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

[iheartbda]

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

Possibbly. A few years ago we were on another line when there were more ships coming and going than there are now.There were 3 ships in Hamilton, 2 ships in St. George and 2 at Dockyard all which were either docked at the same time or overlapping some of the days. We left NY on Sat. at 4:30PM and arrived in Bermuda at 9:00AM on Mon. We did not leave Bermuda until Thurs. at 3:00PM. to arrive back in NY Sat. around 7:00AM.

 

Of course now, there are no small ones ships left that can get into St. George so that eliminates a couple of berths there.

[njhorseman]

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.

 

NCL had the extra sea day before the casino proposal was shot down, so it isn't "punishment" per se, although it probably was done originally to have the casino and shops open an extra day.

[peg013]

NCL had the extra sea day before the casino proposal was shot down, so it isn't "punishment" per se, although it probably was done originally to have the casino and shops open an extra day.

 

They had the extra sea day but they left Bermuda at 6am Wednesday....now they are leaving Tuesday evening instead which means they can have the casino open Tuesday night, which they couldn't last year.

[suzieluvscruising]

Well it seems there are multiple reasons for 13 hrs less in Bermuda, which are all win-win for NCL but at the expense of the passengers who would prefer the extra time in Bermuda. Port charges, tides, more time on board = more income, and a huge amount in better fuel economy (think driving 55 instead of 70 mph). Room at the pier is not one of them. As mentioned, Dawn takes Spirit's place and they use to pass each other near St George. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. I'm still rethinking my cruise as a result of the shorter Bermuda time.

[weary traveler]

i merely started this thread to see how the Spirit was handling the slow boat back to Boston method. I personally love sea days.. I know there's only been two sailings thus far.. i was just curious.. Pier availability is definitely a factor... without St George...or they'd have a 3rd ship there, probably from Charleston. I used to love the Friday morning last minute shopping rush watching passengers running like hell past the White Horse Tavern and the round about for the ship around 1130am when the horn sounded you saw them come running. I just feel bad that someone is paying the same fare and someone staying 12 hours longer on the island.

Either way dollar for dollar you cant find a cheaper vacation to such a beautiful, safe location. I'll look for the reviews as they come in.

[CruisinMaterial]

For those that mentioned the casino proposal - I completely forgot about that but that would make a lot of sense as to why they want another night out at sea. More revenue for the casinos onboard. The more they stay in port the less they can offer the cruise passenger, including entertainment-wise because of restrictions by Bermudian government. If we were at sea in the Caribbean I wouldn't mind so much but doing the slow boat back to Boston in the Atlantic? Sorry, I'd much rather stay in Bermuda the overnight and go a wee bit faster back to Boston (fuel economy be damned... they've still got two days to get back up here whereas 1.5 to get there). :p

[CruisFran]

i merely started this thread to see how the Spirit was handling the slow boat back to Boston method. I personally love sea days.. I know there's only been two sailings thus far.. i was just curious.. Pier availability is definitely a factor... without St George...or they'd have a 3rd ship there, probably from Charleston. I used to love the Friday morning last minute shopping rush watching passengers running like hell past the White Horse Tavern and the round about for the ship around 1130am when the horn sounded you saw them come running. I just feel bad that someone is paying the same fare and someone staying 12 hours longer on the island.

Either way dollar for dollar you cant find a cheaper vacation to such a beautiful, safe location. I'll look for the reviews as they come in.

 

Those days are pretty much a thing of the past!! Cruiselines aren't keeping the smaller ships, that can access St. George and Hamilton. Princess does have one, new small one, the Pacific Princess...which I think would be a perfect fit, but it seems they would rather do the Alaskan market....too bad. Even the HAL Veendam, which was originally supposed to dock at both St. George and Hamilton, cannot access St. George and will now tender passengers.

 

Dockyard cruisers...remember to get over to St. George, it's a great little town, and they need your business!!!

 

You all could be right about the casinos, etc.!! Ships have passed each other on arrival and departure, for years and years. So something's up!!

[fridaythe13th]

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...

 

You can't tell me that it's always high tide when a ship arrives and departs at the same time each week. I thought the tide was forever changing.....

 

It's unbelievable there are so many ignorant people period, not just about the sea.

