No Tokens and only One Day Passes to be Sold at Dockyard in 2016

[SportsFanatic]

The fares have not actually been raised. A policy has been put in place that might get more revenue and creates inconvinence. Some depends on what passengers do in Bermuda. Passengers do different things when the are in Bermuda.

 

For example last year on Wednesday, day 1, I took the ferry to St. George and return. In the evening I took the ferry to Hamilton and back on Harbour night. Thursday I went to Horseshoe Beach and back. Friday I went to Horseshoe and back. For day 1 and day 2, I purchased a 2 Day pass for 31.50. Day 3 I took the Horseshoe Bay Shuttle for $16 round trip. If this years policy was in place I would pay $5 cash at the Dockyard, buy 5 tokens in St. George. So my cost would have been 27.50. I would have saved $4 by not getting the pass. I was buying the pass for convenience. If I have to buy one day passes and can't get two day passes I might as well do cash and go ala carte. The new policy will only bring them more revenue if passengers don't wise up. That I can't predict. Maybe only passengers who read Cruise Critic and other social media will wise up. I don't know.

 

I kind of expect the new policy to be reversed shortly because it seems short sighted. We shall see.

Another thought is to take Ferry to St. George and buy a booklet of 15 tickets at St. George (or Hamilton) for 37.50. You can use for bus and the ferry. Booklet can also be split among others. Good deal depending upon the travel.

[Gershep]

travel@bermudatourism.com

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this one worked. It is the tourism board. ( they are on our side according to the article)

 

Thank you. I just sent an email. I will let you know if I get a response.

[SailBadtheSinner]

On the NCL board in a thread with a similar name as here, 2 recent returnees from a Bermuda cruise have posted that they paid the ferry fare with a $5.00 bill and a $10.00 bill. Change in policy, don't know.

 

 

SBtS

[DrivesLikeMario]

Thanks for the new email address. Already sent the email to them. I hope others do the same.

 

Interesting about the $5 and $10 dollar bills being used by NCL passengers. Guess we'll see if that continues. Sure would be easier than quarters!

[Charles4515]

On the NCL board in a thread with a similar name as here, 2 recent returnees from a Bermuda cruise have posted that they paid the ferry fare with a $5.00 bill and a $10.00 bill. Change in policy, don't know.

 

 

SBtS

 

 

 

Either they never required exact change on the ferry, only on the bus, or they made an exception. I have seen bus drivers take paper cash on the bus rather than refuse a ride but I suspect that they always took paper currency on the ferry. On the ferry schedule it always said cash without saying exact change. It was the bus info where they always said exact change.

[CGinMTL]

The fares have not actually been raised. A policy has been put in place that might get more revenue and creates inconvinence. Some depends on what passengers do in Bermuda. Passengers do different things when the are in Bermuda.

 

For example last year on Wednesday, day 1, I took the ferry to St. George and return. In the evening I took the ferry to Hamilton and back on Harbour night. Thursday I went to Horseshoe Beach and back. Friday I went to Horseshoe and back. For day 1 and day 2, I purchased a 2 Day pass for 31.50. Day 3 I took the Horseshoe Bay Shuttle for $16 round trip. If this years policy was in place I would pay $5 cash at the Dockyard, buy 5 tokens in St. George. So my cost would have been 27.50. I would have saved $4 by not getting the pass. I was buying the pass for convenience. If I have to buy one day passes and can't get two day passes I might as well do cash and go ala carte. The new policy will only bring them more revenue if passengers don't wise up. That I can't predict. Maybe only passengers who read Cruise Critic and other social media will wise up. I don't know.

 

I kind of expect the new policy to be reversed shortly because it seems short sighted. We shall see.

Well said. This is what we will do this year.

$5 to get the ferry to St-George ( avoid the frustrated lines at the Dockyard) and then buy tokens for the rest of the trip.

.

They will have fun counting all those American quarters they insist we use on the bus and ferry.

