12 Bermuda Cruise Tips I Wish I Knew Before Going
If you’re planning a cruise to Bermuda, these Bermuda cruise tips are worth knowing before you go. A few things you should do before you arrive include how you’ll get around and what’s worth booking ahead.
Many Bermuda itineraries also have an overnight stay on the island, which I love. It gives you more time to explore without feeling like you have to fit everything into one port day. We’ve cruised to Bermuda more than once now, and each visit has taught me something new.
There are things I’d do the same again and a few I’d change. These are the tips I’d share with anyone planning their first Bermuda cruise.
1. Look for a Cruise Itinerary That Gives You More Time in Bermuda
When comparing Bermuda cruises, look closely at how long the ship will actually be in port. Some itineraries give you just one day, while others stay overnight or spend multiple days in Bermuda.
If you have a choice, I’d go with the itinerary that gives you more time. Many Bermuda cruises with overnight stays sail from Northeast ports, including New York City and Boston. Bermuda has plenty to see beyond the Royal Naval Dockyard, so having that extra time makes it much easier to fit in sightseeing, a beach day, and anything else you want to do.
Check the arrival and departure times before booking, too. Two itineraries may both include an overnight stay, but that doesn’t always mean you’ll have the same amount of time on the island.
2. Check the Travel Documents You Need Before You Sail
Before your cruise, double-check the travel documents you need for your itinerary. Requirements can depend on where your cruise starts and ends and your citizenship.
For U.S. citizens on a closed-loop cruise that begins and ends at the same U.S. port, a passport may not always be required. Other forms of proof of citizenship may be accepted.
I still recommend cruising with a valid passport book if you have one. If something happens while you’re in Bermuda and you need to fly back to the United States, you’ll need a passport to fly home.
You may also come across outdated entry information when researching Bermuda cruises, so check the current requirements with your cruise line before you sail.
3. Have a Plan for Getting Around Bermuda
Before you arrive, have a general idea of how you’ll get around. Most larger cruise ships dock at the Royal Naval Dockyard, while some smaller ships may dock in Hamilton or St. George’s, so where you’re starting from can change how you plan your day.
Bermuda has several ways to get around, including ferries, buses, taxis, beach shuttles, and small electric vehicles. Visitors can’t rent regular cars, so it’s worth looking at your options before you arrive instead of figuring it all out once you’re off the ship.
I’ve broken down the different transportation options, along with what works best for getting to popular spots, in my Bermuda Cruise Port Guide.
One more thing: Download an offline Google map of Bermuda before you go. Free Wi-Fi is available at places like the Royal Naval Dockyard and around some Visitor Services Centers, but I wouldn’t rely on a connection everywhere. An offline map is useful if your cell plan doesn’t include Bermuda or you want to cut down on data use.
4. Traveling With a Group? Consider Booking a Private Driver
If you’re visiting Bermuda with a group and plan to explore the island, booking a private driver can make the day much easier. You won’t have to coordinate multiple taxis or arrange transportation between every stop, and everyone can travel together.
On our recent Bermuda cruise, our group of eight hired a private driver for six hours on each of our first two full days. We already knew which places we wanted to visit, so a driver made it easy to get around without handling the logistics ourselves.
It was also nice having a local with us. Our driver shared stories and bits of information about Bermuda along the way, which gave us a better sense of the places we visited.
If you’re thinking about hiring a private driver, book ahead. Drivers and minibusses that can accommodate larger groups may have limited availability.
5. Visiting Bermuda for the First Time? A Tour May Be Worth Considering
There’s a lot more to Bermuda than what you’ll see around the cruise port. On a first visit, a tour can be a great way to get to know the island.
We’ve explored Bermuda both on our own and with a guide. I like the mix. A local guide can add context to the places you’re visiting and point out things you might otherwise pass right by.
You can book a cruise line excursion, join a local group tour, or arrange one directly with a tour operator. I wouldn’t fill every port day with tours, though. Choose one that covers some of the places high on your list, then leave yourself time to explore on your own.
