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When do cruises go to Bermuda?

You may be surprised to know that Bermuda cruises depart most months of the year. The prime Bermuda cruise season, however, is from April to October.

Related: Does Taking a Short Cruise to Bermuda Make Sense?

Best Bermuda Itineraries

The fun thing about Bermuda cruises is that you can easily find the cruise length that works best for you. Week cruises stay in port the longest – usually two nights – to explore Bermuda. Fun four- or five-night vacations include either no overnight stays in Bermuda, or a one-night and half-day stay the next day. This can easily be added to a visit to East Coast departure ports such as Manhattan, Boston and Baltimore.

Best Bermuda Cruise Lines

As mentioned above, Norwegian offers the most sailing dates, sailing most of the year from both Manhattan and Boston. Although the line’s itineraries are often seven nights, look for the occasional five-night option, as well as longer cruises that include other destinations.

For a great step up, try Celebrity Cruises, which designs its ships with adults in mind. Celebrity sails on a regular schedule of seven-night cruises from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, with two nights at King’s Wharf.

If you want an upscale experience and the aforementioned luxury lines aren’t sailing when you want to travel, consider exclusive ship-within-a-ship enclaves on MSC Cruises (Yacht Club) and Norwegian (The Haven).

Things to do in Bermuda

Obviously, those pink beaches are calling like a siren song. Dockyard Beach and Snorkel Park Beach are closest to the cruise pier at King’s Wharf. Both are known for snorkeling. Buttes Beach features picturesque rock formations scattered among the sand both in and out of the water. For a long stretch of uninterrupted sand, try Elbow Beach.

When you’ve had your fill of beaches, you can explore the many historic sites and popular landmarks in Bermuda.

Bermuda is Britain’s oldest colony, so expect plenty of British charm with a healthy dose of history. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town of St. George is not the only castle on the island, just the largest. Fort St Catherine was used by British, Bermudian militia and Royal Artillery units from 1612 until the twentieth century.

Museums abound in Bermuda, including the National Museum of Bermuda found at the Royal Naval Dockyard. Don’t miss the Bermuda Underwater Institute and the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

Caves are also a popular attraction in Bermuda. In fact, this airport is located on an island called Cave Island. Some caves are open to the public and shore excursions featuring them are common. The Crystal and Fantasy Caves are part of an attraction offering tours, shopping and dining. Cathedral Cave is located at Grotto Bay Beach Resort, but non-guests are allowed to visit the cave.

Lighthouses are scattered around the islands, but the two most popular to visit are Gibb’s Hill and St. David’s. All those lighthouses didn’t do much to prevent disasters at sea. Bermuda is considered the shipwreck capital of the Atlantic Ocean. You can easily visit some of the wreck sites by snorkeling, helmet dives and scuba. Others are a bit deeper and require certified scuba diving. Some are accessible from shore, but most require a boat trip.

If you’re into nighttime sailing, consider an after-dark boat ride in the Bermuda Triangle, complete with ghost stories.

Serious golfers delight in Bermuda’s seven courses – all worth checking out: Turtle Hill, Mid-Ocean, Port Royal, Tucker’s Point, Ocean View, Newstead Belmont Hills and Five Forts. The rest of us can get in on the putting action at Bermuda Fun Golf at the Royal Naval Dockyard.

Best Bermuda Cruise Ports

Bermuda has three cruise ports: the main port at King’s Wharf (also known as the Royal Naval Dockyard), the capital of Hamilton in the center of the island, and St. George’s at the northeastern tip. Most ships dock at King’s Wharf as it is the only one that can serve larger ships.

If you can imagine the map of Bermuda as a big fishhook, the dockyards (and King’s Wharf) are on top of the pointy part of the hook. Adjacent to the wharf, cruise passengers will find transportation options to get around the cluster of islands, including beaches, the National Museum of Bermuda, tour operators, mini golf, and ferry service to both Hamilton and St. George.

Hamilton and St. George are very small ports and only serve a handful of small ships each year. Check out cruises on Oceania, Windstar and Silversea that visit.

What to Bring on a Bermuda Cruise

Bermuda is slightly dressier than the Bahamas. Whether shopping, touring or going to the beach, you want to spice things up a bit. Dress like you’re heading to one of those golf courses or sailing on a yacht and you’ll fit right in. A pair of Bermuda shorts and your best kicks will do just fine.

Bermuda’s climate is temperate, with only minor seasonal variations. Average daytime highs rarely break 90 degrees, and average lows almost never fall below 60 degrees. Layers are ideal; As with almost any island trip, you should plan for rain. Because your time in port can be long, you’ll need a backpack or tote to carry your stuff all day.

Official rules aside, a passport is strongly recommended, as they are required to enter the US by air. Required for return. In the event of injury, illness or change of cruise for which the U.S. would rather than return to the same port by sea. If required to return, a passport must be obtained while in Bermuda.

Related: Cruise Packing List: The Ultimate Guide to What to Pack for a Cruise