Why aren't there any cruises to Bermuda from Florida?

[QTBabyNurse]

My husband asked me this question the other day and I don't know the answer....does anyone here know why you cannot cruise to Bermuda from Florida?

[tomko2]

We figure it is because Bermunda is north of Florida hence cooler in the winter months and there are less ships in Florida in the summer months so RCI sticks to the Caribbean/Bahamas routes.

I would love to see a Bermunda/Turks & Caicos combo from Florida.

It would be neat to have a cruise that bundles a northern loop including Charleston.

Kathy:)

[Ocean Boy]

Maybe because Florida gets everything else. We in New England need something to make us special!:D

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

I have asked this same question many times. I would certainly go if such a cruise were offered. It could also stop in Nassau or Freeport, Bahamas. Costa used to offer one cruise a year to Burmuda from Fort Lauderdale. I think it was in April, but I don't think I would care to try Costa.

 

I do keep watching itineraries and hoping for such a cruise to be offered.

[Radio]

MSC offers a Cruise on MSC Orchestra in April 2009 from FLL.

 

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[nycruiser80]

Two reasons...I beleive Florida (Lauderdale of Miami) to Bermuda takes a bit longer I beleive ships need at least a full sea day plus a half sea day to get there whereas from NYC say the ships only need one full sea day to get to Bermuda BUT lately ships sailing from NYC are taking two full sea days to get to Bermuda this is only because there is one dock in Kings Wharf for the big ships so its logistical versus a navigation reason

 

2nd reason is that Bermuda restricts the number of ships calling at the island at once. For the 2009 cruise season they already have NCL Spirit from Boston to Kings Wharf, NCL Dawn to Kings Wharf or at anchor, RCI Explorer to Kings Wharf, RCI Grandeur to Kings Wharf and Princess caribbean Princess one day call at Kings Wharf. All of these ships are rather big and while Bermuda has relaxed a bit on how many of these ships can be there at once they still have restrictions in regards to passenger loads.

 

But interesting to note a year or two ago Costa Cruise lines sailed the Costa Magica from Lauderdale to Bermuda I beleive in April and Sept, Oct. Also I remember in past year Regent Seven Seas had one of their ships do a few cruises from Lauderdale to Bermuda.

 

I think the lines should try Fort Lauderdale to Bermuda.

[smoosh21]

We figure it is because Bermunda is north of Florida hence cooler in the winter months and there are less ships in Florida in the summer months so RCI sticks to the Caribbean/Bahamas routes.

I would love to see a Bermunda/Turks & Caicos combo from Florida.

It would be neat to have a cruise that bundles a northern loop including Charleston.

Kathy:)

I was going to add the same. Not only is it quite a trip north to get to Bermuda, it is also very far to the East (Don't forget that Miami is as far west as Pittsburgh), with no where to stop along the way. The distance from Miami to Hamilton is almost 300 miles further than the distance from New York to Hamilton.

 

But your idea might be a good one. Hit Bermuda and a few southern Coastal cities like Charleston and Savannah for a one week mostly domestic cruise.

[tomko2]

I was going to add the same. Not only is it quite a trip north to get to Bermuda, it is also very far to the East (Don't forget that Miami is as far west as Pittsburgh), with no where to stop along the way. The distance from Miami to Hamilton is almost 300 miles further than the distance from New York to Hamilton.

 

But your idea might be a good one. Hit Bermuda and a few southern Coastal cities like Charleston and Savannah for a one week mostly domestic cruise.

 

 

Love the idea of adding Savannah. We have been there a couple of times and I would love to go back as it is so interesting and the food is great!

I picked Charleston because we have never been there and it looks so pretty on the tv travel shows.

 

The ship could also stop at Jacksonville or Cape Canaveral on the way back to Fort Lauderdale or Miami; both places would have interesting excursion options.

 

We could call it the Southern Living Cruise and highlight the domestic elements.

 

Pushing this a bit further we could even have a circle Florida cruise. As the RCL slogan goes "Why Not".

 

Does anyone know of any shipping laws that would preclude this from happening?

 

Kathy:)

[mafig]

We were on Costa Magica to Bermuda from Ft. Lauderdale a few years ago. It took us a day and a half to get there.

[QTBabyNurse]

Love the idea of adding Savannah. We have been there a couple of times and I would love to go back as it is so interesting and the food is great!

