2 days Bermuda to Boston - 2 Days?? bobbing like a buoy???

[weary traveler]

Now that the Boston Bermuda season has begun, I'd love to hear reports/impressions on the slow route back to Boston. I love sea days. But I'm curious, as a seasoned Majesty to Bermuda client, I was always amazed we could leave St George around 12 Noon time on Friday and be off the coast of Southern New England late late Saturday night. We'd be flying at a quick clip heading northbound and it was a bit breezy above decks, but now due to the Friday to Friday itinery and pier space, The Spirit leaves Bermuda on Tuesday 5pm and takes it's time back to arrive Friday AM. The routing is not the smoothest to take, but I'd be interested if, so far, it creates a nice soothing two days at sea before coming home (a very enticing thought) or due to the slowness will be we another Atlantic buoy just bobbing with occasional thrusts to 20 knots to smooth things out? Just wondering? I can't wait to experience it. Looking for a few reviews thus far this year out of Boston. Thanks!

 

Your old pal

[CruisinMaterial]

First cruise Boston to BDA this season my co-worker was on and she said Wednesday the seas were pretty rough with a lot of events being curtailed due to sea sickness and she took her Bonnine and still felt queezy. I've got mine at the ready and am sailing one week from Friday. :cool:

[limebaycruiser]

First cruise Boston to BDA this season my co-worker was on and she said Wednesday the seas were pretty rough with a lot of events being curtailed due to sea sickness and she took her Bonnine and still felt queezy. I've got mine at the ready and am sailing one week from Friday. :cool:

 

Oh my! My mother is on the Spirit this week. If the week goes like that, I do not want to be the one picking her up on Friday.:(

[Got Tequila?]

Now that the Boston Bermuda season has begun, I'd love to hear reports/impressions on the slow route back to Boston. I love sea days. But I'm curious, as a seasoned Majesty to Bermuda client, I was always amazed we could leave St George around 12 Noon time on Friday and be off the coast of Southern New England late late Saturday night. We'd be flying at a quick clip heading northbound and it was a bit breezy above decks, but now due to the Friday to Friday itinery and pier space, The Spirit leaves Bermuda on Tuesday 5pm and takes it's time back to arrive Friday AM. The routing is not the smoothest to take, but I'd be interested if, so far, it creates a nice soothing two days at sea before coming home (a very enticing thought) or due to the slowness will be we another Atlantic buoy just bobbing with occasional thrusts to 20 knots to smooth things out? Just wondering? I can't wait to experience it. Looking for a few reviews thus far this year out of Boston. Thanks!

 

Your old pal

 

We were on the first Bermuda run out of Boston this season and thought they did a good job with avoiding the 3 storm systems we went through. Chatted a bit with the captain and he said since he does have extra time to spare he tries to hit the systems during the late evening when possible (as we sleep)...or do a bit of manuvering to stay out of their track when possible.

 

We love the movement of the ship so it didn't bother us at all during the cruise, but there were a few people walking a bit funny around the ship. I didn't see anyone physically ill, but they did have the bags available by the elevators for awhile.

[sjbdtz]

but there were a few people walking a bit funny around the ship.

 

 

Maybe Monty Python, filming a sequel?

[Don Haynes]

Rough seas are directly related to wind, research the Beaufort scale. Of course during storms its more windy. I don't know of any cruise line which has control of mother nature or the weather...

[daisy-mae]

We were also on the first run out of Boston this year. I guess I don't have my sea legs yet, because I started to feel queasy the moment we pulled away on Tuesday evening, and was not really up to par on Wednesday either.

 

We felt that the ship was travelling very slowly at times; my husband used his GPS to clock our speed, which was between 10-15 knots for long stretches. My theory, for better or worse, is that in order to provide a 7 day cruise, more time is spent at sea than is necessary. I read somewhere that the port charges for Bermuda are higher than for some other ports of call; if that is the case, then staying on an extra evening would mean having to raise the cruise fares, so it may have something to do with cost-effectiveness and competition.

[CT Cruiser10]

We were also on the first run out of Boston this year. I guess I don't have my sea legs yet, because I started to feel queasy the moment we pulled away on Tuesday evening, and was not really up to par on Wednesday either.

 

We felt that the ship was travelling very slowly at times; my husband used his GPS to clock our speed, which was between 10-15 knots for long stretches. My theory, for better or worse, is that in order to provide a 7 day cruise, more time is spent at sea than is necessary. I read somewhere that the port charges for Bermuda are higher than for some other ports of call; if that is the case, then staying on an extra evening would mean having to raise the cruise fares, so it may have something to do with cost-effectiveness and competition.

 

NCL has 2 Bermuda itineraries. They send the Dawn out of NYC which is in Bermuda from Wed - Fri. The Spirit is in Bermuda from Sun - Tue. I don't think that it is possible to have both of these ships in Bermuda at the same time, so they are both there for 3 days.