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Finally........ on the Summit in May 1st......... we will have 2 sea days to "educate" people on the new policy.

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Lets hope it is corrected before then

[pltraveler]

Very confused. So can you pay with US coins on the bus to Horseshoe Bay?This is out third time visiting Bermuda and have always bought either a 2 or three day pass.

[Charles4515]

Very confused. So can you pay with US coins on the bus to Horseshoe Bay?This is out third time visiting Bermuda and have always bought either a 2 or three day pass.

 

Yes, the bus is $5 in exact change to go to Horseshoe. They take US coins.

Edited April 17, 2016 by Charles4515

[darlou]

Are you able to give a $5.00 bill or do you need exact change thanks

[Charles4515]

Are you able to give a $5.00 bill or do you need exact change thanks

 

 

 

Exact change in coins.

[CGinMTL]

New policy will actually make me save money

..

We are a party of 4 and we were planning on doing the 2 day pass

$31.5 / per * 4 = $126 ( and not worry about getting on / off bus and see different parts of island)

.

Now...... we will pay $5 on the ferry to get to St-Georges on day 1

4* $5 = 20

and then 15 tickets = $37.50 ( and make it work)

 

Total = $57.50

.

Thanks Bermuda for trying to take advantage of the cruise ship tourists @ dockyard.

[Charles4515]

New policy will actually make me save money

 

..

 

We are a party of 4 and we were planning on doing the 2 day pass

 

$31.5 / per * 4 = $126 ( and not worry about getting on / off bus and see different parts of island)

 

.

 

Now...... we will pay $5 on the ferry to get to St-Georges on day 1

 

4* $5 = 20

 

and then 15 tickets = $37.50 ( and make it work)

 

 

 

Total = $57.50

 

.

 

Thanks Bermuda for trying to take advantage of the cruise ship tourists @ dockyard.

 

 

 

Same here. For what I usually do in Bermuda I will save money. I had been buying the two or three day pass for convenience. I always knew I could save with tokens but the pass meant having the one card. As separate rides I will save money. If they reverse the new policy and make the two day pass available I am not sure I will buy it. They have reminded me it would cost me more.

Edited April 18, 2016 by Charles4515

[islegroove]

From the Royal Gazette:

 

"However, staff at the official centre are said to be under orders from the transport ministry only to sell $19 day passes to visitors, even though regular $4.50 tokens are sold nearby at the Bermuda Craft Market."

 

It's not as convenient but you can pick up two tokens at the craft market for your round trip. It's a simple work around.

[iheartbda]

Quote below shows how most Bermudians feel about tourists. Taken from the local newspaper royal gazette.

 

Open Mind 1609

"If it costs a cruiser an extra $20 a day to utilize our taxi and mini bus services, supporting Bermudian jobs in the process, I am all for it.

 

I think it very telling that the one comment from a cruise passenger who is blessed to be visiting our fair isles at a VERY low cost, and who is complaining about supporting our local economy with a few extra dollars to take a taxi or mini bus is very telling. Bermuda will NEVER be a cheap destination like Mexico or Jamaica. We need to focus on upper end income earners and "fly in" tourists."

REALLY? So there aren't any upper end income earners on cruise ships? :rolleyes: When St. George was vibrant, was it the "fly ins" who were shopping there and spending money? If it was, then the town wouldn't have taken the dive that it did in recent years. Even merchants in Hamilton were missing the number of ships that used to dock on Hamilton.

[mking8288]

Exact change in coins.

 

We are sailing BDA, May 22nd on the NCL Breakaway - if this policy stay in force, we will haul our nickels and dimes out to the islands and pay for transportation in coins, exactly. With casinos switching over to e-tickets for payouts, nickels & dimes are going nowhere - this is "cool" - gotta send the Bermuda transport a clear message.

