Bermuda is such a
wonderful place to visit that nearly 50 percent of visitors choose to make a
return trip to this British territory. Bermuda also ranks as the fourth most
popular destination in Cruise Holidays’ 2012 Cruise Trends survey, surpassed
only by the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska.
Bermuda is an
archipelago of about 120 islands, with the eight largest connected by bridges
and causeways. Combined, the eight are just 22 miles long and barely 2 miles
across at the widest. The islands retain their natural beauty and charm in part
through bans on billboards, neon signs and other trappings of commercialization.
Much of Bermuda’s open space is devoted to golf: it has more courses per square
mile than anywhere else in the world.
Cruise ships call on
one or more of three ports in Bermuda: Hamilton, St. George’s Town and King’s
Wharf. Hamilton is the capital, and you’ll step off the ship right onto Front
Street. It’s easy to tour the picturesque town on foot, or rent a horse and
carriage.
St. George’s Town is a World Heritage Site,
and the well-preserved buildings around King’s Square make it seem that you’ve
stepped back into the 1600s. King’s Wharf has a long history as a strategic
naval base, and you can view treasures brought up from numerous shipwrecks at
the Bermuda Maritime Museum.
Bermuda’s beaches are well
worth visiting. Some have long stretches of Bermuda’s famous pink sand; others
lie on the edge of tiny, secluded coves. Any Bermuda beach is delightful, but those
recommended for snorkeling include Church Bay Beach on the south shore and Tobacco
Bay Beach near St. George’s Town. At Elbow Beach or Horseshoe Bay beach on the
south shore, you can rent equipment for water sports.
Part of what makes
Bermuda so appealing is that local leaders are careful not to overwhelm the
island by allowing too many cruise ships to call on any given day. Still, Bermuda
is welcoming more ships than in the past, which gives you a wider choice of
itineraries. Ships depart from several East Coast ports, including Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston and Fort Lauderdale. Talk
with Anita, your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert to plan a cruise to
warm, sunny, pastel-washed Bermuda.
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