Tourists to be denied use of busses

[lvz2cruz]

I think the "seat saving" will take place mostly during rush hour. If you sleep in and have breakfast, you should arrive at the bus stop after the locals' workday has begun. If someone at the west end needs to be at a job in Hamilton at 9, they would be on the bus by 8. I doubt a lot of cruisers will be up and heading to the beach that early.

Hope this calms your worries and hope all have a great vacation!

[eastexascruiser]

If current trasportation does not meet the demands of the people and tourists, they should have reduced the number of ships they allow to dock at a time. Thank heavens we are sailing the Veendham so we will hopefully avoid this mess by just staying away from the dockyards. A sad and frustrating situation in deed, but it appears there was an a better solution, but as always, greed is the winner and all the people are losers.

[leekel619]

One's tolerance is obviously a personal decision, but the problem is that you would be waiting for up to an hour in the direct sun, in an ill-formed line that may meander around a bit, full of other people who are probably not as tolerant as you are. Then when the bus did arrive, the line would become a herd, all centered around that bus door. If you were not in the first 10 in line, there would be no guarantee that you would make that bus either, even after having waited that hour. Been there, done that. It's not nearly as fun as it sounds.

 

Theron

 

YIKES. Just the thought of that stresses me out. Your comment is so true.

[leekel619]

Every cruise to Bermuda I have seen people who had scooter accidents. Also several times I have witnessed accidents and near misses. I also know a lady who broke her pelvis on a scooter in Bermuda. One time I saw a guy just miss getting creamed by a truck. I was on the balcony of the Swizzle Inn and I saw the guy look the wrong way before pulling out.

 

I also can say that every cruise I've ever taken to Bermuda, I see people on the ship all bandaged up from scooter crashing. Serious injuries. Last year right before Sail Away we were up on the outside deck watching the runners and we met a man who had a knee the size of a basketball, over 50 stitches; his arm was all messed up with close to the same amount. And various other injuries. His wife was hurt also. He was about 3 miles from the ship, had just rented the scooter, first day of three in Bermuda. They rode it back, all bloody and stunned. People tried to stop him and wanted him to go to the hospital, but he wanted to speed back and go to the ship hospital. Which I think was a great idea myself. He said everyone freaked out at the customs building and ship people frantically escorted him to the hospital on board. He was very lucky but in a lot of pain for the rest of his vacation. How he was able to return to work after, I'll never know. He slid in sand on the road, hit a curb and went over the handlebars. I can imagine a lot of people never make it back to the ship and have to fly home. The scooters are risky because there's so many of them and the roads are so narrow.

 

I know some on here say they'd never take a shore excursion off the ship. We do every year and LOVE them. This year, again, we're taking the 5 hour Island Tour. Its awesome. We go on a chartered bus (usually a caravan of them) and we go all over the island on a tour. Make a lot of stops. Get out in St George for an hour. Its great. Different routes than the regular bus for most of the trip. We take it every year. Worth every penny. We see and learn so much. We all become friends on the bus and have a great time with the driver. Stop for icecream...rest room stops. Its great. We also take a boat tour on another day and see some of the most beautiful places. Quiet coves, lovely scenery. Relaxing and enjoyable. No rush. No waiting for anything.

[Bonnie Voyager]

 

I know some on here say they'd never take a shore excursion off the ship. We do every year and LOVE them. This year, again, we're taking the 5 hour Island Tour. Its awesome. We go on a chartered bus (usually a caravan of them) and we go all over the island on a tour. Make a lot of stops. Get out in St George for an hour. Its great. Different routes than the regular bus for most of the trip. We take it every year. Worth every penny. We see and learn so much. We all become friends on the bus and have a great time with the driver. Stop for icecream...rest room stops. Its great. We also take a boat tour on another day and see some of the most beautiful places. Quiet coves, lovely scenery. Relaxing and enjoyable. No rush. No waiting for anything.

 

 

Thank you so much for mentioning this tour! I just booked it myself and was hoping it would be a good choice in place of sightseeing on my own using public transportation as I have done in the past. Like many, I was nervous about how we would manage in the short time we are there, with the transportation issues. But I am quite happy to look forward to my Island Tour now, via the chartered bus, and I have booked a beach excursion for day #2. I am all set! :D And this will free up 2 seats on the public bus that we would have otherwise occupied! ;)

[Host Caroline]

I'm sure you will have a wonderful time on your ship's tour and although I don't take a lot of them, were I in your position I'd have done exactly the same thing.. there are times when a little extra $$ for a tour -- for whatever one's personal reason(s) -- are worth it! I have a friend who only takes ship's tours.. not my "cup a tea" but, hey, it's her vacation so who are we to criticize? There are a lot of really good shore excursions out there and Bermuda's a lovely destination - enjoy!