 

Meanwhile, they are going to fun counting the loose change & storing them, and, let them figure out how to convert back to local currency. $5 per trip = 100 nickels (2 rolls of coins) x 2 people - we will plan for 4 rolls of nickels to St. George, no problem. :D

 

Quarters, we will keep since we need them to feed the municipal on-street parking meters in New York.

 

NCL cut its port time & set sail at 3 PM on day 3 (used to be 5 PM, which other lines are continuing to do) - we will probably not be bothered with going past Clocktower Mall or Dockyard.

[CGinMTL]

Originally Posted by godogs89 View Post

Quote below shows how most Bermudians feel about tourists. Taken from the local newspaper royal gazette.

 

Open Mind 1609

"If it costs a cruiser an extra $20 a day to utilize our taxi and mini bus services, supporting Bermudian jobs in the process, I am all for it......."

 

this quote is one person in Bermuda.

I have read more comments that were against the policy then this person.

If I remember correctly, This person was " flamed" for this comment.

.

Let's be fair.

[Charles4515]

Originally Posted by godogs89 View Post

Quote below shows how most Bermudians feel about tourists. Taken from the local newspaper royal gazette.

 

Open Mind 1609

"If it costs a cruiser an extra $20 a day to utilize our taxi and mini bus services, supporting Bermudian jobs in the process, I am all for it......."

 

this quote is one person in Bermuda.

I have read more comments that were against the policy then this person.

If I remember correctly, This person was " flamed" for this comment.

.

Let's be fair.

 

I agree. I don't think that the quoted comment shows how most Bermudians feel about tourists or about the new policy.

[Charles4515]

We are sailing BDA, May 22nd on the NCL Breakaway - if this policy stay in force, we will haul our nickels and dimes out to the islands and pay for transportation in coins, exactly. With casinos switching over to e-tickets for payouts, nickels & dimes are going nowhere - this is "cool" - gotta send the Bermuda transport a clear message.

 

Meanwhile, they are going to fun counting the loose change & storing them, and, let them figure out how to convert back to local currency. $5 per trip = 100 nickels (2 rolls of coins) x 2 people - we will plan for 4 rolls of nickels to St. George, no problem. :D

 

Quarters, we will keep since we need them to feed the municipal on-street parking meters in New York.

 

NCL cut its port time & set sail at 3 PM on day 3 (used to be 5 PM, which other lines are continuing to do) - we will probably not be bothered with going past Clocktower Mall or Dockyard.

 

It was mentioned that Bermuda Transport is looking into electronic fares. Lets keep in mind that Bermuda is a small island in the Atlantic, with a small population. Not a metropolitan area. Not a first world country.

 

Myself, if they don't change the policy by mid June, I will bring quarters. Nickels and dimes would not be fun for them, but I don't think it would be fun for us either.

 

It is a shame that NCL has continued that change of time on the last port day. If I were on Breakaway I would have to be very carefull that day. Summit thankfully has kept a later time, 4:30, which has not stressed me the last two years on leaving the Dockyard for elsewhere that day.

Edited April 19, 2016 by Charles4515

[islegroove]

This was on Bernews today:

 

http://bernews.com/2016/04/transportation-passes-spark-outrage-on-forum/

[Grandma Rambo]

Honestly, I just don't get all the anger over the policy change. Buy two one-day passes if you just want the convenience of buying at the Dockyard. Another idea is to go to one of the places that sell the tokens, tickets, and multi-day passes and buy what you need. You can even send one person from your group to do this. It will cost $5. Oh, and the person that said their family of four was only going to St. George for the day and refuses to buy four one day passes. Well, how about four roundtrips to St. George at $5 each way? Yes, the price has increased, but what hasn't?

Sorry, I know this won't be a popular idea, but it's mine and I own it. Use some common sense. Come to think of it, you would probably pay at least as much for a Starbuck's coffee and not blink.

Armor on, flame if you must.

