King's Wharf Bermuda

Time to turn the pages on your 2012 Extraordinary Vacations calendar...

This month we feature King's Wharf, Bermuda.  Sail from New York or Boston to this lovely island, whose pink-sand beaches are unlike any others in the Caribbean.  Norwegian Cruise Line offers several cruises to Bermuda.   We loved Bermuda, especially the friendly people.  We invite you to read more about Bermuda and consider that destination for your next Caribbean adventure.

Your NCL cruise will dock at King's Wharf, where you can explore beaches, golf courses, restaurants, shops and historic monuments at your leisure.  Or try out one of the many water sports offered in and around this gorgeous harbor.

After your day of exploring the island, return to your ship for a massage, dinner, relaxing by the pool, or enjoy the evening's entertainment.  Whether you want to dance the night away or simply relax, there's something for you to do either onboard or back onshore.   Your ship is your floating hotel for the week.

Swim With the Fishes

Our favorite excursion was Hartley's Helmet Dive.  The Hartley family invites you to join them on their famous "Undersea Walk".   Here you will don a helmet and and walk among the fishes as they swim up to greet you.   In fact, they might even do some tricks for you.

Read more about this underwater adventure in our blog post: 

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Hartley's Helmet Dive

There's lots of adventure that is reachable from your ship's berth in King's Wharf.  We sailed on Norwegian Dawn when we last visited Bermuda.   Here are some articles detailing our visit.

• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Glass Bottom Boat
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Aquarium

  

  Visit our Shutterfly Page

• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Crystal & Fantasy Caves
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Nightlife
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Shopping
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Fort Hamilton
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Underwater Exploration Institute
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Night Snorkeling
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Maritime Museum
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Hartley's Helmet Dive

Dining and Entertainment on your NCL Ship

• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Freestyle Dining
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Evening Activities
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Sea Days
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - El Dorado Spa
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Disembarkation
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Garden Cafe & Other Dining
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Le Bistro French Restaurant
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Impressions Italian Restaurant
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Cagney's Steakhouse

• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Sail Away from NY
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Welcome Aboard
• NCL Dawn Bermuda - Pre-Cruise New York

Carnival Cruise Lines 2011 Bermuda

NOW EVEN MORE BERMUDA ITINERARIES!

From April to November 2011, Carnival Cruise Lines will be offering 16 departures to the island from Baltimore, Norfolk, New York - and for the first time, historic Charleston!

Carnival's 2011 Bermuda departures include:

• Baltimore (7-day cruises on the Carnival Pride) – April 10 and 17, September 18, October 2 and November 6.
• New York (7- and 8-day departures on the Carnival Miracle) – April 14 and 21, and September 11 and 27.
• Norfolk (6-day sailing on the Carnival Glory) – October 16.
• Charleston (6-day voyages on the Carnival Fantasy) – April 23, May 19, June 16, August 25, September 15 and October 6.

Reservations are currently open for these 2011 Bermuda sailings.
Cruises to Bermuda (select date)        Other Bermuda Posts

All of the Bermuda voyages will dock at King's Wharf. Guests on 6-day voyages will be able to spend two-day calls in King's Wharf; those on the 7- and 8-day cruises spend three action-packed days in Bermuda.

The people of Bermuda are very friendly and helpful.  There are plenty of activities for the entire family in Bermuda.   It is very easy to get around Bermuda by bus, taxi, and ferry.  King's Wharf is the perfect location for starting your day's exploration.   Hamilton is a short ferry ride away, so you are not limited to one area.

Where in the World Does Celebrity Cruise - Vol. 2

Bermuda

Yes folks, our second destination in our series on Where in the World does Celebrity Cruise in 2010/2011 is Bermuda. For those on the East Coast of the U.S., you have a destination where you can truly escape from it all without having to venture too far.

Each of the Celebrity Bermuda itineraries offers at least one overnight in King's Wharf, providing you an ample opportunity to experience a phenomenon found in few other places – beaches with pink sand.

This is Celebrity's Bermuda – so close to home yet so different from any other place. Choose from 6 to 8-night cruise vacations to Bermuda from New Jersey or San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Celebrity Summit ®

Sailing from Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

7-Night Bermuda
4/25; 5/9, 5/23, 5/30; 6/6, 6/13, 6/27; 7/11, 7/25; 8/8, 8/22; 9/5/2010

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight 2 nights); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ

7-Night Bermuda & New England
5/2 & 6/20/10

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Newport, Rhode Island; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

7-Night Bermuda & New England
05/16/10

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

6-Night Bermuda & Caribbean
10/24/10

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico

8-Night Bermuda & Caribbean

4/17/10

San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, B.V.I.; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

Form a Group Sailing to Bermuda -

We have Special Pricing thru August 31st

Please submit your Group request here.