 

I guess that NCL could offer alternating 3 and 4 day stays in Bermuda and charge a bit more for the cruise with the extra day. They could do a schedule as follows:

NYC Wed-Sat

BOS Sun - Tue

NYC Wed - Fri

BOS Sat - Tue

NYC Wed - Sat

etc.

 

The itineraries with 4 days in Bermuda would have 1 sea day before and after the port.

 

I would pay an extra $75-100 per person to stay in Bermuda for 1 extra night instead of the current itinerary. Folks who don't want to pay the extra can take the itinerary with 3 days in Bermuda.

[daisy-mae]

NCL has 2 Bermuda itineraries. They send the Dawn out of NYC which is in Bermuda from Wed - Fri. The Spirit is in Bermuda from Sun - Tue. I don't think that it is possible to have both of these ships in Bermuda at the same time, so they are both there for 3 days.

 

I guess that NCL could offer alternating 3 and 4 day stays in Bermuda and charge a bit more for the cruise with the extra day. They could do a schedule as follows:

NYC Wed-Sat

BOS Sun - Tue

NYC Wed - Fri

BOS Sat - Tue

NYC Wed - Sat

etc.

 

The itineraries with 4 days in Bermuda would have 1 sea day before and after the port.

 

I would pay an extra $75-100 per person to stay in Bermuda for 1 extra night instead of the current itinerary. Folks who don't want to pay the extra can take the itinerary with 3 days in Bermuda.

 

Sounds like an excellent compromise! It would be great to have one extra full day in Bermuda; we were so concerned about getting back on board in time on Tuesday that we curtailed our activities for that day.

[CruisinMaterial]

Last year the Spirit pulled out and left BDA as the Dawn was approaching from NYC. I liked that concept of leaving at 6AM because it gave us late night party animals another night to enjoy Hamilton's (albeit way scaled back Puritanical) nightlife. Now you are stuck with the ship and the DJ onboard. So far I've only met one good DJ onboard a cruise ship and she's on the Jewel right now. :(

 

I think NCL could have stayed the extra partial day and it wouldn't have gone up any higher on the port charges because if you figure it out, the ship arrives at Noon on Sunday and left at 6AM on Wed. It wasn't a fully day on either day so combining the charges for the partial days would make sense (I doubt BDA would see it that way). :cool:

[Don Haynes]

NCL has 2 Bermuda itineraries. They send the Dawn out of NYC which is in Bermuda from Wed - Fri. The Spirit is in Bermuda from Sun - Tue. I don't think that it is possible to have both of these ships in Bermuda at the same time, so they are both there for 3 days.

 

I guess that NCL could offer alternating 3 and 4 day stays in Bermuda and charge a bit more for the cruise with the extra day. They could do a schedule as follows:

NYC Wed-Sat

BOS Sun - Tue

NYC Wed - Fri

BOS Sat - Tue

NYC Wed - Sat

etc.

 

The itineraries with 4 days in Bermuda would have 1 sea day before and after the port.

 

I would pay an extra $75-100 per person to stay in Bermuda for 1 extra night instead of the current itinerary. Folks who don't want to pay the extra can take the itinerary with 3 days in Bermuda.

 

The only problem with the alternating days is that most of us wish to start a cruise Saturday or Sunday, and as it is the Spirit is leaving Boston Friday evening. We also like the regularity of Friday and Sunday departures. At least with a Friday departure from Boston, one only needs to ask for one extra day off from work. With Wednesday departures one is faced with asking for three extra days from work, for a one week vacation...

 

Bermuda would not have built the new wharf at the West End for larger ships unless one of the cruise lines agreed to use it for ten years. NCL has an exclusive from Boston with their agreement with Bermuda, and the usage of the new wharf... None of the other wharfs outside of the West End are suitable for the new large cruise ships in NCL's fleet...

[CT Cruiser10]

The only problem with the alternating days is that most of us wish to start a cruise Saturday or Sunday, and as it is the Spirit is leaving Boston Friday evening. We also like the regularity of Friday and Sunday departures. At least with a Friday departure from Boston, one only needs to ask for one extra day off from work. With Wednesday departures one is faced with asking for three extra days from work, for a one week vacation...

 

Bermuda would not have built the new wharf at the West End for larger ships unless one of the cruise lines agreed to use it for ten years. NCL has an exclusive from Boston with their agreement with Bermuda, and the usage of the new wharf... None of the other wharfs outside of the West End are suitable for the new large cruise ships in NCL's fleet...

 

My hypothetical itinerary was assuming the same departure dates from Boston (Fri - Fri) and NYC (Sun - Sun). The days in my schedule were the days that the ships could be in Bermuda for.

[suzieluvscruising]

I hadn't realized they cut a half a day from the itinerary. The prices are higher this year as it is. I'm glad I haven't booked my trip yet. I will rethink even going this year. NCL must be hoping an extra day onboard will bring in the extra $. I checked and the Dawn schedule is the same for 2011. Very, very disappointing!

