ShipsandCruises’ has compiled some helpful Information for your Bermuda Sojourn.
Air Travel: As of May, Bermuda is now serviced by US low-fare carrier JetBlue Airways, which offers daily flights from New York/JFK and Boston.
Other airlines offering regular scheduled service include Air Canada, British Airways, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, US Airways and USA3000.
Bermuda Tourism News/Events: Website: www.bermudatourism.com or tel: 1-800-Bermuda (US)
Bermuda Weather: Mild semitropical climate year-round. Average temperatures range from 68 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit; cooler November to March. Water temperatures in the summer average 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Website for the local weather: http://www.weather.bm/
Communications: The long-distance area code for calling Bermuda is 441. Besides the major hotels public Internet access is available at certain public institutions such as the Public Library in Hamilton. Other Internet access sites are listed in the local telephone directory.
Cruise Lines: Several major cruise lines* will be operating cruises to Bermuda from the US in 2007.
Azamara Cruises From May through October 20, Azamara Journey makes seven-day cruises from Cape Liberty, N.J. to Bermuda, featuring one-night stays in St. George’s and two-night stays in Hamilton. www.azamaracruises.com
Carnival Cruise Lines In April, Carnival Miracle sailed a six-day itinerary out of New York. In 2008, Carnival will have a bigger presence in Bermuda. www.carnival.com
COSTA CRUISES
Costa Cruises Occasional cruises to the island. www.costa.com
Crystal Cruises On November 9, Crystal Serenity departs on a ten-day repositioning cruise from Lisbon to Miami with an overnight stop in Bermuda. www.crystalcruises.com
Norwegian Cruise Line Three ships—Norwegian Crown, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Majesty— sail nine separate itineraries to Bermuda on five-, six- and seven-day sailings. Departures from April through November from New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Charleston, with port calls in Bermuda's Hamilton, King's Wharf and St. George. www.ncl.com
Princess Cruise Lines Nine-day itineraries, aboard Crown Princess between May 12 and September 6, sail roundtrip from Brooklyn, NY and also visit San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. www.princesscruises.com
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Occasional visits by Seven Seas Navigator in April and includes the destination is some transatlantic repositioning cruises. www.rssc.com
Royal Caribbean Cruises Between April and October, Bermuda is featured on seven Royal Caribbean ships offering transatlantic and Caribbean repositioning cruises, Bermuda-only itineraries and Bermuda and Caribbean voyages. Bermuda-only cruises ranging from five- to seven-nights, depart from Baltimore, Cape Liberty, Norfolk and Philadelphia. www.royalcaribbean.com
*Note: Occasional port calls will be made by more than nine other cruise lines from the US and other countries. Best to check with the cruise line of choice.
Climate: Bermuda enjoys a year-round mild semitropical climate with temperatures ranging from 68 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Relative humidity is from 71 to 84 percent. Summer water temperatures reach 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall, heaviest during the low season, averages 57.6 inches a year.
Currency: The Bermuda dollar is on a par with the US dollar and both are accepted in Bermuda. Credit cards and travelers checks are also accepted by most establishments.
Electric Current: 110 volts; 60 cycles AC. Adapters necessary for UK and European appliances.
Government: A parliamentary democracy—Bermuda is the second oldest in the world after England—the island’s legislative and legal bodies are patterned after Great Britain’s. Bermuda’s Governor, the titular chief of state, is appointed by Britain’s Queen.
Internal self government was granted in 1968 by the UK. Members of the Bermuda Parliament and the Prime Minister are elected by the island’s residents.
Guidebooks on Bermuda: There are several guide books on Bermuda for trip preparation available in bookstores or on the Internet. Best of the group appears to be Fodor’s Guide on Bermuda and Hunter Travel Books’ Bermuda guide. Upon arrival on the island, there are free publications, such as Bermuda Preview, that are a good source for information and events taking place during your stay. Available at the Visitors Service Bureau located at the King’s Wharf Ocean Terminal or at other public venues or island hotels, and at the airport.
Population: Around 65,000, consisting of 61 percent of black descent and 39 percent white. Two-thirds of Bermudians have lived on the island for generations.
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Shopping: US visitors on the island more than 48 hours are allowed up to $800 in duty-free purchases. There are different restrictions for British and Canadian visitors.
Stores are open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. Most stores will pack your breakable purchases for travel or overseas shipping.
Bermuda-made products such as Gosling’s Black Rum (for those Dark n Stormies and Bermuda Rum Swizzle drinks); Outerbridges Original sauces for spicing up foods and drinks; Bermuda perfumes such as Bermuda Blue or Coral; paintings by local artists as well as wonderful handcrafted wares are sold throughout the island.
Stores also carry imports from the UK and other countries, such as glass and china, cashmere sweaters, tartan skirts from the British Isles; and, of course, men’s Bermuda shorts (worn two inches above the knee) with knee socks.
Transportation on the Island: Since automobiles are restricted to residents (one per family), one of the best ways to get around the island is by taking the ferry. New high-speed vessels cover the island. Buses are also available. A one-day SeaPass ($12) or a three-day SeaPass ($28) good for both water taxis and public buses is a great bargain (www.seaexpress.bm).
Taxis and private vans are available for tours of the island as well, if hopping on a scooter or moped seems daunting. Taxis are metered; the fare starts at $5.75 for the first mile, $2 each additional mile. Rates increase 25% after midnight and on Sundays and public holidays for one to four persons; 50% for five to six persons. Cabbies—most of them many-generation Bermudians—are friendly fonts of information, happily dispensing advice and recommendations. A blue flag on the front indicates that the driver is an accredited tour guide. Reliable dispatchers include Radio Cabs (441/295-4141), Bermuda Taxi Operators (441/292-4175), Sandys Taxi Company (441/234-2344), or private van operators such as Everything Bermuda! (441-735-1775). (Ask for Raymond Robinson who is a superb guide)
Travel Documents: US-issued passport. More information at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.
For residents of Canada and other countries, different regulations apply.
Visitors Service Bureaus: There are three visitors bureaus that are located at the Dockyard, and in St. George’s and Hamilton that are open daily except Sundays from 9am to 5 pm. (Note: Between April and November, the St. George’s Visitors Bureau is open on Sundays from 9 am to 4 pm.) Information can also be obtained at the Airport Arrivals Desk.
The bureaus sell bus tokens and Transportation Passes as well as providing maps and other information before setting out. If you plan to visit some of the island’s forts and other landmarks, the Heritage Pass, priced at $25 per person, allows access to six cultural attractions within a seven-day period: the Bermuda National Gallery, Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo, Bermuda Maritime Museum, Bermuda National Trust, Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute as well as entry to all of Bermuda’s forts. Passes are sold at the major hotels as well.
Hamilton
8 Front Street
(Next to the ferry terminal)
Tel: 441-295-1480
Royal Naval Dockyard
The Cooperage Building
Tel: 441-234-3824
St. George’s
7 King’s Square
Tel: 441-297-1642
Bermuda International Airport
The Airport Arrivals Desk outside the Baggage Claim area also provides maps and guides as well as selling the transportation and Heritage passes. Tel: 441-299-4857