Bermuda: Think . . . Blue Waters . . . Pink Beaches . . . Lush Flora
Bermuda is an island everyone loves to visit. Located just off the Carolinas and warmed by the Gulf Stream year round, this fishhook-shaped chain of 150 islands sits atop a submerged mountain and is ringed by coral reefs. Lush foliage and volcanic rock cover the land. The waters of an aquamarine ocean lap at the pink sandy beaches where the sound of whispering pines lull visitors into a tranquil state. Narrow winding roads lined with lush flowers of oleander, hibiscus, oleander and poinsettias traverse the island. The balmy subtropical island’s temperatures range from spring-like 60 degrees F in winter to high 80s in summer.
It is one of the best islands in the world to visit. It retains all the vestiges from its days as a British Crown Colony although today Bermuda is a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom, legislating all its own laws. (UK and European Community laws do not apply in Bermuda. However, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth remains the official head of state and she appoints Bermuda’s Governor and Commander-in-Chief upon the advice of the UK government and the Premier of Bermuda. More information at http://www.bermuda-online.org/colonial.htm ) Visitors will find just the right mix of British charm—left-side driving, cricket, high tea and local island bonhomie to make their stay a happy one.
Bermuda was sighted back in 1503 by Spanish explorer Juan de Bermudez for whom the island is named. Eight years later the island appeared on the world map but the islands were nicknamed Isle of the Devils by early navigators because of its treacherous shoals. However, it was not until 1609 when a storm wrecked the British vessel Sea Venture bound for Virginia on the island’s jagged shoals. The ship’s survivors found adequate timber and food to sustain them while they built two replacement vessels to continue their journey. Those who opted to stay eked out a living but it wasn’t until 1883 when Britain’s Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise, paid a Royal visit that the island became a destination for the pleasure bound/vacationers.
Twenty-one miles long and under two miles wide; Bermuda has nine parishes located on six main islands interconnected by bridges. Hamilton is its capital. Its population of 65,000 inhabitants is a multicultural patchwork of British, African, West Indian, Azorian Portuguese and North Americans, who disarm visitors with their friendliness and “Bermuda is love’’ smiles. Most of the Bermudians have lived on the island for several generations.
The island has something for everyone. For the sports minded, there’s golf, tennis, water sports, scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. For the botanist or the nature lover, the vegetation and variety of avian wildlife will be a draw. Artists both professional and amateur, will delight in the natural beauty of the island; and for the shopper, there are an array of wares to savor. Bermuda’s Railroad Trail (formerly the rail line that ran the length of the island) allows walkers and joggers to traverse the island end to end. Along the way they are afforded breathtaking views of the harbor and an affinity with nature herself.
Getting There By Cruise Ship
Between April and November in 2007, no less than eight cruise lines will send ships to one or more of Bermuda’s three ports – Hamilton, St. George’s and King’s Wharf. Offering an ideal combination of time at sea and plenty of time ashore exploring the destination’s attractions, many of them are five- to seven-day Bermuda-only itineraries from such homeports as Baltimore; Boston; New York;, Cape Liberty, New Jersey; Philadelphia; Norfolk and Fort Lauderdale. Other international cruise lines feature Bermuda on their transatlantic voyages, Caribbean repositioning trips or multi-island Caribbean itineraries throughout the year.
Where the Ships Dock
The principal docking area is on the west end of the island at the 71-acre site of the former Royal Naval Dockyard on Ireland Island. Built by slave and convict labor in the 18th century, the historic area with its formidable fort—often referred to as the Gibraltar of the West—once provided a safe harbor for the British during the American Revolution to anchor and repair its ships.. It became a launching point for the British during the War of 1812 and served as a naval base during the Second World War.
Cruise ship terminal at King’s Wharf
The ship terminal at King’s Wharf is just a five minute walk to this massive area of old stone buildings and fortifications that have been restored to reflect the great days when Britannia ruled the seas. The Maritime Museum (http://www.bmm.bm ), located in the Keep of the Dockyard, has a rich display of naval relics and historic vessels of the past and other exhibits. The recent opening of the restored early 1800s Commissioner’s House with its cast-iron supported roof and floorscrowns the site—a reliquary of Bermuda’s military and seafaring history, now used for exhibitions. The museum is surrounded by 30-foot high ramparts with canons still intact and affords great vistas of the sea. New is the Dolphin Quest facility at the Maritime Museum where visitors can interact with the friendly Bluenose dolphins up close (www.dolphinquest.org).