[fridaythe13th]

i merely started this thread to see how the Spirit was handling the slow boat back to Boston method. I personally love sea days.. I know there's only been two sailings thus far.. i was just curious.. Pier availability is definitely a factor... without St George...or they'd have a 3rd ship there, probably from Charleston. I used to love the Friday morning last minute shopping rush watching passengers running like hell past the White Horse Tavern and the round about for the ship around 1130am when the horn sounded you saw them come running. I just feel bad that someone is paying the same fare and someone staying 12 hours longer on the island.

Either way dollar for dollar you cant find a cheaper vacation to such a beautiful, safe location. I'll look for the reviews as they come in.

 

My friends will be returning Friday and I will be sure to ask them. I also loved that last minute shopping in St George.

[iheartbda]

For those that mentioned the casino proposal - I completely forgot about that but that would make a lot of sense as to why they want another night out at sea. More revenue for the casinos onboard. The more they stay in port the less they can offer the cruise passenger, including entertainment-wise because of restrictions by Bermudian government.

It's been about 10 years since cruise lines did not, or were not able to have entertainment when docked.

 

 

If we were at sea in the Caribbean I wouldn't mind so much but doing the slow boat back to Boston in the Atlantic? Sorry, I'd much rather stay in Bermuda the overnight and go a wee bit faster back to Boston (fuel economy be damned... they've still got two days to get back up here whereas 1.5 to get there). :p

As I posted previously, they can get there much faster than they are now but I'm sure the cruise lines have their "reasons" and they ain't tellin' us what they are.:p

[CruisinMaterial]

It's been about 10 years since cruise lines did not, or were not able to have entertainment when docked.

 

I know. This is the reason why BDA is shooting themselves in the foot. Cruise ships would stay in port longer if they had a chance to make revenue at night. Face it, BDA is so incredibly lame after 10PM that being in the dockyard gives a person really no options but the ship - unless you know where to look ahead of time. :( There are very few bars that are open late night there and BDA cripples themselves with their transportation system shutting down an early hour. With BDA's regulations crippling the night time entertainment and revenue onboard it would only make sense that the cruise lines would spend less time there.

 

Just how desparate is Bermuda to get new revenue? They've got Carnival going there. I can't wait for Margaritaville, Senor Frogs and Carlos N Charlies to setup shop now in the dockyard. It might just get interesting at night in BDA after all! :D

[CT Cruiser10]

It's been about 10 years since cruise lines did not, or were not able to have entertainment when docked.

 

Does this mean that there are no shows on the nights that we are in Bermuda? I've never stayed overnight in a port. Is there really nothing going on while the ship is docked?

[iheartbda]

I know. This is the reason why BDA is shooting themselves in the foot. Cruise ships would stay in port longer if they had a chance to make revenue at night. Face it, BDA is so incredibly lame after 10PM that being in the dockyard gives a person really no options but the ship - unless you know where to look ahead of time. :(

I think we are not communicating here.;)

Casinos are not open but I'm saying for at least the last 10 years, there has been entertainment on the ships. There are no regulations crippling the ships for night entertainment. If they are still on the books, they are not being enforced. Gambling in Bermuda is a very controversal topic for them, even though it would only be permitted on the ships. There are some residents who do not want to hear the word at all. Allowing gambling is still being discussed however.

 

As far as Bermuda being lame....no, there is not much to do at night but Bermuda has always been different than the Caribbean with a more "refined" atmosphere. I don't think they want to become just another Caribbean type island......not that there's anything wrong with the Caribbean.

 

I for one, choose Bermuda because it IS different from the Caribbean.:)

 

Does this mean that there are no shows on the nights that we are in Bermuda? I've never stayed overnight in a port. Is there really nothing going on while the ship is docked?

Everything will be as usual except for the casino.

[CT Cruiser10]

I think we are not communicating here.;)

Casinos are not open but I'm saying for at least the last 10 years, there has been entertainment on the ships. There are no regulations crippling the ships for night entertainment. If they are still on the books, they are not being enforced. Gambling in Bermuda is a very controversal topic for them, even though it would only be permitted on the ships. There are some residents who do not want to hear the word at all. Allowing gambling is still being discussed however.

 

As far as Bermuda being lame....no, there is not much to do at night but Bermuda has always been different than the Caribbean with a more "refined" atmosphere. I don't think they want to become just another Caribbean type island......not that there's anything wrong with the Caribbean.

 

I for one, choose Bermuda because it IS different from the Caribbean.:)

 

 

Everything will be as usual except for the casino.

