princeton12321

We've taken NCL to Bermuda a number of times and love it. Two nights / three days in port (with casino open at night) gives you time to both enjoy the island and have time at sea.

 

 

NCL docks in the Dockyard allowing good access to: the islands major cities by ferry, to Horseshoe bay by shuttle, and to the Frog and Onion for a pint :)

Their ships have just gotten too big for our tastes- NCL used to do Bermuda years and years ago with ships small enough to dock in St George and Hamilton.

We tried Celebrity Summit one year which was nice but you still end up at the Dockyard which, after a couple days, was tiresome with the crowds, over commercialization, and remote location on the island. We don’t like moving with the crowds so we spent a lot of $$ on taxis that year.

HAL Veendam was a really good mix for us- just as nice as Celebrity but smaller ship. Big advantage was docking in Hamilton which we found much more enjoyable than the Dockyard and a lot easier to get around the island without being beholden to ferry schedules.

And as I mentioned we’re booked on Oceania this next trip in August (incidentally owned by NCL, which I didn’t know) which will dock the majority of the time in St George which I’m both intrigued and apprehensive about. While it’s a charming little town it doesn’t strike me as having much to do after 10pm like Hamilton would. But we also do get one night docked in Hamilton.

Point of the ramble being that we’ve tried it all to Bermuda, over a long period of time (even some weird one offs like QE2 from New York in the ‘90s). In our experience the smaller the ship you can get down there the better the experience overall will be.

Shame about HAL- Veendam was a great ship for it and docking in Hamilton is much better than being in the Dockyard. Much more central to everything.

We booked Oceania which is doing 3 trips this year in August from New York. 2.5 days in St George and another day and a half in Hamilton- really a perfect itinerary reminiscent of the old days. Haven’t sailed Oceania before but it looks as if it’s the best ship calling on Bermuda all season.

Supposed to be crappy weather here with rain and thunderstorms but nothing that we don’t deal with on a regular basis. The worst of it is supposed be be done by Sunday morning. I think you’ll be fine.

I have it on my phone but I have not had occasion to use it. Also the extra 15 % fee would of make me hesitant unless as a last resort.

 

I don’t think people should hesitate to go to out of the way places because I think that transportation can be solved with some patience. I wouldn’t do out of the way on the final day of a cruise, that’s all.

 

 

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Completely agree with you regarding the added fee of using it- if there are cabs available outside of a place we’re at we will use them. We’ve found we’ve seen more having an app like that as it is an insurance policy if you do find yourself a little remote and no way to get back.

It might solve the problem but then again it might not. Someone posted the following on a social media that is not supposed to be named here a day or so ago:

 

“I am in Bermuda now. Hitch did NOT work well. You need very fast internet and you often waited 10+ minutes to find a driver to be told none were available. I wouldn't rely on hitch.”

 

Reviews of the app on the iPhone App Store don’t inspire much confidence either.

Have used it every year for the past two years and have never had a problem like that. One day of a trip the app was down which was a massive inconvenience but it was because the app was down, not because it wasn’t working correctly.

I was using a US Verizon iPhone on an international plan any the service was plenty fast to use the app. We did have some wait times here and there when we were in more out of the way places like Tucker’s Point but nothing that couldn’t be solved by just requesting the car a little early.

Unfortunately it is has often been reported in Bermuda that the pre arranged taxi does not show up. Also calling for a taxi from a location may not always result in a taxi coming.

Little app called Hitch functions like Uber for taxis there and solves this problem. Call them when you’re ready.

How is the ocean temperature at the end of October?

 

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Low 80s into the 70s during the day. Humidity is much lower than during the summer. Water temp is still nice but on the verge of getting cooler. Biggest issue you’ll have is if the ship diverts to the Caribbean, Florida, or Canada because of a hurricane which can happen quite frequently that time of year.

Yes thank you I found this flight, but for my dates is running around $877 round trip. In your experience does hawaiian air ever drop their fares? I'm still more than 10 months out.

It’s possible- they do run promotions and you’re far enough out. I would venture to say that even if you got a $250 trip to the west coast, $100 hotel, meals, taxis, and then a $300-400 r/t to Hawaii you’re still going to be better off with the JFK nonstop and you save a day.