Some of the old naval buildings in the dockyard, such as the landmark Clock Tower complex, have been converted into malls with boutiques, restaurants and crafts workshops. Many of Bermuda’s cultural events take place here. There is even a resident art colony housed here in the Bermuda Arts Centre where visitors are invited to observe the local artists at work in their studios.
There is a ferry pier near Kings Wharf where visitors can hop on board new fast ferries to travel to Hamilton and St. George’s and other parts of the island.
A second principal docking area for cruise ships visiting the island for two or three days is the historic Town of St. George on Bermuda’s east end. Bermuda’s first capital—Hamilton now claims the title—St. George’s was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Today, the town still retains many of the visages of a settlement 400 years ago.
The main cruise terminal on Ordnance Island—ships also dock at nearby Pennos Wharf— is just five minutes walk away from all the historic points of such as King’s Square with its stocks, ducking stool and pillory and the lovely Town Hall.
Ship terminal at Ordnance Island
Two blocks away is St. Peter’s Church on Duke of York Street, the western hemisphere’s oldest Anglican church still in use. Across the street is Tucker House, located on Water Street. Built in 1752, it is St. George’s only 18th century period residence and it is open to visitors.
Small shops and a variety of restaurants offer visitors a chance to savor the area. A popular locals’ restaurant Café Gio on Water Street serves up an à la carte menu of seafood and other Italian dishes—a great place to go for lunch and nice views of the harbor. The Bermuda Perfumery is also located here in historic Stewart Hall and it’s the place to go for locally made perfumes and fragrances, the most famous being Lily (www.bermuda-perfumery.com).
On Ordnance Island near the ship terminal is a statue of Sir George Sommers, the founder of Bermuda; and a full-scale replica of the Deliverance II, one of two vessels that transported Sea Venture survivors on to Virginia in 1610. It is also where one can pick up the fast ferries or arrange for private water tours.
Smaller ships can also dock in Hamilton where cruise passengers can just literally step across Front Street from the pier for some delightful shopping and sightseeing.
Front Street across from the terminal
Besides the stores selling their tempting wares, there are some city landmarks worth a visit. The Bermuda Cathedral on Church Street is worth a visit just to see its Gothic architecture and impressive reredos. The cathedral tower is open to the public for a fee and offers some wonderful views of the island. Close by is City Hall on Queen Street, one of the city’s loveliest buildings and seat of government. It also houses the Bermuda National Gallery on the second floor that displays historic and contemporary art from around the world.
At night there are many restaurants offering local and international cuisine, and pubs and nightclubs for some good music. On Wednesday evenings during the summer season, Harbour Nights takes place with more than 100 street vendors, Gombey- costumed street performers and musicians providing the revelry. Even the more staid Bermuda Regiment parades down the street and there are lots of activities for children as well as their parents.
Just outside Hamilton on East Broadway is the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute containing two floors of interactive ocean exhibits as well as artifacts recovered from Bermuda’s shipwrecks.
At all three cruise-ship docks, it is easy for passengers to get around Bermuda by ferry or by bus. And for those wanting to sample the island with an overnight stay at a hotel, some establishments, such as Pink Beaches, are offering a special one-night package for cruise visitors who want to stay on land during their cruise call.
Other Places To Visit in Bermuda
Some other outstanding places to visit during port call are the Bermuda Botanical Gardens in Paget Parish, the Crystal Caves (www.caves.bm) and the Bermuda Aquarium (www.bamz.org). The Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in Southampton Parish—the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world—opened in1845 and its light can be seen 40 miles away. Climb the 145 steps up to the top for a panoramic view of the island though the view from below is quite encompassing.
Nature buffs will enjoy visiting Spittal Pond (http://www.bbsr.edu/Education/field_guides/spittal/spittal.html ) on the South Shore in Smith Parish. A 64-
View of Spital Pond
acre nature preserve is wonderful place to walk and go birding as there is an amazing variety of avian life here, especially during migration seasons. It also boasts outstanding geological formation of limestone rocks and Spanish Rock, the island’s oldest evidence of human life. Another nature area worth visiting is Paget Marsh, which covers an area of 25 acres and is the last sizeable tract of land in Bermuda to have survived almost unmodified by man since prehistoric time. http://www.bbsr.edu/Education/field_guides/paget_marsh/paget_marsh.html .