 

 

I am very excited about Bermuda. Is there a nice restaurant that somebody can recommend? I plan on heading back to the ship for most meals, but I wouldn't mind a nice lunch on a patio overlooking the ocean. I'm not looking to spend a fortune, but maybe $20 a person.

[Likethesearchengine]

I am very excited about Bermuda. Is there a nice restaurant that somebody can recommend? I plan on heading back to the ship for most meals, but I wouldn't mind a nice lunch on a patio overlooking the ocean. I'm not looking to spend a fortune, but maybe $20 a person.

 

Bermuda is pretty expensive. $20 per person is a little slim, but doable. My first suggestion would be to go to a grocery store and buy a picnic lunch. Go to Astwood park. When I was there it was a lush green park with amazing cliffside ocean views.

 

If you want restaurants only, the Swizzle Inn is their version of a chain (2 locations!) and is around your price point, but has watery rum swizzles and very heavily fried food. Also, not overlooking the water.

 

Coco Reef has a nice restaurant in the $30/pp range for lunch, and that is situated right over their ocean view. It was very nice when we ate there.

 

Surf Side also has a nice ocean view, but I am not sure that you would be able to appreciate ALL of it from their restaurant, since their pool terrace would be partially in the way? I'm a little partial to Surf Side's scenery - we chose that as the venue for our wedding, so, we think its pretty neat. If you do eat there, ask if they mind if you walk around their paths down the cliffside... worth a short walk! I realize now that I don't actually know their menu pricing - everything we saw was per head!

 

That's the extent of my on-island food knowledge outside of the bars right at the ship berths. Typically we eat aboard. Have fun!

[CT Cruiser10]

Bermuda is pretty expensive. $20 per person is a little slim, but doable. My first suggestion would be to go to a grocery store and buy a picnic lunch. Go to Astwood park. When I was there it was a lush green park with amazing cliffside ocean views.

 

If you want restaurants only, the Swizzle Inn is their version of a chain (2 locations!) and is around your price point, but has watery rum swizzles and very heavily fried food. Also, not overlooking the water.

 

Coco Reef has a nice restaurant in the $30/pp range for lunch, and that is situated right over their ocean view. It was very nice when we ate there.

 

Surf Side also has a nice ocean view, but I am not sure that you would be able to appreciate ALL of it from their restaurant, since their pool terrace would be partially in the way? I'm a little partial to Surf Side's scenery - we chose that as the venue for our wedding, so, we think its pretty neat. If you do eat there, ask if they mind if you walk around their paths down the cliffside... worth a short walk! I realize now that I don't actually know their menu pricing - everything we saw was per head!

 

That's the extent of my on-island food knowledge outside of the bars right at the ship berths. Typically we eat aboard. Have fun!

 

I will definately do the picnic lunch idea.

 

Coco Reef sounds like it could be a winner too. $30 is in my budget. I only put a price out there to indicate that $100 a plate isn't where I want to go. My wife and I are dinks (duel income - no kids). We'll enjoy it while it lasts.

[DeltaOne]

I am very excited about Bermuda. Is there a nice restaurant that somebody can recommend? I plan on heading back to the ship for most meals, but I wouldn't mind a nice lunch on a patio overlooking the ocean. I'm not looking to spend a fortune, but maybe $20 a person.

 

$20 per person is tough to do in Bermuda. Our favorite place to eat, off the ship, is the Hog Penny Inn in Hamilton. Great atmosphere, service and food.

[Alzarine]

Hog Penny is one of our favorites as well .....but be aware gentlemen if you leave your baseball caps on while you dine, you will be politely requested to remove it. Saw it happen several times the day we ate lunch there. The Bermudians are a very well mannered society. :)

 

Another choice, we have often made for lunch is the Hamilton Princess which tends to be pricey but offers a wonderful view from their patio and delicious fish chowder.

[CruisFran]

If you want restaurants only, the Swizzle Inn is their version of a chain (2 locations!) and is around your price point, but has watery rum swizzles and very heavily fried food. Also, not overlooking the water. Watery!!!...Wow..have never heard that said before of their Rum Swizzles....LOL

 

Surf Side also has a nice ocean view, but I am not sure that you would be able to appreciate ALL of it from their restaurant, since their pool terrace would be partially in the way? I'm a little partial to Surf Side's scenery - we chose that as the venue for our wedding, so, we think its pretty neat. If you do eat there, ask if they mind if you walk around their paths down the cliffside... worth a short walk! I realize now that I don't actually know their menu pricing - everything we saw was per head! Wonder if a waitress named Lulu is still there? Hardest working person on the property!

