From there, the best and easiest mode of transportation is the water taxis.You can buy 1, 2, or 3 day passes, and the ferries go to St Georges (about 45 minutes) or to Hamilton (about 25 minutes). A lot of the water-based tours start right at the dockyards, including some of the scuba & skin diving, and the glass bottom boats.There is also the old Royal Navy fort and a number of shops and restaurants a short walk from the cruise pier. Best bet: the crafts market in the old “victualling” building of the dockyards. There were a number of vendors there with reasonably priced, quality goods.
St Georges is the farthest point from where we’ll dock, and is a small but pretty town.
Hamilton is the largest city in Bermuda, and has a lot of shops and restaurants. Unlike other “Caribbean” locations, Bermuda isn’t what you would call “cheap”; prices are similar to what we pay here in the DC area, but the quality of goods was excellent. Also, you see little or no “poverty” in Bermuda, and it seems to be VERY safe.This is also the “main” jumping off point for a lot of the tours (see below).
Tours we’d recommend:Â there is a snorkel diving and swimming beach within walking distance of the pier next to the Royal Dockyards.
In Hamilton, you can take the Crystal Caves and the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) tour. This is a great way to see much of the island in a couple of hours, plus see some interesting underground caves, as well as learn about underwater explorations around Bermuda. However, it is not wheelchair or disabled person “friendly”; lots of steps and no ramps at the caves.
From the pier where you can take a glass bottom boat tour. They take you out to a wreck which is about a quarter mile off the island that marks the northeast corner of the Bermuda Triangle. You could see a lot of fish,and we also saw a number of sea turtles. But it is not easy to take pictures of the underwater scenes as you are a good 5 feet above the glass bottom of the boat. Nevertheless, it is VERY scenic and informative.