Nonsuch Island: Near the entrance to Castle Harbor about two miles from the airport, this exceptional nature reserve is the brainchild of David B. Wingate, Bermuda's conservation officer from 1966-2000. In nearly half a century, Mr. Wingate attempted to restore some of Bermuda’s native flora and fauna on this windswept island. His efforts have been successful and especially notable is the restoration of the extinct cahows. Today there are 1000 pairs nesting in the island’s rocky cliffs. Special permission must be obtained by anyone wishing to visit Nonsuch Island as only boats belonging to BBSR and the Bermuda Aquarium are permitted to dock at Nonsuch. Visitors must be accompanied by a qualified guide. Group visits and guides must be booked through BBSR's Education Officer (http://www.bbsr.edu/Education/field_guides/nonsuch/nonsuch.html ).
In Southampton Parish, the Heydon Trust, just off the Railroad Trail, in its bucolic setting is a world away from modern-day Bermuda. There is a small chapel set in a small farm worker’s cottage and a favorite with local artists. In the spring, an old-fashioned rose garden comes to life where many old varieties of roses have been planted.
In the neighboring parish of Sandy’s, there is one of the world’s smallest working drawbridges—just wide enough to let the mast of a sail boat go by. Just beyond, is Fort Scaur, another of the islands nine forts, which offers a tranquil place and views of both the Great Sound and Ely’s Harbour.
Further west, in Somerset Paris, children will love a new experience—walking under water. Hartley’s Reef Safari at the Watford Bridge Ferry Dock in Somerset welcomes all ages for an interactive Eco-tour below the water (www.hartleybermuda.com ).
Dining
Bermuda has more than 150 restaurants ranging from simple and inexpensive to elegant and specialty dining. The island restaurants serve cuisine that ranges from classic French to local dishes such as fried bananas, cod and Bermuda chowder. On the high-end, restaurants can be pricey but the service and food are usually outstanding. Outstanding cuisine can be had at the Pink Beach Club’s restaurant in Tuckers Town for dinner or at lunch by the pool. Other worth-a-visit dining establishments include the five-Diamond Newport Room at the Southampton Fairmont Resortlocated on the South Shore as well as its Waterlot Inn on the harbor and a casual restaurant by the beach; Elbow Beach’s Sea Horse Grill has a nice variety of seafood entrées served with professional flair, topped with delicious deserts; and the Fourways Inn in Paget offers dining in a 17th century house with an award-winning wine selection. The restaurant at The Reefs resort in Southampton parish also offers delicious creative dining in a relaxed, al fresco setting in summer.
Just a short taxi or ferry ride away from the Dockyard ship terminal is the luxe Cambridge Beaches resort in Sandy’s Parish, which offers lunch in its relaxed waterfront café or a more formal dinner in its main restaurant.
One other dining establishment with an historical past is Tom Moore’s Tavern in Tuckers Town. Not attached to a hotel, this independent dining venue has been in business for decades and it still gets raves over its traditional and local dishes that include, in season, Bermuda lobster.
Lodging
Those coming to Bermuda by air have a wonderful selection of hotels and small inns to choose from—more than 150 establishments. Outstanding is the Pink Beach Club
View from a Pink Beach Club’s ocean-front cottage
which welcomes cruise visitors to spend a night at the establishment where they will get a whiff of old-world Bermuda. Cottages front the beach and at night one is lulled to sleep by the gentle lapping of the waves against the coral beach. The food served at this five-star resort is of the highest quality where guests are served a five-course dinner each night by very well trained staff. If you crave quiet and a serene spot, this is the place to go. And it is perfect for honeymooners or for those just renewing their vows.
If you choose not to spend the night at the hotel, you might want to have lunch al fresco by the pool before taking a rest on the beach or snorkeling around the rocks where a variety of exotic fish can be enjoyed in the aqua-clear waters.
All the hotel establishments must undergo rigid inspections and they range from B&Bs to small hotels, cottage colonies and large resorts. For rates and special packages, which vary depending on the time of the visit, go to www.bermudatourism.com and click Where To Stay. Also check out shipsandcruises’ suggested Bermuda Hotels.
Click the sections below for further information about Bermuda.
Bermuda Essentials
Bermuda Hotels
Bermuda 2006 Events Calendar
Bermuda Beaches
Bermuda Golf
Bermuda
Water-Sports Activities & Fishing
Bermuda
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