[Seanote]

What is different with this year’s Bermuda itineraries? Are not the Spirit and the Dawn on the same schedules as they were in 2009? :confused:

[CruisinMaterial]

What is different with this year’s Bermuda itineraries? Are not the Spirit and the Dawn on the same schedules as they were in 2009? :confused:

 

The Spirit leaves on Tuesday night at 5:30PM (I believe) and in 2009 it left on Wednesday morning at 6AM which gave you the night to spend ashore in Bermuda on Tuesday night. Now that's gone. It could be a way for NCL to boost onboard revenues but if the disco sucks then that's going to back fire because I will not be spending much. I know the White Hot Party is on Wednesday night on the Spirit so that's the night where it should be good but I'd attend that irregardless if it was on Tuesday night (like it was last year) or Wednesday night when the ship is at sea. :)

[CruisinMaterial]

I hadn't realized they cut a half a day from the itinerary. The prices are higher this year as it is. I'm glad I haven't booked my trip yet. I will rethink even going this year. NCL must be hoping an extra day onboard will bring in the extra $. I checked and the Dawn schedule is the same for 2011. Very, very disappointing!

 

The prices this year are running dramatically higher. In the Miami Herald article there was a mention of a new computer system that is monitoring the prices of berths and availability of berths and what they are going for on other cruise lines as well as their own fleet and makes the monetary changes to the fares accordingly. Luckily with graduation in 2011 there'll be a cruise that goes somewhere else other than Bermuda. It's just close and convenient but next year's summer kick off cruise is going to be EXOTIC! :)

[peg013]

The prices this year are running dramatically higher. In the Miami Herald article there was a mention of a new computer system that is monitoring the prices of berths and availability of berths and what they are going for on other cruise lines as well as their own fleet and makes the monetary changes to the fares accordingly. Luckily with graduation in 2011 there'll be a cruise that goes somewhere else other than Bermuda. It's just close and convenient but next year's summer kick off cruise is going to be EXOTIC! :)

 

What date is this EXOTIC cruise next year? And to where?:confused:

[CruisinMaterial]

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What date is this EXOTIC cruise next year? And to where?:confused:

 

Sadly when I was referring to an exotic location I was not referring to a cruise with NCL. I know I'll get flamed because I have become an NCL loyalist but they pulled themselves out of South America which is one place I wanted to go (with the optional excursion to Antarctica) and they've never sailed the Orient which is where some of their part-owner company sails (Star Cruises). However, Star Cruises itineraries are not impressive to me.

 

I will probably be heading back to Princess or quite possibly Celebrity for that trip. :eek: Otherwise, I'd be on NCL. :D

[michigan tim]

I'd think fuel consumption is one of the main factors in the itinerary change.

[Barb Nahoumi]

Sounds like an excellent compromise! It would be great to have one extra full day in Bermuda; we were so concerned about getting back on board in time on Tuesday that we curtailed our activities for that day.

 

 

I hope that NCL will read this post and do this itinerary. It is a great idea. I would gladly pay for an extra day on Bermuda.

[scchasgal]

I hadn't realized they cut a half a day from the itinerary. The prices are higher this year as it is. I'm glad I haven't booked my trip yet. I will rethink even going this year. NCL must be hoping an extra day onboard will bring in the extra $. I checked and the Dawn schedule is the same for 2011. Very, very disappointing!

 

Cutting time in port mmmm remember the whole whoo haa last year about having the casinos open while in port? Since that didn't fly I wonder if NCL is "punishing" Bermuda and heading out to sea to get those casinos open.

[Don Haynes]

That half a day is mostly nighttime. Plus NCL has to arrive and depart these ports during high tide as well, mornings and evenings, not midnight... Its either leave during the evenings or leave during the mornings...

 

Its unbelieveable so many are so ignorant about the sea...

[scchasgal]

That half a day is mostly nighttime. Plus NCL has to arrive and depart these ports during high tide as well, mornings and evenings, not midnight... Its either leave during the evenings or leave during the mornings...

 

Its unbelieveable so many are so ignorant about the sea...

 

I understand about the tides (though I don't know the schedules for Bermuda) but having to be back onboard at around 430 is a pain I would rather leave at 6 the next morning and not have to worry about getting back to the ship.

[peg013]

Cutting time in port mmmm remember the whole whoo haa last year about having the casinos open while in port? Since that didn't fly I wonder if NCL is "punishing" Bermuda and heading out to sea to get those casinos open.

 

BINGO! I think you hit the nail on the head with the casino "promise" that never passed. This works for NCL and for those that use the casino but the rest of us would rather the evening in BDA. (I sail out of NYC so this doesn't directly affect me.)

[pumpkin228]

I thought this change was due to having to make room for other ships to come into port? no?