6. Book the Things You Really Don’t Want to Miss
I’m all for leaving some room in the schedule, but if there’s something you know you really want to do in Bermuda, I’d book it ahead of time. Tours with favorite local companies or guides can book up quickly, along with boat tours, snorkeling trips, and other limited-space experiences.
Pick a few priorities and lock those in before your cruise. Then leave some time open for what you find along the way.
7. Don’t Try to See All of Bermuda in One Day
Bermuda may look small on a map, and it is. You can drive from one end of the island to the other in about an hour, depending on traffic. But that doesn’t mean you can experience the whole island in one day. Once you start stopping at beaches, towns, caves, and other sights, the time adds up.
Instead of bouncing all over the island, try grouping a few places that are in the same general area. St. George’s pairs well with Crystal Caves or Tobacco Bay, while Horseshoe Bay can be combined with other stops along the South Shore.
You don’t have to see everything on your first Bermuda cruise. Give yourself time to actually enjoy the places you visit and save a few things for next time.
8. Make the Most of an Overnight Stay
If your Bermuda itinerary includes an overnight stay, take advantage of the extra time. You won’t have to rush back to the ship at the end of the afternoon.
Stay out for dinner or spend more time in Hamilton or St. George’s. You could also book an evening activity without watching the clock. If you need a break, head back to the ship and go out again later.
The final day is usually shorter. If your ship leaves in the afternoon, I’d either stay closer to the Royal Naval Dockyard or choose one tour or activity rather than trying to fit too much in. Always check your all-aboard time before making plans.
9. Don’t Assume Every Beach Has Rentals and Amenities
Not every beach in Bermuda has the same amenities. Some offer chair and umbrella rentals, food, restrooms, and snorkeling gear. Others have very little nearby.
On our last trip, we wanted to rent snorkel gear for the kids and found that Tobacco Bay was one of the few beaches where you could rent gear to use right there. Unlike other Caribbean islands we’ve visited, where we’ve always had several options for renting snorkel gear, Bermuda had fewer convenient rental locations. That’s something I wouldn’t have thought to check ahead of time.
If snorkeling is on your list, bring your own snorkel gear if you have it. Water shoes are worth packing for rocky coves, and a beach blanket gives you somewhere to sit without renting a chair. It’s also worth thinking through what to pack for a cruise beach day before you leave home.
10. Expect Bermuda to Be a Pricier Port
Bermuda can be a pricey cruise port, so don’t be surprised if meals, drinks, taxis, tours, and beach rentals cost more than you expected.
Part of the reason is that the island imports more than 80% of its food, along with many other goods. Shipping, import duties, labor, rent, and energy costs all play a part in what you end up paying.
Knowing that ahead of time makes it easier to budget for your days in Bermuda. I’d leave a little extra room for the things you really want to do rather than getting caught off guard once you’re there.
11. You Don’t Need to Exchange U.S. Dollars
Bermuda has its own currency, but the Bermuda dollar is equal in value to the U.S. dollar: $1 BMD = $1 USD. U.S. dollars are widely accepted, so if you’re visiting from the United States, there’s no need to exchange money before your cruise.
Credit cards are also widely accepted, but I’d still carry a little cash for tips, smaller purchases, and transportation.
12. Don’t Spend Your Whole Visit at the Royal Naval Dockyard
There’s plenty to do around the Royal Naval Dockyard, but I wouldn’t spend your entire Bermuda visit there.
Even on a shorter port day, you may have time to explore beyond the Dockyard. Take a shuttle to Horseshoe Bay, visit one other place that interests you, then return to the Dockyard with the time you have left.
If your cruise stays overnight or gives you a couple of days in Bermuda, use that extra time to see more of the island. Spend part of one day at the Dockyard instead of making it your entire Bermuda experience.
We always leave Bermuda with more places we want to see, which is part of the reason we keep wanting to go back. Choose the spots that matter most to you, leave some room in your schedule, and don’t try to fit the whole island into one cruise.
BEFORE YOU SET SAIL, HERE ARE SOME RELATED ARTICLES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS:
Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she’s become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She’s always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.