Call me or email me requesting more details about these cruises.

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Nightlife

If you have cruised before, you know that the casino and onboard shops are closed while in port. So, on most cruises, by 5 or 6 PM, the casino is open and shops are open. This is not the case while in Bermuda, since the ship docks at King's Wharf and stays there for two nights before moving to Hamilton (on this particular cruise).

So does that mean there's nothing to do at night while in Bermuda? Of course not !! Both onboard the ship and onshore, there's plenty of activities going on. Hamilton's Front Street is the hub of activity both during the day and also at night. If you decide to go to Hamilton, make sure you are aware of the transportation schedule, so you don't have difficulty getting back to the ship. For example, the last ferry from Hamilton back to Dockyard is at 11 PM. You'll not want to miss that ferry if that's your means of transportation. Check the Public Transportation Board website for schedules.

Staying closer to the ship, there are the local pubs in Dockyard. On both nights there was a beach party going on at the Dockyard. Just follow the signs or the crowd if this interests you. The party continued until the wee hours of the morning.

If you don't want to venture out at all, there are still plenty of activities onboard the ship (even with the casino being closed). On the first night the activities included South Beach Rave in the Stardust Theater. This show, featuring the Jean Ann Ryan Company, was a high energy show with music provided by the Norwegian Dawn Showband.

Starting at 10:15 PM, there was Dancing Under the Stars, at the Oasis Poolside, with dance music provided by Upryzin'. The Friendly Family Feud Game, Late Night Adult Comedy and the Music of Neil Diamond were other activities the first night in port. For those that want to be a performer, Karaoke was also going on in Dazzles Lounge.

The second night in King's Wharf featured Second City in the Stardust Theater and Adult Comedy in Spinnaker Lounge. If you've never seen The Quest Adult Game Show, you might want to check that out in Spinnaker Lounge. This was the night for the Chocoholic Buffet in the Garden Cafe. Take pictures or sample some of the fantastic chocolate treats. Unfortunately, we got back late from our Night Snorkel excursion, so we missed most of the festivities.

Since we sail from Hamilton before dinner, shops were open, the casino opened, and there were plenty of venues to attend for entertainment. As you can see, there's always something to do in the evening, despite some ship services being closed while in port. So you are free to do whatever.

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Night Snorkeling

Do fish swim at night? Are fish active after the sun goes down? Do fish have their dinner when we do? Have you ever wondered about things like that? If so, then perhaps a Night Snorkeling excursion could answer those questions for you.

When reviewing the possible excursions available on the Norwegian Dawn cruise to Bermuda, we were intrigued by the Night Snorkeling excursion offered while we were in King's Wharf.

The Night Snorkel excursion description was as follows:
A ratio of one instructor to six snorkelers ensures your personalized attention and safety. You'll see a variety of sea creatures that normally hide during the day and marvel at how the beautiful coral formations come alive in our beams of light. Then for a real treat we turn off our lights to discover the extraordinary effects of bioluminescence microscopic creatures that create light as we swim through them. Experience a whole different type of Bermuda nightlife. Note: Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. All participants must know how to swim. This tour is not recommended for those with limited mobility and back problems.

After reading that description, we had some preconceived notions about this tour. We expected to be snorkeling off of a boat that provided the lighting. It turned out that we would be providing our own lighting using underwater flashlights.

Our tour began with a short taxi ride from the pier to 9 Beaches Resort. After a short briefing, we were given our gear which included partial wet suits, snorkel mask, snorkel, fins, life vests, and a flashlight. We were paired into groups of two swimmers and given one glow stick which would serve as a locator in the dark.

After everyone had their gear, we entered the water from the beach near to the equipment shack and made sure that our masks and snorkels were working and adjusted properly. I was a little leery, despite having snorkeled before, we never had done so at night. Most of our snorkeling was done by jumping into water from a boat which was anchored nearby the snorkeling area. That gives you the opportunity to rest for awhile and rejoin the snorkeling when you want. This was obviously not going to be the same experience.