The lowest I’ve seen it is the occasional promo flights that Hawaiian Airlines (great experience flying them) runs on the JFK-HNL direct flight. I think the fare was around $650 round trip. The outbound flight takes off around 10am and lands around 4ish local. Return departs around 4:30pm and gets in around 7am back in New York. The flight over is a big mai tai fueled party and is fun. The direct back always leaves us a bit loopy for a few days because of the major time change.

It can come and go fairly quickly. But we’ve been down before and it can rain for a couple days at a time.

We are planning on staying on the ship until they make us get off. Do you know what time we will have to have our luggage off on the last day (after having spent the night there)?

It usually follows a normal disembarkation like you had arrived that morning with the exception that there are a lot more self disembarkations and people who leave the ship the day before.

Mopeds in Bermuda are particularly more dangerous than in other places- small twisty roads, driving on the left, and tourist mopeds are governed to lower speeds (while normal traffic isn’t and speeds right by and around you). Would highly recommend the Twizys if you want your own transportation. They’re fun and a lot safer.

To be duty free, goods have to leave the country after they are sold (such as when you leave Canada). When you enter into the U.S. (in this case by ship), buy some things while onboard and then leave the ship in the U.S., those goods purchased onboard have never left the country, so they do not qualify as duty free. This is only our interpretation though. Please do your own research too.

International waters count as being out of the country- it’s the same reason there’s no taxes on alcoholic drinks purchased aboard.

The shop would most likely report a large purchase and give you a declaration form to mail in.

This happens in situations in a casino when one wins a large jackpot- once you’re over the taxable amount the casino is obligated to report and withhold.

Does anyone know whether there is a "faster" line/queue through the SPB ship terminal for holders of a Russian visa, or do all foreign passengers go through the same lines no matter what credentials you are using? We have FAN IDs (which I understand act as visas), and I'm wondering if we will have to wait in the same, potentially long line as the tour operator users the first morning that we disembark.

 

 

 

I ask because we want to be out at a certain time, and I'm not sure if we should factor in a long line tomorrow (June 22).

There wasn’t one when we visited- only one line for everyone with several “stalls” once you got to the front of it with agents.

We were on a small ship docked on the river- maybe there’s a different set up for the big ships?

True, but I was there on July 4 one year, and everything was open as stated, but nevertheless about being on the other side, they did have fireworks at Elbow Beach.

Consolation prize.

They were on the other side of that war...

We received notice today of our originally planned excursion in Hilo being cancelled, which we understand. We are now considering the "Circle of Fire" helicopter tour as we really are hoping to see the lava flow. Can anyone tell us please if they are flying close enough to the volcano to see the flowing lava or if there is a no-fly zone near the volcano? While I am willing to spend the money for this if they can get close to the lava flow, I would be extremely disappointed spending this money and not being able to see the whole purpose of this helicopter excursion. If anyone knows anything recently, please let me know. We are on the July 14th sailing of the Pride of America. Thank you in advance.

I think you’ll be ok booking- my experience with it (Blue Hawaii Helicopters) is that they refund you if they need to cancel or deviate from what’s advertised. We had some pretty adverse weather and they refunded us because we couldn’t fly.

From what I understand ash and fumes are the issue so they’re doing the best they can but they are not going the full way around and they’re not getting very close at all.

No- none on HAL ships. You can withdraw cash from the casino cage agains your account or from the pursers desk.

Taking the train is quite easy- done it multiple times.

Yes and the QUEEN K'DAM will be exponentially larger still in sheer numbers carried. The distinction between a Cunard and Holland America and a P&O is lost literally in the numbers... too many berths being the common denominator. Imagine a new CARONIA and CARMANIA the same size as Oceania's RIVIERA and MARINA, all First Class... with traditional Cunard touches etc. Alas, it's never going to happen.

Or even move over Prinsendam, give her a refit and call her Franconia. That’s not even asking that much!