Jennie

[BermudaMom]

I'm probably going to regret adding my two cents but...I have a suspicion that one possible reason for this change which they hope will result in pushing more cruise passengers to taxis etc is because of the state of many of the buses themselves. Every summer there seems to be a problem with government providing enough buses to serve the tourist arrivals in Dockyard while still providing capacity for locals who also depend on the system. It was well documented some months back when a number of bus routes were regularly cancelled at very short notice stranding locals including school children, that there was a shortage of buses to fulfill the routes due to many needing repairs. And, government cutbacks had reduced overtime by bus drivers contributing to the lack of buses on the road.

As a country, we're definitely struggling with a crumbling infrastructure including our school buildings, bridges, buses etc. The government is trying to reduce the debt of the country and in so doing, has reduced various departmental budgets which I understand but without a solid infrastructure, can we really handle the mega ships and the drive to increase air arrivals? I can only see this annual peak season struggle continuing. Individual Bermudians who do their best to be friendly and welcoming to our visitors can only go so far in providing an enjoyable experience.

[Butterfinger1954]

And do they only sell the tokens there, not the ticket booklet? Where in Hamilton can we buy the ticket booklet with 15 tickets? Just to be clear, you us one ticket each time you board a bus or ferry?

 

Kathy in Maine going on BA, May 1.

 

 

 

From the Royal Gazette:

 

"However, staff at the official centre are said to be under orders from the transport ministry only to sell $19 day passes to visitors, even though regular $4.50 tokens are sold nearby at the Bermuda Craft Market."

 

It's not as convenient but you can pick up two tokens at the craft market for your round trip. It's a simple work around.

[CGinMTL]

This was on Bernews today:

 

http://bernews.com/2016/04/transportation-passes-spark-outrage-on-forum/

 

Good. We have their attention. Now lets keep the pressure on.

Most comments are on our side.

NCL is there in April 27th. They know they have 1 week to change this before the next ship.

[CGinMTL]

I'm probably going to regret adding my two cents but...I have a suspicion that one possible reason for this change which they hope will result in pushing more cruise passengers to taxis etc is because of the state of many of the buses themselves. Every summer there seems to be a problem with government providing enough buses to serve the tourist arrivals in Dockyard while still providing capacity for locals who also depend on the system. It was well documented some months back when a number of bus routes were regularly cancelled at very short notice stranding locals including school children, that there was a shortage of buses to fulfill the routes due to many needing repairs. And, government cutbacks had reduced overtime by bus drivers contributing to the lack of buses on the road.

As a country, we're definitely struggling with a crumbling infrastructure including our school buildings, bridges, buses etc. The government is trying to reduce the debt of the country and in so doing, has reduced various departmental budgets which I understand but without a solid infrastructure, can we really handle the mega ships and the drive to increase air arrivals? I can only see this annual peak season struggle continuing. Individual Bermudians who do their best to be friendly and welcoming to our visitors can only go so far in providing an enjoyable experience.

Thank you for this.

We understand you have an issue with the buses.

Taxi and minivan is not the solution.

And maybe they can try to push the Ferry.

or promote another beach that people can get to by Ferry ( instead of bus).

.

[njhorseman]

Thank you for this.

We understand you have an issue with the buses.

Taxi and minivan is not the solution.

And maybe they can try to push the Ferry.

or promote another beach that people can get to by Ferry ( instead of bus).

.

 

There's no beach you can get to by ferry alone. If you take the ferry into Hamilton, you still have to take the #7 bus heading back toward Dockyard to get to the South Shore beaches, and in Hamilton you don't have anything comparable to the express "Special" buses or the mini buses that are available at Dockyard for getting to the beach.

 

You could take a ferry to St. George and then walk or take a taxi to Tobacco Bay or St. Catherine's, or a bus to Clearwater, but those beaches really can't accommodate the thousands of cruise ship passengers at Dockyard, and there isn't much ferry service to St. George's to begin with.

Edited April 19, 2016 by njhorseman