Bermuda Escape Cruises - insights, information, and more just on Bermuda

[MRGACRUZR]

15 minutes ago, sleepybobo said:

@MRGACRUZR Thanks for the detailed report on the arrival and embarkation process.  I didn't follow Bermuda closely.  I booked Iceland.  I'm a bit confused.  It sounds you needed to have a swab test done at the airport; despite having a negative PCR test and proof of vaccination.  This is new to me.

 

As for the saliva test, how long we have to stop drinking/eating before the test?  

 

I appreciate your honest evaluation.  Although I'm exited to travel again, I am still not sure if we are ready for all the hassles and the unknowns. 

 

Detailed first person report like yours is extremely helpful.

 

Enjoy the cruise!  Have fun. 

The arrival PCR test is a Bermuda thing.

No water, liquid, food, mouthwash, toothpaste etc for 1 hour.

[sleepybobo]

15 minutes ago, MRGACRUZR said:

The arrival PCR test is a Bermuda thing.

No water, liquid, food, mouthwash, toothpaste etc for 1 hour.

Thanks.  Do you need to wait to get the PCR test result back before sailing away from Hamilton?

[MRGACRUZR]

37 minutes ago, JM0115 said:

Tell us more about the seafood buffet please!  And thank you for your accounting.

They normally set up the cooking stations outside, on the deck behind The World Cafe. There are tables set on the outside of both sides of the World Cafe for al fresco dining. It's been awhile (a year) since we've sampled it so, I'm a little unsure of what they cook. I know they usually have sautéed muscles, calamari, fish pieces fried, shrimp, languishing and more. I'll try and update the info after tonight. Additionally, they have a seafood station on the buffet every night consisting of muscles, shrimp, calamari, langostinos etc. At Keats on past cruises this was the case. 

[MRGACRUZR]

41 minutes ago, sleepybobo said:

Thanks.  Do you need to wait to get the PCR test result back before sailing away from Hamilton?

They will find you. Once you take the test, the remaining testing is on Viking. It's almost like the Bermuda arrival test is a waste of time. Less than an hour after the Bermuda test, we're doing the Viking test. At this point, the Viking test is first thing in the morning on a daily basis, along with a health questionnaire.  

[Heidi13]

1 hour ago, JM0115 said:

Tell us more about the seafood buffet please!  And thank you for your accounting.

 

Jim - can't comment on the shorter cruises, but on your upcoming World Cruise you will find special events fairly often.

 

They will set up stations on the aft deck - sometimes down both sides of the pool, sometimes athwartships between the aft pool and World Cafe and at times in both of those locationd. You can also find additional stations set up inside, either side of the bar.

 

When doing seafood specials we found the selections changed each night.

 

You may also find lunches/brunches at the main pool area.

[Heidi13]

If anyone currently on Orion meets Zarko, please pass on my regards and let him know Andy is cheering for Macedonia at the Euros.

 

He is a Senior Waiter. Hoping to see him on Neptune in '23 as a Head Waiter.

[B_A_H]

4 hours ago, MRGACRUZR said:

I'm sure I've forgotten some items (Bermuda PTSD) but feel free to ask if you have any questions about the process. And, all of this may change with each upcoming voyage. I would not do it again. Glad we cancelled Malta and the Adriadic Jewels.

 

I've been following all the other first sailings taking place.  Your comments are universal.  St. Martin's been particularly rough.  It's human nature to want things to be back to normal so we've idealized what the early post-pandemic cruises would look like.  I include myself in that. 

 

Thanks for sharing the reality.  It's better to know what we're confronting and adjust expectations accordingly.

 

The people on the RCI cruise out of Nassau seem to be having a semi-normal experience and are quite pleased.  Hopefully once we've all jumped through the flaming hoops to get onboard we'll experience the same.  

 

Thanks to those taking the time to keep us updated.  Especially you @bluesea777.  You don't even have a dog in this hunt and have posted some really great local information. 

[bluesea777]

10 minutes ago, B_A_H said:

 

Thanks to those taking the time to keep us updated.  Especially you @bluesea777.  You don't even have a dog in this hunt and have posted some really great local information. 

 

You are welcome!

 

Guess what?

 

We booked a DV6 GTY stateroom on Aug 3rd Orion this morning, so here we come!! It will be surreal for us to step on a ship locally to go on a week long cruise around Bermuda. Ha Ha. This is to celebrate out 35th wedding. It's likely we'll stay on board the entire time - we'll enjoy being wined (or cocktailed), dined and being spoilt.

