Bermuda Cruise Ports of Call

Cruise ships to Bermuda stop in 1, 2 or 3 of the following ports when visiting Bermuda. Each of these ports is unique in its own way, but even if your ship doesn't stop in a place of interest to you, Bermuda is only 21 miles long, so you can fairly easily visit other ports from wherever you are.

Hamilton

Hamilton, with its permanent population of 15,000, is a capital city with the feel of a charming town. The population swells with the frequent arrival of cruise ships. Front Street is Hamilton's main thoroughfare, and it runs along the harbor with a ferry terminal, shops, restaurants and taverns. While in Hamilton, don't miss the Sessions House on Church Street, where Bermuda's House of Assembly and Supreme Court meet. You'll also want to see Fort Hamilton, where you'll get a great view of the Harbor, as well as bagpipers and traditional dancers every Monday at noon. Paget Park is a beautiful botanical garden with native trees and plants to enjoy. Camden - the official residence of Bermuda's Premier - is located in the botanical gardens, and is generally open for tours.

A short bus ride away are the Crystal Caves and Leamington Caves, with their incredible crystal formations and underground pools. The Bermuda Perfumery and orchid house are on the bus route to the Crystal Caves, in a house on North Shore Road which has been there for 250 years. At Harrington Sound, located about 5 miles northeast of Hamilton, you can enjoy the Bermuda Aquarium, the Natural History Museum and the zoo.

St. George's Town

St. George was the original settlement in Bermuda, and it was the capital until 1815. It is a delightful town to walk around, with many interesting sights to see. King's Square is the main hub of town, and you will occasionally find the town crier (the town mayor, who also leads candlelight tours of the town) re-enacting scenes from years past in costume. The beautiful 18th century Town Hall fronts the square, and nearby is the Old State House, one of Bermuda's oldest buildings dating from 1619. The Old State House was originally known as Sessions House, and it was the first home of the colonial assembly. Be sure not to miss St. Peter's Church, which is the oldest Anglican Church outside of Britain. While there, walk around the church graveyard, where you can learn more about the history of Bermuda, including shipwrecks, epidemics and wars. There are several museums to visit in St. George's Town, including the Tucker House Museum and several art galleries. Fort St. Catherine is another attraction not to be missed, with its museum containing weapons, jewels and dioramas.

King's Wharf

The Royal Naval Dockyard at King's Wharf was originally built as a base for the Royal Navy to launch a raid upon Washington DC, but since 1951, it has been turned into a tourist resort. It is the only one of Bermuda's ports able to handle the large 'mega-ships' being built by the cruise lines today. The old Keep has been turned into a Maritime Museum, and the old Royal Navy administrative headquarters has become the Clocktower Mall shopping center.

Kings Wharf is a great springboard to visit all the sights Bermuda has to offer, but it has become a destination in its own right. At King's Wharf, you can enjoy fine restaurants, shopping, afternoon tea, water sports, swimming with the dolphins, golf, snorkeling and diving, and a huge water park.

Stephanie Larkin is the editor of http://www.CruiseLinesandPorts.com, as well as http://www.BermudaCruiseSite.com. She and her family love to cruise - her 3 children especially love the towel animals and chocolates left on the beds at night!