I picked Charleston because we have never been there and it looks so pretty on the tv travel shows.

 

The ship could also stop at Jacksonville or Cape Canaveral on the way back to Fort Lauderdale or Miami; both places would have interesting excursion options.

 

We could call it the Southern Living Cruise and highlight the domestic elements.

 

Pushing this a bit further we could even have a circle Florida cruise. As the RCL slogan goes "Why Not".

 

Does anyone know of any shipping laws that would preclude this from happening?

 

Kathy:)

 

Little did I expect when I originally posted this question today to hear such awesome ideas! I really like the options of adding some southern cities such as Charleston and Savannah...I would book a cruise like that in a heartbeat!

[cb at sea]

I would love it if Baltimore and Norfolk would go somewhere OTHER than Bermuda!!!!! That seems to be their main destinations!

[nycruiser80]

Adding southern cities is a great idea! As I have said before I have cruised to Bermuda from NYC 8 times but I would come down to Florida to a cruise like that!! Sounds great. Sometimes in years past cruiselines have combined Newport, RI with Bermuda from NYC and I see that RCI will do that in 2010 so they shoudl try it with southern cities from Florida.

 

Are you listening cruise line execs??

[tomko2]

Wow, so far we all seem to like these ideas. Let's hope that others chip in their ideas, suggestions and opinions. The more traffic this thread gets; the more we have a chance of someone in RCL reading it.

 

Heck, I am already thinking of excursions for the various ports, e.g. Savannah -- take the "Home of Midnight in the Garden of Eden" bus tour and from Jacksonville a trip to St. Augustine's.

 

Kathy:)

[bluecookies]

I don't understand why the Bermuda cruises seem to be on the expensive side, especially because they appear to have mainly sea days.

[hmsdos]

Wow, so far we all seem to like these ideas. Let's hope that others chip in their ideas, suggestions and opinions. The more traffic this thread gets; the more we have a chance of someone in RCL reading it.

 

Heck, I am already thinking of excursions for the various ports, e.g. Savannah -- take the "Home of Midnight in the Garden of Eden" bus tour and from Jacksonville a trip to St. Augustine's.

 

Kathy:)

 

And there is a port in Jacksonville... Carnival sails out from there.

[Radio]

I would love it if Baltimore and Norfolk would go somewhere OTHER than Bermuda!!!!! That seems to be their main destinations!

 

Yes they do sail to Bermuda alot, however there are quite a few destinations from Baltimore / Norfolk to the Caribbean and Canada/NE.

 

Grandeur Carribbean/ Baltimore 2009 6 Sailings

 

Grandeur Canada / Baltimore 2009 4 Sailings

 

Grandeur Bermuda / Baltimore 2009 10 Sailings

 

Grandeur Caribbean / Norfolk 2009 3 Sailings

 

Grandeur Bermuda / Norfolk 2009 4 Sailings

 

Radio

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Midnight Writer]

I think that Florida does not go to Bermuda is because of the Triangle. We are half way into it. Most ships do not travel into the Triangle, its from the tip of Florida of Miami to the last part of Bermuda to the end of it, the triangle is dangerous occurance and offen some ships disappear.

The times that ships do not go there is from May to August there have been alot of occurances then at that time. So I assume that this is the reason.

Red:mad:

[Midnight Writer]

I have asked this same question many times. I would certainly go if such a cruise were offered. It could also stop in Nassau or Freeport, Bahamas. Costa used to offer one cruise a year to Burmuda from Fort Lauderdale. I think it was in April, but I don't think I would care to try Costa.

 

I do keep watching itineraries and hoping for such a cruise to be offered.

costa is not a good ship mostly foreigners, and they do not speak english most of the time and rude is not the word:( I speak fluently italian and they have problems with americans. Even though I am a foreign born raised in the states since i was five but I understand it very well, those italians do mistreat us americans here. they make fun of us and I told some of them the last time we were on the ship which was last 2 yrs ago aobut the rudeness.. they look at you with the stupid gaze in their eyes. yeah they are not that stupid too.so I say stick to RCCL or Carnival and Celebrity for the most cruises. Princess is even getting really older and food aint so hot, also here is another one for older people Holland American and QE2

[VillaHappy]

Love the idea of adding Savannah. We have been there a couple of times and I would love to go back as it is so interesting and the food is great!