 

 

Edited June 16, 2021 by bluesea777

[hfjas006]

5 hours ago, MRGACRUZR said:

I'll try and articulate what to expect on this trip. First, we were unable to check in on line for our flight. As it turns out, the Delta agents have to look up the requirements for entry to wherever you are flying. Then, they verify all of your stuff (Bermuda Travel Auth, shot cards and negative PCR test) before issuing your boarding pass.

 

The flight from Atlanta was uneventful. 

Arrival in Bermuda, let the fun begin. Be sure to have a few drinks on the plane before arriving. We were met as we exited the jet way and escorted to a long line in a long hallway. About 30 minutes later you arrive at a station where it looks like they are preparing to perform surgery. Be sure to have your Travel Authorization and proof of vaccination in hand, it will speed the process of moving on to the next line. This first stop is so they can give you instructions of all the protocols to follow during your visit. Be sure the agent knows you are on the Viking Orion so they can tell you to disregard the blue protocol instructions you just got (hint: do not dispose of these instructions, yet).

 

NOTE: Be sure not to eat, drink or put anything in your mouth because this is a requirement for the saliva PCR test upon arrival on the ship.

 

Next line: Immigration. By far the easiest and shortest stop. Have your passport, Travel Authorization, customs form and proof that you are on the Viking Orion. We used our "Final Documents". 

 

Next: collect bags. Move to next line. Another 30 minute line. When you reach the front of the line they want to see your travel authorization, want to know what seat you sat in on the arriving flight and prove you have the blue document (that doesn't mean anything if your on Orion) that I said not to throw away, yet.

 

Next: a reasonably short line to pick up your nose swab order form. 

 

Next: drop your luggage where directed and join a short line for your nasal swab.

 

Next: board a small van or mini bus, as directed by Viking rep, for transport to the ship. Seems like about a 25 to 30 minute ride to the ship. You can fill out another health survey during the ride. Luggage was collected right after nasal swab, on the sidewalk out front. We got our luggage about 15 minutes after boarding.

 

Next: enter line in the pier terminal building for another wellness check.

 

Next line: Have passports out. Have your photo taken, recieve tracking devices and room keys.

 

Next line: security, xray carry ons.

 

On to ship.

First: go to lifeboat muster station for individual instruction on putting on a life jacket.

Next: on the way to room, intercept by room steward. Verbal instructions about spitting into tube in your room and when he'll collect it.

 

Next: start spitting.

 

Other observations:

There are bottles of hand sanitizer, masks, sanitizer wipes in your room.

You have to wear your tracking device everywhere, except wet locations.

There are written instructions for spitting, a FULL page.

The ship is a little less than 50% occupancy. That may be this voyage only. Don't know.

All of the gathering and eating venues are set up for social distancing. 

There is no self service, of any kind, in the World Cafe. It seemed very empty.

Put all of your dining reservations on a personal calendar before leaving home,  they are not on Viking Voyager.

MVJ was gone on the day of arrival..

 

Once we arrived onboard, the three of us agreed that if we knew all of what was involved, we would have waited till things became more normal. Glad to be here but, the process sucks some of the life out of the relaxation.

Everyone has been fabulous, despite some of the orments and conditions of early travel.

 

Manfredi's last night, seafood buffet tonight.

 

I'm sure I've forgotten some items (Bermuda PTSD) but feel free to ask if you have any questions about the process. And, all of this may change with each upcoming voyage. I would not do it again. Glad we cancelled Malta and the Adriadic Jewels.

 

Thanks for posting a very accurate description of arrival day. I found it exhausting and was hot, tired and cranky by the time we got to our stateroom. Feeling better now that I’m sitting by the pool, drinking a margarita and sailing out to sea. 

[Azulann]

40 minutes ago, bluesea777 said:

 

You are welcome!

 

Guess what?

 

We booked a DV6 GTY stateroom on Aug 3rd Orion this morning, so here we come!! It will be surreal for us to step on a ship locally to go on a week long cruise around Bermuda. Ha Ha. This is to celebrate out 35th wedding. It's likely we'll stay on board the entire time - we'll enjoy being wined (or cocktailed), dined and being spoilt.

 

 

Congratulation on  getting a stateroom for August 3. It will be your floating hotel and spa as you celebrate your anniversary  for a whole week!! 

Be careful if others find out you are a local, they will ask you for all kinds of information. 😁

[WanderingBrit]

1 hour ago, bluesea777 said:

 

You are welcome!

 

Guess what?

 

We booked a DV6 GTY stateroom on Aug 3rd Orion this morning, so here we come!! It will be surreal for us to step on a ship locally to go on a week long cruise around Bermuda. Ha Ha. This is to celebrate out 35th wedding. It's likely we'll stay on board the entire time - we'll enjoy being wined (or cocktailed), dined and being spoilt.