[marci22]

I can appreciate taking a ship's tour and not having to worry about details, but for larger families, the cost can be prohibitive.

 

If you are someone who has used the public transportation in the past, and realize how easy it is to get anywhere you want to on this island very cheaply, the ship's tours pale in comparison.

 

I really hope they get their transportation issues sorted out soon. As far as increasing the prices: they are already making a good profit on everyone who purchases a 1, 2 or 3 day pass and does not make full use of it.

 

In the past I have found it easier to purchase a 2-day pass than to try to figure out how many tickets I will need; in the process I have donated my dollars to Bermuda without making full use of their buses and ferries. I am going to be much more careful on our upcoming trip by only purchasing tickets for what I actually plan to do. If I see long lines, I'll simply remain in Dockyard.

 

If transportation turns out to be truly problematic I will avoid future cruises to Bermuda unless I am prepared to do nothing in port.

[smalltimecruiser100]

I also can say that every cruise I've ever taken to Bermuda, I see people on the ship all bandaged up from scooter crashing. Serious injuries. Last year right before Sail Away we were up on the outside deck watching the runners and we met a man who had a knee the size of a basketball, over 50 stitches; his arm was all messed up with close to the same amount. And various other injuries. His wife was hurt also. He was about 3 miles from the ship, had just rented the scooter, first day of three in Bermuda. They rode it back, all bloody and stunned. People tried to stop him and wanted him to go to the hospital, but he wanted to speed back and go to the ship hospital. Which I think was a great idea myself. He said everyone freaked out at the customs building and ship people frantically escorted him to the hospital on board. He was very lucky but in a lot of pain for the rest of his vacation. How he was able to return to work after, I'll never know. He slid in sand on the road, hit a curb and went over the handlebars. I can imagine a lot of people never make it back to the ship and have to fly home. The scooters are risky because there's so many of them and the roads are so narrow.

 

I know some on here say they'd never take a shore excursion off the ship. We do every year and LOVE them. This year, again, we're taking the 5 hour Island Tour. Its awesome. We go on a chartered bus (usually a caravan of them) and we go all over the island on a tour. Make a lot of stops. Get out in St George for an hour. Its great. Different routes than the regular bus for most of the trip. We take it every year. Worth every penny. We see and learn so much. We all become friends on the bus and have a great time with the driver. Stop for icecream...rest room stops. Its great. We also take a boat tour on another day and see some of the most beautiful places. Quiet coves, lovely scenery. Relaxing and enjoyable. No rush. No waiting for anything.

 

Was your's through Royal or did you find the boat tour on your own

[leekel619]

We cruise with NCL to Bermuda out of Boston. I always go on their website and read all about the shore excursions offered. Then I choose. They've stopped some of our favorites. Like Cocktails with the Rich and Famous. We loved that one. It was a nice boat ride around beautiful shores and coves full of gorgeous homes of...well the rich and famous. We had complimentary beers and cocktails (lots of choices) and lovely serene music while gently sailing back to the ship, in the sunset. Believe me it wasn't that expensive.

 

The Homes and Hideaways tour is ninety eight for the two of us. We have that booked for in a couple weeks when we go. Its kind of pricey maybe, but we don't spend money in the casino so....and we have a great time. The five hour island tour is one fifty eight for the two of us. Its worth every penny. Its definitely only a ship sponsored tour. Its also the day we leave Bermuda and we know the ship won't leave without us if something 'happens' to make us late. And we continuously pass by crowded bus stops with anxious cruise ship passengers near the beaches and tourist spots. Like the caves and zoo etc.

Its so much easier and less stressful to tour that way. We get our own guide and we get picked up at the ship. We've done the public buses and ferries plenty of times, but we prefer doing it this way now. On our own was fun too though.

 

I'm sure Royal has similar things. Did you look on the website? You can also book while you're on the cruise. They also offer beach excursions and even though you can get there on your own, if we were beach goers, I'd do it that way too. I've done it on my own in the past, with kids, and something about waiting for a bus or cab after a sweltering day at the beach when we're all starved and tired...is not appealing to me. If I remember it was a hike up to the road from the beach too. I think they had shuttles. I don't like to walk a lot in the heat. :rolleyes:

We only cruise by ourselves now. Kids are all grown and do their own thing. We haven't taken the plunge to bring our grandkids yet;) I guess it would be rather costly with a large family. Besides, kids wouldn't enjoy the 5 hour tour.

 

~Cindy

[almondglaze]

Has anyone done the Hamilton Shopping and sightseeing cruise thru RCL?