An Overnight in Bermuda
A review of this spectacular crescent shaped island in the North Atlantic
Bermuda is a British overseas territory situated in the North Atlantic. With a rich history dating back to the times where Great Britain’s Royal Navy was the most superior in the world, Bermuda has been welcoming ships for centuries. We traveled to Bermuda as part of a seven day cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, and spent two days on the stunningly beautiful Island. We spent one day touring the islands many famous sites and one day relaxing on the world renowned Horseshoe Bay beach. Read along to discover the things we loved about Bermuda, and hopefully pick up some inspiration for what you can do on this magical island.
King’s Wharf
Bermuda is one of the most remote places we have traveled. It is an island unlike those of the Caribbean. The closest landfall is over 640 miles away in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. To put that in perspective, the Bahamas are less than 100 miles from Florida. Bermuda has an active airport that serves resort travelers and locals alike, but we definitely recommend arriving via cruise ship. One of the reasons is the view from the cruise ship of King’s Wharf (not to mention the relaxing seas days spent meandering to your destination. Read more about why we love cruising here.) The entry point to Bermuda for cruise travelers is the port at King’s Wharf, a very tourist friendly little community featuring shops, restaurants and a beach. We usually don’t enjoy port communities when we cruise to exotic islands. For us, we enjoy getting off the beaten path and exploring more of the local vibe, but King’s Wharf is so uniquely Bermuda - we thoroughly enjoyed it.
King’s Wharf
King’s Wharf has something for everyone. Of course there are the duty free shops and local craftsman markets that you come to expect at any cruise port destination (check out the clock tower mall, putting on display some of the elements of the colonial architecture of Bermuda’s history). In addition to shopping, there are many restaurants that you can enjoy if you tire of other food options. Be aware though - prices here are higher than the rest of the island in less touristy destinations, and much higher than you will experience on the mainland. Because Bermuda is a small island so far from the land, and they are forced to import most of their goods - it is a very expensive place to shop and eat. Are favorite parts of King’s Wharf were all the historical features. We loved strolling the cobblestones and colonial architecture. King’s Wharf also features the museum of the Royal Navy - homes to many artifacts from the colonial British naval fleet - dating back centuries. If you are hankering for a beach - there is a small beach and snorkel park close to action of King’s Wharf.
Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse
One of the highlight’s of our first day in Bermuda was our stop at Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse. This magnificent lighthouse stands atop one of the tallest hills in Bermuda, making the view from the truly breathtaking. Constructed in 1844, Gibb’s hill was one of the first lighthouses to be constructed of cast iron. 185 steps stand between you and the top of this historical marvel, and the view is definitely worth the climb. You can see the crescent of Bermuda laid out before you, and we even could make out our cruise ship from this incredible vantage point. Feeling hungry? There is a restaurant located in the converted caretaker’s cottage that features breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.
Forts
As the anchor (pun intended) in the North Atlantic for the British Royal Navy, Bermuda was an important respite from the open sea, as well as a strategic defensive position. Bermuda has done a great job preserving its colonial history, and its forts are no exception. The small island is literally littered with forts that are still in pristine condition. They were great for a history lover like myself to explore. Also, since the forts were originally key military viewpoints - they have incredible views of the island and ocean.
Hamilton and St. George’s
Bermuda has several communities, but only two towns. Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda is its cosmopolitan center - and serves as it’s financial center. Most of the buildings here are businesses, shops, office buildings, or government centers. The front street is next to the harbor, and remarkable in is beautiful color scheme. St George’s is the old town, marked with colonial buildings, cobblestone streets, and the legendary unfinished church. Centered around King’s Square near the harbor, St. George’s has several interesting places to eat or shop. While we were in town, we toured the St. Peter’s church'; built in 1612, St. Peter’s is the oldest, continuously active Anglican church in the western hemisphere. We were also in town to witness the “Dunking of the Wench,” a comical historical reenactment of the British custom of dunking a nagging woman into the water. St. Georges is also a great jumping off point to exploring the eastern end of the island and is close to exciting things like Tobacco Bay beach, and the wonderous crystal caves.
Horseshoe Bay
We spent the entirety of our second day relaxing on, and exploring the incredible coastline around Horseshoe Bay. The pink sand beaches of Bermuda, and Horseshoe Bay in particular are some of the world’s most famous beaches, and after visiting them we can see why. The public bus system serves Horseshoe Bay and was only 14$ round trip from King’s Wharf. This has to be one of the best beaches in Bermuda, and the best beach near King’s Wharf! When you first step come around the hill and get a glimpse of this beach you will be blown away. The main part of Horseshoe Bay features bathroom facilities, concessions available for sale, and beach rentals. We visited in early May and had most of the expansive beach to ourselves, but a short walk down the coast and we were truly alone. The entire coastline is incredibly beautiful, with rock formations jutting up from the sea creating epic swells across the pink sand, and hundreds of crooks, crannies, tidepools, and caves to explore. Horseshoe Bay was easily the best beach we have ever been to - and the highlight of Bermuda, and the entire cruise.