 

 

I'll happily buy you a drink on board in thanks for your photographs and information about Bermuda 🙂

August 3rd will be our first time to Bermuda and our first time on Viking

[gailellen12]

1 hour ago, WanderingBrit said:

I'll happily buy you a drink on board in thanks for your photographs and information about Bermuda 🙂

August 3rd will be our first time to Bermuda and our first time on Viking

 

[MRGACRUZR]

7 hours ago, JM0115 said:

Tell us more about the seafood buffet please!  And thank you for your accounting.

The seafood buffet was not the typical one where they cook out back and serve you out of the pans they were cooking in. We are underway, it's rainy and windy. The buffet was inside on both sides of the World Cafe. Baked potato, corn on the cob, mixed veggies, calamari, buffet. fried sea bass fillet, deep fried soft shell crab, muscles, shrimp, a piece of slicing salmon that looked "stuffed", seafood in pastry shell, crab cake, seafood pasta and an extensive sushi bar. Conspicuously missing were the langostinos and crab legs that usually are part of the seafood buffet.On this cruise the Cafe was nearly empty. Again, we are sailing at less than 50%capacity..... everything is empty.

[Clay Clayton]

4 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

 

You are welcome!

 

Guess what?

 

We booked a DV6 GTY stateroom on Aug 3rd Orion this morning, so here we come!! It will be surreal for us to step on a ship locally to go on a week long cruise around Bermuda. Ha Ha. This is to celebrate out 35th wedding. It's likely we'll stay on board the entire time - we'll enjoy being wined (or cocktailed), dined and being spoilt.

 

 

Congratulations! Be sure to let them know you’re celebrating when you fill out the info on MVJ…maybe that DV will change to something else 🤞

[B_A_H]

1 hour ago, MRGACRUZR said:

The seafood buffet was not the typical one where they cook out back and serve you out of the pans they were cooking in. We are underway, it's rainy and windy. The buffet was inside on both sides of the World Cafe. Baked potato, corn on the cob, mixed veggies, calamari, buffet. fried sea bass fillet, deep fried soft shell crab, muscles, shrimp, a piece of slicing salmon that looked "stuffed", seafood in pastry shell, crab cake, seafood pasta and an extensive sushi bar. Conspicuously missing were the langostinos and crab legs that usually are part of the seafood buffet.On this cruise the Cafe was nearly empty. Again, we are sailing at less than 50%capacity..... everything is empty.

I'd imagine provisioning the ship in Bermuda has got to cost a ton.  Some things likely aren't even available or if they are the prices would be exorbitant.  Between that and the lower passenger count there will probably be a lot of adjustments. 

[hfjas006]

2 hours ago, MRGACRUZR said:

The seafood buffet was not the typical one where they cook out back and serve you out of the pans they were cooking in. We are underway, it's rainy and windy. The buffet was inside on both sides of the World Cafe. Baked potato, corn on the cob, mixed veggies, calamari, buffet. fried sea bass fillet, deep fried soft shell crab, muscles, shrimp, a piece of slicing salmon that looked "stuffed", seafood in pastry shell, crab cake, seafood pasta and an extensive sushi bar. Conspicuously missing were the langostinos and crab legs that usually are part of the seafood buffet.On this cruise the Cafe was nearly empty. Again, we are sailing at less than 50%capacity..... everything is empty.

We had both langgostinos and crab legs. Maybe they were just on one side? We ate on the side that doesn’t have the gelato.

[Clay Clayton]

1 hour ago, hfjas006 said:

We had both langgostinos and crab legs. Maybe they were just on one side? We ate on the side that doesn’t have the gelato.

Lesson! Always check out both sides of the buffet. The sections at the ends are usually different. This is true at almost all meals. 

[CCWineLover]

15 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

Lesson! Always check out both sides of the buffet. The sections at the ends are usually different. This is true at almost all meals. 

Yes in our 4 Viking Cruises experience, this has always been the case in the World Cafe.  Standard things are on both sides and usually some specialty things are only on one side.  We would cruise around both sides to see what each had before picking a side!

[Triptkr]

I asked one of the Viking employees at the airport while we were standing in our 3,433,223rd line of the day how many passengers would be on board.  He said '425'. (He was checking off passengers names as they came outside to be transferred to a van and on to the ship.)

