JohnK6404 Posted March 4, 2022 Report Share Posted March 4, 2022 Hi everyone! What is the general policy when the itinerary includes overnight stays in port? We're looking at an 8-Night sailing on Mariner in OCT 2023 that includes a 3 day stop in Bermuda (Days 5-7)... The departure time on Day 7 was unclear on the website so I reached out to Royal CS... they stated it's scheduled to arrive at 5:30PM on Day 5 and departs at 1:00PM on Day 7. Not that we're going to stay off the ship all night , but do we technically have the flexibility to jump on and off the ship during that entire time in port until all aboard on Day 7? We've had an overnight stay in port in Bermuda back in 2013, but we can't remember what the policy/procedure was... not sure if they close the gangway each evening at a certain time. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted March 4, 2022 Report Share Posted March 4, 2022 @JohnK6404 Yes. In Bermuda, the gangway will be open and manned 24hrs a day while in port. Local security officers will also be manning the entry point on the pier. The ship is just like your hotel. Come and go as you please. JohnK6404, KristiZ, ChessE4 and 3 others 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK6404 Posted March 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2022 23 minutes ago, BrianB said: @JohnK6404 Yes. In Bermuda, the gangway will be open and manned 24hrs a day while in port. Local security officers will also be manning the entry point on the pier. The ship is just like your hotel. Come and go as you please. Thanks @BrianB ! BrianB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoCruiser Posted March 6, 2022 Report Share Posted March 6, 2022 My Doctor Who group that is sailing on the April 18th departure on vision of the Seas has an overnight stay in Aruba. I have not checked into this detail, but I assume it would probably be the same procedure there?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colombia20102018 Posted March 25, 2022 Report Share Posted March 25, 2022 On 3/4/2022 at 8:33 AM, BrianB said: Yes. In Bermuda, the gangway will be open and manned 24hrs a day while in port. Local security officers will also be manning the entry point on the pier. The ship is just like your hotel. Come and go as you please. Hi, since you have been to Bermuda, what's the reason behind docking there for two to three days? Is there a lot to do there or is it mainly because how far it is in comparison to other ports? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCG Teacher Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 16 hours ago, Colombia20102018 said: Hi, since you have been to Bermuda, what's the reason behind docking there for two to three days? Is there a lot to do there or is it mainly because how far it is in comparison to other ports? Thanks While both are true, it's much more the distance factor. Bermuda is way out on its own in the Atlantic; many cruises that go there are just to Bermuda and back. One of my favorite cruises out there was on Empress, when we got to do one night at the Naval Shipyard and two nights in Hamilton. The one day we got off the ship in the morning at the shipyard, went on a bike tour and ate some lunch, then boarded the ship in Hamilton! Being in port overnight for so long really changed the whole feel of the trip, we even saw some of the crew at one of the local bars in Hamilton one night! FoxboroCruiser, Colombia20102018, VirtKitty and 2 others 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianB Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 21 hours ago, Colombia20102018 said: Hi, since you have been to Bermuda, what's the reason behind docking there for two to three days? Is there a lot to do there or is it mainly because how far it is in comparison to other ports? Thanks Some cruises have Bermuda as a single day port as part of their itinerary, but I prefer the overnights. I guess the cruise lines must save a lot of money on fuel charges by docking all that time and not being at sea. Also, since Bermuda approved cruise ships to operate their casinos while docked, there is more incentive for the cruise lines to remain overnight. Bermuda is one of my favorite destinations…clean, safe and welcoming. And not just certain areas. I’ve spent lots of time with friends exploring the island and always found beautiful places with welcoming locals. One of our best excursions is renting a small Boston whaler or a larger pontoon boat and just motoring around the Great Sound. Or renting Wave Runners steps from the ship and going on a tour. There are so many hidden places and small islands with little sandy beaches. A great excursion is the nighttime glass bottom boat tour of the sound. We always found the narration to be excellent and entertaining, and the views of the coral when they turn the under hull lights on is pretty cool. Or renting an umbrella and loungers at the Elbow Beach Resort. They have an excellent restaurant on the beach…Mickey’s Bistro. Or visiting Horseshoe Bay Beach…Tobacco Bay…Long Bay…Church bay…or any other beautiful pink