Carnival expands its excursions to Bermuda
Bermuda is one of those oddly elusive cruise destinations that everyone always talks about, yet can be strangely difficult to sail to. Located smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic, the Bermuda cruise season has always been historically short and limited to a handful of ships.
Carnival Cruise Line (cruise. center/carnival) recently announced a major Bermuda expansion for the 2019-20 season, offering more than 40 cruises to the island from five East Coast home ports: New York, Baltimore, Charleston (S.C.), Port Canaveral (Orlando, Fla.) and Fort Lauderdale.
Even better, aspiring passengers have six different Carnival ships to choose from.
The newly refitted Carnival Sunrise (the former Carnival Triumph) and Carnival Radiance (currently sailing as Carnival Victory) will offer a regular program of nine-day sailings from New York to Bermuda next year. Carnival Sunrise underwent a massive refit earlier this year that left her an essentially transformed ship, and Carnival Victory will be transformed into Carnival Radiance next spring.
These nine-day voyages will offer an overnight stay in Bermuda (at the Royal Naval Dockyard), along with a handful of ports of call in the Caribbean, from calls on Nassau and Grand Turk to a day at Half Moon Cay, one of the nicest private islands in the Caribbean.
Both Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Radiance will also offer a series of shorter cruises that just head from New York to Bermuda and back. Out of Baltimore, the 2,124-guest Carnival Pride will offer weeklong itineraries to Bermuda that stay docked for three evenings.
While Baltimore isn’t my favourite cruise port, a trip there is worth it just to sail aboard Carnival Pride, one of the line’s most spacious and timeless vessels. That ship and her sisters — Carnival Legend, Carnival Miracle and Carnival Spirit — remain some of my all-time favourite Fun Ships.
Most of those sailings happen next year, but it’s not too late to jump aboard this year. Carnival Sunshine sails out of Charleston in September and October on a series of six- and seven-day cruises to Bermuda that also visit Princess Cays in the Bahamas.
Also in September, the newer Carnival Breeze offers three sailings from Port Canaveral that head up to Bermuda. A week in duration, these itineraries offer an overnight stay in Bermuda along with a day in Grand Turk before heading back to Florida.
Finally, Carnival Magic sails from Fort Lauderdale Sept. 28 on a one-off voyage to Bermuda that also visits Grand Turk.
In May, I visited Bermuda for the first time aboard the inaugural sailing of Carnival Sunrise. Bermuda has a friendliness and charm that is not dissimilar to Barbados. It’s a pristine island filled with welcoming locals that offers plenty of diversions for the arriving cruiser.
Bigger ships like Carnival’s Fun Ships can’t dock in downtown Hamilton the way the smaller ships can. But independent guests will find plenty to like about the Royal Naval Dockyard area — where today’s megaliners tie up — which is brimming with history, shopping and dining
It’s a good idea to take an excursion here, though, to fully experience the best of Bermuda. My short day on the island allowed for just enough time to visit the spectacular Crystal Caves, the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo; and Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, with its inspiring (if windswept) view over the island.
An overnight stay allows for even more opportunities to explore ashore — and enjoy Carnival’s fun brand of cruising at the same time.
Happy cruising.
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