We had an awesome day in Hamilton...did the Homes and hideaways excursion.  Was relaxing and entertaining.  Then we ate lunch onboard and came back out to shop.   Got some amazing deals and the locals are quite friendly.  Was nice to chat with them and listen to their experiences and perceptions on the past year.   Found an enchanting shop called The Island Shop.  Very much recommend,  it's a boutique store with a plethora of locally made items, high quality.  Everything from jams to embroidered pillows to artwork.  

We feel fortunate to be on this sailing as we can't help but wonder how long this will last.  We hope it will be successful!  

 

Edited June 17, 2021 by Triptkr

[MRGACRUZR]

9 hours ago, hfjas006 said:

We had both langgostinos and crab legs. Maybe they were just on one side? We ate on the side that doesn’t have the gelato.

And we were on the Gelato side. I actually went and checked out the pizza side and missed them.

[cadburysmom]

19 hours ago, MRGACRUZR said:

They will find you. Once you take the test, the remaining testing is on Viking. It's almost like the Bermuda arrival test is a waste of time. Less than an hour after the Bermuda test, we're doing the Viking test. At this point, the Viking test is first thing in the morning on a daily basis, along with a health questionnaire.  

 

16 hours ago, hfjas006 said:

Thanks for posting a very accurate description of arrival day. I found it exhausting and was hot, tired and cranky by the time we got to our stateroom. Feeling better now that I’m sitting by the pool, drinking a margarita and sailing out to sea. 

 

1 hour ago, Triptkr said:

I asked one of the Viking employees at the airport while we were standing in our 3,433,223rd line of the day how many passengers would be on board.  He said '425'. (He was checking off passengers names as they came outside to be transferred to a van and on to the ship.)

We had an awesome day in Hamilton...did the Homes and hideaways excursion.  Was relaxing and entertaining.  Then we ate lunch onboard and came back out to shop.   Got some amazing deals and the locals are quite friendly.  Was nice to chat with them and listen to their experiences and perceptions on the past year.   Found an enchanting shop called The Island Shop.  Very much recommend,  it's a boutique store with a plethora of locally made items, high quality.  Everything from jams to embroidered pillows to artwork.  

We feel fortunate to be on this sailing as we can't help but wonder how long this will last.  We hope it will be successful!  

 

You should be commended for taking this first cruise.....very much appreciate all of you for taking the time to let us know how things are going.  Obviously, this means a LOT to the rest of us. 

 

Looking forward to hearing more and many thanks for sharing your experiences so far!!

 

[molymoo]

For those of you on the "maiden" voyage to Bermuda ... have things relaxed as much as it appears?  I was looking at another site (which shall not be named) and was shocked to see a group "packed" into the Restaurant for some sort of celebratory dinner, which was obviously facilitated to some extent by the Viking staff (name tags, appetizers, etc.).  Some other shots were of a group on a boat for one of the excursions and not one was wearing a mask.  As much trouble as we all have had to go through to simply get on the cruise it is surprising how apparently "lax" things actually are.  I sure hope everyone stays healthy and things don't get screwed up for later groups!

[MRGACRUZR]

26 minutes ago, molymoo said:

For those of you on the "maiden" voyage to Bermuda ... have things relaxed as much as it appears?  I was looking at another site (which shall not be named) and was shocked to see a group "packed" into the Restaurant for some sort of celebratory dinner, which was obviously facilitated to some extent by the Viking staff (name tags, appetizers, etc.).  Some other shots were of a group on a boat for one of the excursions and not one was wearing a mask.  As much trouble as we all have had to go through to simply get on the cruise it is surprising how apparently "lax" things actually are.  I sure hope everyone stays healthy and things don't get screwed up for later groups!

I've not seen any relaxing of the rules. Apparently there must be isolated situations. When trying to Guage the seriousness of the violation, try to take into account that ALL onboard are fully vaccinated and on our 5th PCR test in a week, with no incidents. 

[Triptkr]

4 minutes ago, MRGACRUZR said:

I've not seen any relaxing of the rules. Apparently there must be isolated situations. When trying to Guage the seriousness of the violation, try to take into account that ALL onboard are fully vaccinated and on our 5th PCR test in a week, with no incidents. 

Amen to that.  No lax actions that we've seen and I TOTALLY  second MRGACRUZR---on the fully vaccinated and covid tests amount--very true.  

Viking is taking this all very seriously.  They have every provision in place, hand washing, extra masks, our own hand sanitizer in the room...I think we're good.

 

[Britcnm]

9 minutes ago, MRGACRUZR said:

I've not seen any relaxing of the rules. Apparently there must be isolated situations. When trying to Guage the seriousness of the violation, try to take into account that ALL onboard are fully vaccinated and on our 5th PCR test in a week, with no incidents. 

So do you have to wear masks all the time? Sitting by the pool? In the bars?