sand beach. We even hiked the trail that connects most of the main beaches. You can visit the amazing Crystal and Fantasy Caves with underground lakes and spectacular rock formations. Or the Aquarium…don’t forget to stop at the Swizzle Inn for a Rum Swizzle. You can rent bikes and tour the old Bermuda Railway Trail National Park…eighteen miles of an old rail bed converted to a paved path with fantastic views. Or horseback ride the trail, or along a beach. You can take the ferry to Hamilton for great shopping and restaurants…or to historic St. George’s, the first settlement, with it’s narrow cobblestone streets lined with small shops. Even just the things around the Royal Navy Dockyard…the small beach, shopping at the Clocktower Mall, the historic Governor’s House, swimming with dolphins. There is lots to see and do in Bermuda. And knowing we don’t have to be back on board that same day gives us a sense of ‘take our time and enjoy’ that we don’t get when we have to keep an eye on the time to make sure we don’t become a dreaded ‘pier runner’! Or worse. Enjoy your cruise! VirtKitty, LCWind, FoxboroCruiser and 4 others 2 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 Well, @BrianByou’ve sold me. Putting that on the list of cruises we haven’t done, but must. Sounds like I could visit a few different times and still have plenty of excursions I’d enjoy! Thank you. BrianB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxboroCruiser Posted March 26, 2022 Report Share Posted March 26, 2022 1 hour ago, Kathleen said: Well, @BrianByou’ve sold me. Putting that on the list of cruises we haven’t done, but must. Sounds like I could visit a few different times and still have plenty of excursions I’d enjoy! Thank you. We had two Bermuda cruises canceled during Covid and wound up changing itinerary’s, but we’re thinking we need to make it happen in 2023… BrianB, USCG Teacher and Kathleen 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colombia20102018 Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 On 3/26/2022 at 4:09 PM, BrianB said: Also, since Bermuda approved cruise ships to operate their casinos while docked, there is more incentive for the cruise lines to remain overnight. This has to be a major reason. Thanks @BrianB for the detailed reply. Definitively worth to go there. BrianB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooch Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 On 3/26/2022 at 10:06 AM, USCG Teacher said: While both are true, it's much more the distance factor. Bermuda is way out on its own in the Atlantic; many cruises that go there are just to Bermuda and back. One of my favorite cruises out there was on Empress, when we got to do one night at the Naval Shipyard and two nights in Hamilton. The one day we got off the ship in the morning at the shipyard, went on a bike tour and ate some lunch, then boarded the ship in Hamilton! Being in port overnight for so long really changed the whole feel of the trip, we even saw some of the crew at one of the local bars in Hamilton one night! We did this on Nordic Empress 20 years ago on our first cruise! Lots to do and see in Bermuda. Just a beautiful island. I also recommend getting a three day transit pass. Gets you on the ferries and the bus system. They’ll tell you there are no thrill rides in Bermuda but try the busses!! Those drivers are fearless!! They are also used for school transportation so we had several rides with various aged school kids, so curious and open. It was a highlight of the trip. USCG Teacher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCG Teacher Posted March 28, 2022 Report Share Posted March 28, 2022 6 hours ago, Pooch said: We did this on Nordic Empress 20 years ago on our first cruise! Lots to do and see in Bermuda. Just a beautiful island. I also recommend getting a three day transit pass. Gets you on the ferries and the bus system. They’ll tell you there are no thrill rides in Bermuda but try the busses!! Those drivers are fearless!! They are also used for school transportation so we had several rides with various aged school kids, so curious and open. It was a highlight of the trip. This is almost exactly when we did that itinerary. We definitely miss it. Strongly second the transit pass suggestion. We beat the crowds to Horseshoe Bay by taking the pink bus and went to St. John's from the Royal Naval Dockyard on the ferry on our own schedule and for way less than any planned excursion. Quick and easy way to get around and interact with (and get suggestions from!) locals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanC Posted February 19, 2023 Report Share Posted February 19, 2023 Along the same lines as Bermuda example does anyone know if it is the same process of "free come and go as you please" on Maui? My wife and I will be sailing on the Quantum in April with an overnight stay and were toying with the idea of staying on the island for the night so we can go to the sunrise Haleakalā the following morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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