The tour guides assured me that we'd stay together and make frequent stops to be sure the group was together. He also said that I could stay close to him if that helped. Unfortunately, he took off and staying with him wasn't really practical. My husband stayed with me and that had to suffice.

The water was cold despite the wet suit. We did make several stops to keep the group together. I only saw a couple fish the whole time. My husband didn't see any at all. He was too busy keeping tabs of where my light was and where I was. Our son was with us too and he did see a few fish.

I started to get a cramp and decided that I'd had enough. A few of us got out near a landing and walked back to the equipment shack. The rest of the group continued for 15 or 20 minutes more, so we could have made it the whole time, but I didn't want to risk it due to the cramps.

Some people might enjoy this tour, but we weren't very happy with it. The description was misleading to us and the tour guides could have been more sensitive to the abilities of the group. If you are good swimmers / snorkelers, you might enjoy this experience. For us, we'll stick with day-time snorkeling.

Even though we had underwater cameras, we took no pictures, so I have nothing to share with you from this tour. Do come back next time for some of our other activities in Bermuda.

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Glass Bottom Boat

The sun is just starting to cast its shadow on the water as the glass bottom boat sails away from King's Wharf, where the Norwegian Dawn is docked. It is a beautiful night as we sail past several little islands that collectively make up the Bermuda Islands.

We sail past beautiful beaches with umbrellas still open. Gorgeous homes, worth several millions of dollars, are seen along the banks as the glass bottom boat makes its way to the site of the Vixen shipwreck.

The time from leaving the pier until we arrive at the site of the shipwreck is sufficient for the crew to explain what we are about to see. One might think that a "glass bottom boat" would be made completely of glass and that you could see the water the entire time. That of course isn't the case. At the speed we are currently going, there wouldn't be anything to see, so the glass bottom viewing area remains closed until shortly before arriving at our destination.

The boat slows down as we approach the reef near the resting place of the shipwreck Vixen. We've just entered the world of the fish once again, and this time we aren't even getting wet.

We gather around railings which are put up around the glass bottom viewing areas. There are several locations, so everyone is easily able to gather around one of the openings to peer into the waters below. The boat circles around the reef so that everyone is able to view the fish and marine life below.

Seeing the fish though the glass bottom is OK, but not as good as the view we were about to get. The crew had a supply of day-old bread with them. We were each given a supply and instructed to throw the bread overboard. A school of fish immediately surfaced and began feeding on the slices of bread. It wasn't even necessary to break the bread up - they would do that themselves. It was amazing to see these large fish fighting each other over the bread.

The captain then moved further out from the reef and once again a crew member threw some bread overboard. To our amazement, no fish retrieved the bread. The fish have been trained over time that it is safe near the shipwreck since fishing is not allowed. However, once outside the boundaries, all bets are off and they know they could be caught.

After the fish were fed, we headed back to the Dockyards. We were able to take pictures of the Norwegian Dawn from our boat as we approached the pier. The sun was low in the sky by now and the lights of the ship reflected in the water as we approached.  Bermuda Glass Bottom Boat

This tour was enjoyable. There are several tours offered throughout the day. We had decided to do the early evening excursion. I suggest taking this or similar tour so that you see Bermuda from the water. If you don't want to take an organized tour, at least take a ferry to either Hamilton or St. George so that you see Bermuda from this perspective.

Next time, we'll continue with more attractions. I think you should be starting to get the idea that there's many choices in Bermuda. There is definitely no reason to be bored on this cruise.

Greetings from NCL Dawn

I am writing this from the Internet Cafe onboard NCL Dawn. We sailed last Sunday from Manhattan Cruise Terminal (New York City) for a 7 night cruise to Bermuda. The weather was great and the cruise was terrific.

We had two sea days before arriving at King's Wharf, Bermuda where we docked for two nights. On the third day in Bermuda, the ship relocated to Hamilton, Bermuda where we tendered.

Some of the highlights were Crystal and Fantasy Caves, Helmet Diving, Fort Hamilton, Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, and the Aquarium. Come back in a couple days to start reading all about our trip. Each post, we'll take a closer look at the ship and the various attractions we saw.

If you've not done a cruise to Bermuda yet, I'd suggest that as an alternative to the Caribbean as I've mentioned before.

I'll have plenty of pictures to share with you and provide our impressions of the NCL Dawn.

So, come back to read the entire story.