irie0518 Posted October 29, 2023 #1 Share Posted October 29, 2023 Just wondering if we can just show up at the caves and get a tour or is this something that needs to be arranged in advance? TIA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted October 29, 2023 #2 Share Posted October 29, 2023 (edited) 45 minutes ago, irie0518 said: Just wondering if we can just show up at the caves and get a tour or is this something that needs to be arranged in advance? TIA. You can just show up but they are recommending reservations. If you don’t reserve you might waiting 45 minutes or so to get in. Edited October 29, 2023 by Charles4515 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebas030 Posted October 30, 2023 #3 Share Posted October 30, 2023 No need to reserve but I like to go a.s.a.p. before the tour bus ( cruise line tours ) get there and save the wait. But it is worth it, the cave ( crystal ) is beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qchell Posted April 18 #4 Share Posted April 18 On 10/30/2023 at 12:00 PM, sebas030 said: But it is worth it, the cave ( crystal ) is beautiful. Hi! Since it appears you have been, I am hoping you can answer something for me. I keep seeing descriptions of 88 stairs "down", but nothing about getting back up. Do you go back up the stairs, or is there another exit? TYIA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted April 18 #5 Share Posted April 18 16 minutes ago, Qchell said: Hi! Since it appears you have been, I am hoping you can answer something for me. I keep seeing descriptions of 88 stairs "down", but nothing about getting back up. Do you go back up the stairs, or is there another exit? TYIA! You have to go back up the same stairs you went down. There is no other exit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebas030 Posted April 18 #6 Share Posted April 18 2 hours ago, Qchell said: Hi! Since it appears you have been, I am hoping you can answer something for me. I keep seeing descriptions of 88 stairs "down", but nothing about getting back up. Do you go back up the stairs, or is there another exit? TYIA! Yes, went a few times already. Same way in and out. No place to rest, stair is not large, not narrow but there is always a line of people going down and if you stop going up there is no space for someone to pass you on their way up unless the queue going down stops to make room for the "passer". But the cave is worth it IMO Plenty of videos on YT showing the stairs and what the cave looks like. Have fun in Bermuda ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattycake08 Posted May 6 #7 Share Posted May 6 Will be going to the caves in July 2024, are there certain types of shoes one should wear, ex, sneakers or water shoes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minniemouse427 Posted May 6 #8 Share Posted May 6 (edited) Can someone that has visited the caves elaborate on the experience? We have visited a few different caves in the Eastern US and wondering if this is a similar or different experience? Trying to figure out if we should spend time underground when we could be taking advantage of Bermuda above ground! Edited May 6 by minniemouse427 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted May 6 #9 Share Posted May 6 1 hour ago, pattycake08 said: Will be going to the caves in July 2024, are there certain types of shoes one should wear, ex, sneakers or water shoes? Sneakers are fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted May 6 #10 Share Posted May 6 14 minutes ago, minniemouse427 said: Can someone that has visited the caves elaborate on the experience? We have visited a few different caves in the Eastern US and wondering if this is a similar or different experience? Trying to figure out if we should spend time underground when we could be taking advantage of Bermuda above ground! If you have been to caves in Kentucky you might be underwhelmed. Much smaller than east coast caves. I was but Crystal Cave is small and interesting. The tour guides provide good stories. Fantasy Cave is pretty meh in my opinion. You don't have to do both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Stop Posted May 7 #11 Share Posted May 7 7 hours ago, minniemouse427 said: Can someone that has visited the caves elaborate on the experience? We have visited a few different caves in the Eastern US and wondering if this is a similar or different experience? Trying to figure out if we should spend time underground when we could be taking advantage of Bermuda above ground! As someone who hasn’t been in a lot of caves, I thought the Crystal Caves were pretty cool. if it matters, most if not all of the time you’re in the cave you’re on a catwalk above the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurab23 Posted May 7 #12 Share Posted May 7 The stones going down and back up can be slippery. Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted May 7 #13 Share Posted May 7 59 minutes ago, Laurab23 said: The stones going down and back up can be slippery. Laura I think you meant stairs. I think people will be okay with sneakers with rubber soles. Flip flops might be problematic. If anyone gets claustrophobic they might want to skip. Really though the only people I would advise to not do the caves are people with knee or hip problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minniemouse427 Posted May 7 #14 Share Posted May 7 (edited) 20 hours ago, Charles4515 said: If you have been to caves in Kentucky you might be underwhelmed. Much smaller than east coast caves. I was but Crystal Cave is small and interesting. The tour guides provide good stories. Fantasy Cave is pretty meh in my opinion. You don't have to do both. We have visited Luray Caverns in VA and Crystal Caves in PA as well as a few other random ones. Thank you, this is good information and I will bring it back to the family. I am guessing they will vote to not visit it in lieu of other more interesting places, but who knows! Edited May 7 by minniemouse427 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anastasia3939 Posted May 7 #15 Share Posted May 7 Do you get to walk down in the caves at your own leisure, or is it guided tour groups only? Not a big fan of guided tours....I always feel like Pee-Wee Herman on his excruciating Alamo tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 7 #16 Share Posted May 7 Going back up was difficult for me. I won't be doing these caves again. The steps (for me) were steep and I felt like I had to be really careful going back up. I went there several years ago and have a cruise to Bermuda at the end of this month. I won't be going back to these caves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted May 7 #17 Share Posted May 7 1 hour ago, anastasia3939 said: Do you get to walk down in the caves at your own leisure, or is it guided tour groups only? Not a big fan of guided tours....I always feel like Pee-Wee Herman on his excruciating Alamo tour. It is in guided groups only. Both caves are small so there is a limit to the number who can go in. It is only about 20 minutes so not excruciating. They are recommending making reservations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted May 7 #18 Share Posted May 7 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Lois R said: Going back up was difficult for me. I won't be doing these caves again. The steps (for me) were steep and I felt like I had to be really careful going back up. I went there several years ago and have a cruise to Bermuda at the end of this month. I won't be going back to these caves. That is why I have been mentioning the steps in the many threads that ask about the caves. I went a second time to see Fantasy cave which had been closed the first time I went. I got to do Crystal again because people were bailing and someone who bailed gave me their ticket. Anyone who has mobility issues should not do the caves but most people can do them. It is a moderate activity, not extreme. I could still do them although I see no reason to do either again. Edited May 7 by Charles4515 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted May 7 #19 Share Posted May 7 7 minutes ago, Charles4515 said: That is why I have been mentioning the steps in the many threads that ask about the caves. I went a second time to see Fantasy cave which had been closed the first time I went. I got to do Crystal again because people were bailing and someone who bailed gave me their ticket. Anyone who has mobility issues should not do the caves but most people can do them. It is a moderate activity, not extreme. I could still do them although I see no reason to do either again. We are all different and although I don't have mobility issues in general, I remember the walk back up and for me? It was hard and I was needing to sit down as soon as I got outside. So it was bordering on extreme for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMP609 Posted May 19 #20 Share Posted May 19 If we go to Crystal Cave after spending time at Tobacco Bay, is there a place to store our backpacks and towel bags or do we take that with us onto the tour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JGmf Posted May 19 #21 Share Posted May 19 On 5/6/2024 at 3:43 PM, minniemouse427 said: Can someone that has visited the caves elaborate on the experience? We have visited a few different caves in the Eastern US and wondering if this is a similar or different experience? To me, it was rather boring after visiting larger cave in Eastern US (Howe's Caverns in NY). It's way smaller, very crowded at times, and in the summer, it's like a sauna in there given high humidity levels, hence the slippery stairs. Yes, wear sneakers and watch your step(s). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyinpa Posted May 20 #22 Share Posted May 20 On 5/19/2024 at 2:35 PM, JGmf said: To me, it was rather boring after visiting larger cave in Eastern US (Howe's Caverns in NY). It's way smaller, very crowded at times, and in the summer, it's like a sauna in there given high humidity levels, hence the slippery stairs. Yes, wear sneakers and watch your step(s). ever been to luray caverns. will be near there in a month and looking forward to going. unsure big they are compared to bermuda. also we have a 'crystal cave' near where i live and it's not that big but it's cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stellarose33 Posted June 3 #23 Share Posted June 3 been to Bermuda over 12 years ago. did not do the caves. going next summer. should I add this to my must do list? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyinpa Posted June 3 #24 Share Posted June 3 depends on what you enjoy. it's not the biggest set of caves but it's beautiful. if you can get to caves around your home sometime, they may be bigger and better. or not. so this may not be a unique thing. if you cant ever get to caves like this at home id say it's a must see since you are already in bermuda. assuming you dont have other must see things like a day on the beach etc that take up your time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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