

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Currently yes. But in the near future two Super Mega sized ships will be able to dock at the Kings Warf and one Panamax sized ship will be able to dock in St. George and Hamiliton each. Bermuda is upgrading their docks for larger ships in a two phase program....

 

 

Not from what I read here..

 

http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051117/NEWS/111170085

 

And if they ever do make any changes to Hamilton or St George it will take forever to complete.

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skywalkervadar

skywalkervadar

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I mean absolutely no offence as I'm sure everyone is just posting what would be a perfect world scenario and I've heard that Bermuda is an amazing island to visit, BUT ...

 

Isn't this a cruise we're talking about? Cruises rarely stop in port for more than one day. Sure, there are exceptions with the occasional overnight but from what I can tell, one day in port is the norm.

 

Cruising is sort of the sampler platter of vacationing. You get to see a lot of different places for a short time but you don't have to keep packing and unpacking to do it and you get to eat as much as you can ever want to, to boot ;o)

 

Like any port, Bermuda would be great for a longer stay, as any of the islands would, but that's what renting a villa for a week is for.

 

It's the reason why we thought of doing a cruise to Hawaii but then decided against it. It deserves a longer stay (full week or two weeks) and we'd feel jipped by just a Hawaii cruise sampler.

 

But yes, it would be great if they stayed longer in Bermuda .... Nassau is great for one day for anyone who hasn't been there yet though. The Atlantis Aquarium and grounds are amazing and worth seeing at least the once.

 

------------------------------

NCL Spirit, Dec 2005 .... soon, soon, soon, soon, soon ......

HAL Zuiderdam, Dec 2004

Celebrity Constellation, Feb 2004

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Dolphins

Dolphins

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I think the Bermuda stop may be replacing Samana on the 8 day cruise. The 8 day itinerary doesn't include Nassau, only the 6 day one. I know there are several people who are booked on the June 3 trip, which is 8 days, who post here regularly, so they can let us know for sure.

Jan

 

I don't think Spirit will be replacing Samana with Bermuda on any of their winter cruises.

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CruisFran

CruisFran

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For many years Bermuda cruises WERE the exception, rather than the rule. Prior to the last year or two, most all Bermuda cruises, on different cruiselines, spent 3nights/4days IN Bermuda, whether it was 1,2,or 3 ports around the island. Sadly, I'm afraid, the age of the "typical" Bermuda cruise (ships in the 40-50 ton range) is nearing it's end. The newer ships are too large to dock in St.George or Hamilton...leaving only Kings Wharf. So, they will take turns with 1 night stays...a shame! Granted, a land visit is indeed something to do, which we have done...but the week's cruise, with 3 nights there, is near perfect!!..in IMHO!

 

We were lucky enough to enjoy an 8 night cruise to Bermuda (on RCI's Empress of the Sea) a couple of years ago...awesome!

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Tatka

Tatka

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We are booked on her for August 19th , 2006 cruise

 

For now itinerary is NY - sea day - sea day - St. Thomas - Tortola - Samana (Dominican) - sea-day - sea-day - NY

 

I wonder how it will look now.

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shoreguy

shoreguy

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We are booked on her for August 19th , 2006 cruise

 

For now itinerary is NY - sea day - sea day - St. Thomas - Tortola - Samana (Dominican) - sea-day - sea-day - NY

 

I wonder how it will look now.

 

You itinerary looks like this. I just checked on the booking engine

 

Sat DEPART NEW YORK CITY, US 4:00 PM

Sun CRUISE 12:00 AM

Mon CRUISE 12:00 AM

Tue ARRIVE-DOCK ST.THOMAS, US 11:30 AM

Wed DEPART ST.THOMAS, US 1:00 AM

Wed ARRIVE-ANCHOR TORTOLA, VG 7:00 AM

Wed DEPART TORTOLA, VG 3:00 PM

Thu CRUISE 12:00 AM

Fri ARRIVE-DOCK KING'S WHARF, BM 9:00 AM

Fri DEPART KING'S WHARF, BM 5:00 PM

Sat CRUISE 12:00 AM

Sun ARRIVE-DOCK NEW YORK CITY, US 8:00 AM

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Tatka

Tatka

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This is great!!!

 

We've never been to Bermuda and didn't really want to go there for 3-4 days in a row ( I like to have sea days in between). :)

 

We also won't have 2 back to back sea days on the way back... I am glad we booked this cruise. :D

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Don Haynes

Don Haynes

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It seems Bermuda has a definition of a Mega ship which is different from others. Read this news item from the same newspaper:

http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040508/NEWS/105080054&SearchID=73226846384199

 

The Super Mega ships or Post Panamax, or as Bermuda describes as a Mega ship will only be porting at Kings Warf. However, Bermuda will in the future allow Panamax sized ships to the upgraded ports of St. George and Hamiliton.

 

The plan is to make one of their two docks larger to handle Panamax sized ships, eliminating the second dock in both ports. The first phase of the plan to upgrade Kings Warf and St. George has already been started. The second phase of improving the port of Hamiliton will start in a couple of years.

 

Bermuda is well aware that cruise ships are becoming larger, that there aren't many 650 feet cruise ships being built, and their ports are too small....

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CruisFran

CruisFran

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Glamourgal & Tatka, I agree, 1 day in Bermuda is better than no day in Bermuda! My advise...be ready when the ship docks at 9:00ish! Get yourself a taxi tour of a minimum of 3-4 hours. The tour taxi drivers love to show off their beautiful island. You will still have time left to shop, or whatever, and be back onboard before 5:00 sail-away!

 

Can guarantee you'll want a return visit!!

Happy Planning...and Enjoy!!

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WaldosPepper

WaldosPepper

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Glamourgal & Tatka, I agree, 1 day in Bermuda is better than no day in Bermuda! My advise...be ready when the ship docks at 9:00ish! Get yourself a taxi tour of a minimum of 3-4 hours. The tour taxi drivers love to show off their beautiful island. You will still have time left to shop, or whatever, and be back onboard before 5:00 sail-away!

 

Can guarantee you'll want a return visit!!

Happy Planning...and Enjoy!!

 

Yeah, what she said! The taxi drivers in Bermuda are like none other. Most are "Certified Bermuda Tour Guides" and proudly display their credentials on their visors. Many cabs are mini-vans, and can fit six to eight passengers, so grab a group and hail a cab to adventure and sightseeing.

 

Be sure to let the cabdriver know it's your first visit, and give an idea of what types of things you'd like to see (eg: beaches, historic sites, shopping districts, million-dollar estates, etc) and they'll be sure to take you to the right locations.

 

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

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