Bermuda cruise questions

[robinsnest64]

I am wanting my 1st cruise to be to Bermuda with my husband leaving from New York, planning to make two vacations out of one. My questions are 1) is 5 days enough since we are only docked one evening 2) should we splurge on the balcony 3) is there a better and calmer time to go (husband is worried about seasickness 4) is it better to call them direct since I have no clue as to the better rooms and locations on the ship. I have been to Bermuda before but flew in last time 5) which port is better there? I want to make this a great trip so I can cruise to many different locations and we both have a memorable trip. I have read some posts claiming rough seas out of NYC, I know we can't predict the weather just hoping to put a little luck on our side.

:)

[maureencruiser]

Hi, Sorry, there will always be rougher seas to Bermuda because you are heading out into the Atlantic, not just tooling around a few miles off the coast like in the Caribbean. My August cruise to Bermuda out of Norfolk, VA was the roughest cruise ever. If you are really worried, I would suggest a Caribbean cruise-much less chance of seasickness and less days at sea if you are sick..Sorry...Maureen

[janetz]

I am wanting my 1st cruise to be to Bermuda with my husband leaving from New York, planning to make two vacations out of one. My questions are 1) is 5 days enough since we are only docked one evening 2) should we splurge on the balcony 3) is there a better and calmer time to go (husband is worried about seasickness 4) is it better to call them direct since I have no clue as to the better rooms and locations on the ship. I have been to Bermuda before but flew in last time 5) which port is better there? I want to make this a great trip so I can cruise to many different locations and we both have a memorable trip. I have read some posts claiming rough seas out of NYC, I know we can't predict the weather just hoping to put a little luck on our side.

:)

 

 

We have cruised to Bermuda twice from NY. Once going over it was slightly rocky. Smooth coming back. The second time, smooth bot ways. You just never can predict how rough it will be. That would be the least of my concern. We like to go in September, the prices are lower and the weather is perfect. However being hurricane season you take a chance. That also, is just a small concern for us. There is the NCL Dawn from NY and this year the Celebrity Summit, I think, is sailing from New Jersey which is just a stones throw away from the NY port. There is also the RCL Explorer, which I think is a 5 day trip, from New Jersey. I would go for the 7 day, for sure. When in Bermuda you are docked so the ship is like a floating hotel. We never bothered with a balcony as we were hardly ever in our cabin. That choice is yours. Mid ship is where you feel any motion the least. :)

[Grannycb]

Bermuda is one of our favorite cruises. While we've never gone out of NY to Bermuda, we have gone out of Philadelphia and Baltimore. Both five day cruises were really nice. There's enough time on the ship to relax, enjoy shows, music, good food and make new friends. The time in Bermuda is short. If you plan your time well there are many things you can see and do in those two partial days in port.

 

As for rough seas, there is always one patch where you cross currents that gets a little rough. Many people take Bonine to keep seasickness away. (I haven't needed it so can't give a first hand account.)

 

As to cabin type, we find a well placed inside cabin to be more relaxing for us than other cabin types. During the day we are out enjoying the ship. Inside cabins are wonderful for sleeping. We will probably stick to inside cabins from here on out. The other types aren't worth the extra money to us.

[navybankerteacher]

It's entirely possible to sail to Bermuda on a glassy smooth sea all the way. Even if there is some roughness, the ships are so well stabilized that, except for a real storm (actually pretty rare) you will hardly feel motion.

 

Seven days always beats five. The best port in my mind is St.George, but that is now a tender port due to size of ships. Hamilton is also good - you moor right on Front Street (middle of town). The Dockyard is way out at the west end, far from everything and pretty much of a tourist trap -- if you have a choice, avoid it.

[marco]

We've cruised to Bermuda 15 or so times always in May, June, Sept and Oct. The Atlantic at anytime is totally unpredictable. We've had seas as smooth as glass, and some rocky trips, too. A 5 day-er with just one day in Bermuda is limiting yourself to a lot to see. We've always done a 7 day which gives you 3 and 1/2 days in Bermuda. We've prefer the 2 days in St George's and the 2 days in Hamilton trips. HAL is doing that itinerary out of NY this coming season and Celebrity out of NJ is doing the 7 day sailings, but docking at Kings Wharf only. We particularly like going in May as they have the Bermuda house tours every Wednesday in May (not sure they still have it, but that was the highlight of our cruises in May) 4 or 5 houses each Wednesday in May are open for touring. And on any of the 7 day itineraries, you'd be there on a Wednesday. If that is of interst, check the Bermuda tourism website for more info.

[robinsnest64]

Marco,

 

Thanks so much for your response, that gives me a little more insight as to our ports and time frame. We are going for the beach so what month would you recommend and which cruise line did you enjoy best. We are a married couple and do not really want to be aboard with alot of children.

 

Thanks again,you are a Bermuda expert!!