Columbia/Caronia or "old' First Class on QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 was pretty nice. We did a long Med cruise in her around 1995 and although we booked min. Caronia (the cabin alas was ex-Tourist Class and nothing special), we found the single-sitting in Caronia (the original First Class restaurant), menu and service (we had a British steward and stewardess) to be excellent on every level. And yes, back then, it was all silver service, too, and the menu/service still as if First Class for a crossing. Cunard back then still had very professional and attentive maitre d's and head section stewards in Caronia and they made all the difference.

 

Our overall best Cunard experience actually was CARONIA in 2003... superb throughout, cuisine and service just outstanding. We had engine troubles throughout the whole cruise, they actually sent the replacement part to the wrong port twice and we wound up missing almost every single port and had the best time anyway! Cunard disposing of the ex-NAL ships and not replacing them with MARINA/RIVIERA type vessels, all First Class, was a huge mistake in my opinion. CARONIA was worth repeating and alas will never be.

And therein lies the entire root of the matter when it pertains to the quality of Queens Grill today vs in the past. It’s not about my romanticized memories of past travel so much as the ships were smaller and therefore the food and service was of a higher standard that only a smaller operation can provide. Queen Mary 2 carries 2700 passengers- QE2 carried a thousand less. Every part of the ship is larger including the Grills.

I have no idea how many cruises you've taken in QG [was it the one, or just one on QM2, out of many on other Cunard ships] but I do think when giving opinions, it would help if cruise history could be given, at times.

 

Bygone days are just that. They've gone. Times have changed and moved on and one single experience in QG, which was not up to expectations will of course colour a personal view but to use that as the baseline for giving advice on the product as a whole is a little unfair on anyone asking about the product. do.

This is a fair point. And happy to give mine. I’ve sailed Cunard, and more specifically QE2, for a good 20 years prior to her retirement- upwards of once a year transats with some cruises sprinkled in there. I think somewhere around 28 sailings on her. Nearly all of them were in Queens Grill- cabin 1050 on One Deck was preferred, 1049 would do if it were booked already. Sailed in Britannia Grill once to try it. The only time I sailed in Caronia was my last time aboard her because QG was sold out due to it being one of her last crossings and I really wanted to say goodbye to the old girl.

Since then I’ve sailed QM2 about 6 times- all transats in QG except for one Fourth of July cruise we did in Britannia Club. Have really cut down because we find 7 day crossings a bit tedious.

Like the other poster- I am not suggesting that QG is a bad product or that those who enjoy it don’t know any better or anything negative like that. On the contrary, by contemporary standards I think they do a very nice job. But it doesn’t have the ambiance, attention to detail, or quality that QG in QE2 did (or as the other poster said even Princess/Britannia Grill did). It was just run very differently than today- some of the maitre’ds in the mid ‘90s had cut their teeth on the original Queen Mary and Elizabeth. Absolutely no corners were cut as you can see they are today (the domestic farm raised “caviar” they serve would have been tossed overboard!- they only carried large tins of Russian beluga which they would parade around.) It was a delightful time capsule that lasted far longer into the 21st century than it was probably intended to.

Back in the day on QE2, the Grill experience was just that. And there was no set "a la carte" menu, either. That defeats the whole concept of "what would YOU like, sir, tonight?" By limiting the choice initially to a set list, the whole grill concept is diluted. Even the regular grill menu was impressive although in actual number of dishes offered, maybe about the same as today although there was always a savoury at the very end which I miss as a tradition of fine English dining. Caviar, the real stuff, was there for the asking and not some little dollop on a Ritz cracker, either. But you had to really like and know food, dishes and cuisine to avail yourself of much of it. And have a maitre d and stewards who did, too. There certainly was more tableside preparation back then, too... the room reeked of those awful spirit burners they used as a result!.

Having just gone back to the archives it was much more expensive back then to get onboard- but agree that once onboard it was less expensive than it is today. So that’s just flipped. Nothing drives that point home more than a one night Mother’s Day cruise I found in the process that I took some family on in the mid 90s for about $1100 per person Queens Grill...ouch. No idea what was going through my head at the time.

The liberal use of table side prep was also fun at a time when restaurants ashore were modernizing and that was disappearing.

But as you say- Queens Grill was once an experience and literally did rival some of the best restaurants on land (at least in New York and London at the time). Now, while still very nice, it’s not nearly to the same effect.