I picked Charleston because we have never been there and it looks so pretty on the tv travel shows.

 

The ship could also stop at Jacksonville or Cape Canaveral on the way back to Fort Lauderdale or Miami; both places would have interesting excursion options.

 

We could call it the Southern Living Cruise and highlight the domestic elements.

 

Pushing this a bit further we could even have a circle Florida cruise. As the RCL slogan goes "Why Not".

 

Does anyone know of any shipping laws that would preclude this from happening?

 

Kathy:)

 

I love the idea of a Southern Living cruise! Why not!?;)

[Sue L]

Little did I expect when I originally posted this question today to hear such awesome ideas! I really like the options of adding some southern cities such as Charleston and Savannah...I would book a cruise like that in a heartbeat!

 

 

Unless congress rescinded the Jones act you could not do it with the current regulations because you need to stop at a distant foreign port before going to another US port.

[Midnight Writer]

And there is a port in Jacksonville... Carnival sails out from there.

 

 

Carnival is out of Jacksonville, Not too much RCCL, but Jacksonville has a port, Galveston TX, New Orleans, Calif... i want to go back on the mariner in calif loved that ship big and long. My ankles hurt from walking so much...

 

I think that the ports in NJ are ok and Boston too. NY is alright too, but too many non speaking people on those ports. and I like to go where there are just regular folks.

I wanted to tell you aobut the ports overseas, Europe too, Italy is wonderful Rome, Naples, Venice and Spain, they are the best ports... the others are so so...

 

We leave for oasis next year but my friend just told me she booked a Carnival Inspiration Jan 11, 2010 for $ 435.00 pp 5 days to Mexico, Tampa Fl and they gave them 50.00 in cruise credit, they must be losing their panties I guess no one is cruiseing then... I wonder why?

 

Red

[ehfl]

It's too far, and it would not be a profitable route. Florida is only 60 miles from the Bahamas, and also close to the Caribbean. You get a lot more bang for the buck from Florida departures going to the Bahamas or the Caribbean. It wouldn't make much sense to spend a lot of fuel to go to 1 stop in the middle of nowhere, where there's not much night life, and not much to do.

 

Bermuda is a nice getaway from the northeast, but is not somewhere that would be profitable from a Florida port.

[kathy&bob]

Wife and I would love one, Drove to NJ from Fla to go to New England, where I grew up. Bermuda would be great for RCCL out of Fla. KInd of like going to PT Everglades and going to Puerto Rico iinstead of Port Canaveral area to make a cruise.

[QTBabyNurse]

It's too far, and it would not be a profitable route. Florida is only 60 miles from the Bahamas, and also close to the Caribbean. You get a lot more bang for the buck from Florida departures going to the Bahamas or the Caribbean. It wouldn't make much sense to spend a lot of fuel to go to 1 stop in the middle of nowhere, where there's not much night life, and not much to do.

 

Bermuda is a nice getaway from the northeast, but is not somewhere that would be profitable from a Florida port.

 

How could it NOT be profitable? With a day and a half at sea coming and going?? Those sea days are full of gambling, drinking and the ship's shops are open for business...I would think that's when they would rake in more money vs. having a day in port when all the passengers are off the ship spending their money on the islands.

[Luv4dacruise]

How could it NOT be profitable? With a day and a half at sea coming and going?? Those sea days are full of gambling, drinking and the ship's shops are open for business...I would think that's when they would rake in more money vs. having a day in port when all the passengers are off the ship spending their money on the islands.

 

But it would be docked in Bermuda for days at a time vs. a port everyday where they can open the casino and shops every night.

 

Also, port charges for Bermuda are far higher than that of any other island in the Caribbean, so that would mean higher cruise fares than what you are currently seeing out of Florida.

 

From a mileage standpoint as well its not very profitable. The ships that do the runs out of Florida to the Caribbean pretty much float around for a few days, they travel at far greatly reduced speeds overnight to get to the next port. Traveling to Bermuda its full speed pretty much to get there and back. That's one reason why the Explorer cruises out of Bayonne are so expensive cause its a very demanding run fuel consumption wise. Remember, fuel is the #1 expense for any cruise line.

 

I think there is no direct reason why, its just finding that balance where they can turn a profit. There are many contributing factors, but the bottom line is it is just not profitable, that's what it boils down to.

 

Happy Cruising!