[cb at sea]

Because Bermuda is really off the coast of the Carolinas, I wouldn't go there until May...the seas will still be chilly....but you can't predict the seas at all...could be rough, could be calm....no one, not even the meteorologists know!

Personally, I don't care what the sea temps. are...I like to sun, and as long as I don't get too hot and sweaty, I don't need to get wet!

[iheartbda]

Marco,

 

Thanks so much for your response, that gives me a little more insight as to our ports and time frame. We are going for the beach so what month would you recommend and which cruise line did you enjoy best. We are a married couple and do not really want to be aboard with alot of children.

 

Thanks again,you are a Bermuda expert!!

I agree with everything Marco said.:)

 

I will disagree with anyone who says you will always run into rough seas. Yes, you can run into them but in all our cruises there, we had far more calm glassy seas. You just need to understand about the possibility. You will feel movement in a cabin that is down low and midship if you are prone to seasickness.

 

The only ship that will dock in Hamilton is the Veendam and that is not the whole time. St. Geogre is our favorite place to dock because of the quaintness and feel of the town. I also disagree that Dockyard is only a tourist trap. Depends on what you like.;) The Clocktower Mall has branches of some of the more popular stores that you will find in Hamilton. The Craft Market has interesting handmade items by Bermuda artists and craftmen. The Commissioner's House and Maritime Museum are nice historical places and The Bermuda Arts Centre has a wonderful collection.

 

Dockyard may be on the west end of the island but that makes it very convenient to the best beaches on the south shore. It's not all that far to Hamilton by bus and really quick by ferry. You can also take the ferry to St. George if you want to do anything on that end of the island.Aside from HAL, all the other lines are docking at Dockyard so you have little choice about where to dock.

 

If you don't want to be on board with a lot of children, go before schools are out or later after they're back in session.

[robinsnest64]

Thanks to all they have replied to my questions, I must say the chance of rough waters do not outweigh the beauty of Bermuda. My husband has decided to go for it so we are trying to decide between maybe August or Sept. Also if anyone has cruised with Holland I would love some feedback to the experience. They are a little higher in price but it seems they are the only ones docking for a 7 day in the ports we want. We are in our mid 40"s and this cruise line just looks a little nicer than some, just don't want to pick the wrong ship.

[iheartbda]

Thanks to all they have replied to my questions, I must say the chance of rough waters do not outweigh the beauty of Bermuda. My husband has decided to go for it so we are trying to decide between maybe August or Sept. Also if anyone has cruised with Holland I would love some feedback to the experience. They are a little higher in price but it seems they are the only ones docking for a 7 day in the ports we want. We are in our mid 40"s and this cruise line just looks a little nicer than some, just don't want to pick the wrong ship.

Just be aware that HAL will not be actually docking in St. George but rather anchoring out in Murray's Bay and you will have to tender in. There is discussion about it on the HAL board. The Veendam went through a refit and they just recently found it will not be able to navigate the Town Cut into St. George.

[marco]

If you are going to go Aug/Sept, I would take the last August or later sailing. Schools start the last week of Aug (mostly) and there will not be a lot of children on board. Of the options, I like HAL the best. Having been on HAL, RCI, "X", and NCL (all of which go to Bermuda out of NY/NJ) I think the "fit and finish" of the ships as well as the appointments are nicer. Lots of real artwork and antiques. I like the sliding glass dome over one pool in the event of inclement weather. (and the fact the the other "open" pool is quiet) I'd rather tender in St Georges and dock in Hamilton that be the entire time at the dockyard. No matter what line you take, things a bit quiter onboard while there. I think all of the lines have to honor the Bermuda directive as they want you to go out and frequent Bermuda establishments in the evenings. Usually the bands are playing and there is dancing and the like but no "estravaganza" entertainment and the casinos are closed (and there aren't any in Bermuda, either). Regardless of what line you take and where you end up docking, I think you will enjoy Bermuda. May-Oct should be fine for the beaches and swimming in the ocean.

[alphakitty]

As far as cabin, if you do get a balcony avoid the ones on deck 6. They have a metal lower part of the balcony, as opposed to a plexiglass on on decks 7 and up. Nicer to have the plexi IMO. :)

 

We had rough seas on our late October Explorer cruise, but I loved it! :D

 

Pictures:

 

Here's what I mean about the balcony cabins:

Deck 6 vs Deck 7

[ICANDIGIT]

My wife and are thinking about going to Bermuda in April. We went once before and docked at St. George and Hamilton. We really enjoyed both ports and have some concern about docking at Kings Wharf. How much trouble is it to get away from the area to get to where we want to go. The last time we went to Bermuda we did go over to that area , but not until late morning. Wasn't to crowded than, but could see it being really crowded early in the morning.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have you checked out HAL's Veendam??

 

She does 7 day cruises out of New York and you are in Bermuda for 3 nights.