 

 

Hog Penny is one of our favorites as well .....but be aware gentlemen if you leave your baseball caps on while you dine, you will be politely requested to remove it. Saw it happen several times the day we ate lunch there. The Bermudians are a very well mannered society. :) You are correct, Joanne will be right over to inform you of that fact, as well she should. Wish that gentlemenly habit would take hold here AGAIN in the states!! Be sure to say "Good day", "Good Morning", or whatever salutation is appropriate at the moment.

 

Another choice, we have often made for lunch is the Hamilton Princess which tends to be pricey but offers a wonderful view from their patio and delicious fish chowder. Love Hog Penny, a personal favorite. But, if you're looking for a view try The Pickled Onion, second floor, on Front St., they have a nice porch!!

 

Whichever you choose, ENJOY!!!

[weary traveler]

My favorite has always been the White Horse Tavern in St George.. Conch Fritters to die for.. topped off by some ice cream from the shop across the main street there..

Back in the day.. whilst in St George...you could allow for some nightlife by taking a taxi over to the Southhampton Princess Hotel and take in the floor show or go over to OMalleys open rather late into the evening...

I'm doubtful you'll ever see a Senor Frogs or similar down by the dockyard...Bermuda is pretty stuck in her ways (and that's not a bad thing) She limits the amount of cruise ships visiting (doesnt make sense for the economy) and the amount of passengers each day.

It's such a safe and beautiful area, that i'd bet if they let their hair down a bit, they'd be inundated with cruise ships from at least 10 eastern seaboard cities on an almost year round basis. but they wish to keep control and keep it "quality living" for the inhabitants and you cant really blame them. I always enjoyed the "on deck" parties held in port evenings aboard the ship. not so sure they still do them while in Bermuda (noise levels)

[Dolphins]

In the past, cruise ships sailing 7 day cruises to Bermuda from New York always had one full sea day going down and one full sea day returning allowing the ships to spend 4 days in beautiful Bermuda. They docked in St. George and Hamilton, both more convenient than King's Wharf. This was typical for the Norwegian Crown. Unfortunately, all the cruise lines built only mega ships which are too large to enter St. George and Hamilton. So now all the ships must go to King's Wharf and there are so many that their time in Bermuda must be limited. Thus we all get that extra unnecessary and often rocky day at sea instead of enjoying Bermuda an extra day. HAL thought they solved that problem this year by sending the Veendam to St. George and Hamilton. Then they found out that the Veendam could not get into St. George and now must tender there which detracts greatly from that extra day in Bermuda. I am waiting for the cruiseline with the foresight to send a ship to Bermuda that can dock in Hamilton and St. George. I would book that cruise right away.

[fridaythe13th]

i merely started this thread to see how the Spirit was handling the slow boat back to Boston method. I personally love sea days.. I know there's only been two sailings thus far.. i was just curious.. Pier availability is definitely a factor... without St George...or they'd have a 3rd ship there, probably from Charleston. I used to love the Friday morning last minute shopping rush watching passengers running like hell past the White Horse Tavern and the round about for the ship around 1130am when the horn sounded you saw them come running. I just feel bad that someone is paying the same fare and someone staying 12 hours longer on the island.

Either way dollar for dollar you cant find a cheaper vacation to such a beautiful, safe location. I'll look for the reviews as they come in.

 

My friend is back and here is what she said: "The trip home was SLOW….we even spent time on Wednesday “testing out the steering” by doing big slow circles in the ocean! Both Wednesday and Thursday the seas were very smooth and it was only Wednesday night that we had some bigger waves.

[weary traveler]

all right.. that's what i was asking..lol circles huh? i absolutely love sea days.. but that might give it a different twist especially in the Atlantic

[kittymommax4]

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:

 

Now that you're back from your cruise, wondering how it was. Were you bobbing like a buoy? Me & DH sail in 2 weeks!

[KateQ22003]

Now that you're back from your cruise, wondering how it was. Were you bobbing like a buoy? Me & DH sail in 2 weeks!

 

We just got back from the Spirit yesterday and I am happy to report that we had smooth seas except for about a 3-hour period of quite rough seas when we left Bermuda. The weather was lousy in Bermuda and we left in a rain storm:p

 

Hope this helps you - we had a WONDERFUL trip in spite of the crappy weather!