What shore excursions are available?
Both Royal Caribbean and NCL offer organised shore excursions while their ships are docked in Bermuda.
Some are frankly not worth the money. For example, NCL charges $54 (2007) for an excursion to Horseshoe Bay. Our advice is to buy a bus pass and make your own way there. Similarly, Royal Caribbean charges $72 (2007) for a tour of the Crystal Caves and the Bermuda Aquarium. Visitors organising the trip themselves could get into the Aquarium for $10 and the Crystal Caves for $14.
One advantage of taking an organised tour is that the cruise line is responsible for returning passengers back to the ship. If an organised tour is running late, the ship will wait for it. Those organising their own excursion should allow plenty of time to return if their ship is sailing that day. Bear in mind that there can be quite severe traffic jams in Bermuda during the rush hour, especially around Hamilton. Taxis can also be difficult to find.
Shore excursions can be booked prior to the cruise via cruise line’s website or onboard.
Shore excursions include:
- A round of golf at one Bermuda’s courses (Belmont Hills Golf Club, Mid Ocean Club, Ocean View Golf Course, Port Royal Golf Course, Riddell’s Bay, St George’s Golf Course, Tucker’s Point Club)
- Cycle tours of the Railway Trail
- Dolphin Quest
- Fishing trips
- Helmet diving
- Horse and carriage tours of Hamilton
- Horseshoe Bay
- Scuba diving
- Tours of the Aquarium and Crystal Caves
The company is also offering its guests tickets for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, to be held at the Mid Ocean Club on October 16-17 2007. They are available from their website until September 14.