Our visit to Bermuda was overnight on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Bermuda from Baltimore, Maryland. We were docked at King’s Wharf, which turned out to be a convenient location for exploring Bermuda. Between the beaches, boats and scenery, there’s so much to do in Bermuda with kids (or without!.)
If you only have a short time in Bermuda, it can be hard to know where to start. This guide to visiting Bermuda by cruise ship includes a Bermuda cruise itinerary should help you navigate and plan for 24 hours in Bermuda. And if you’re anything like us, just one glimpse of Bermuda during a cruise stop will only make you want to come back for more.
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Bermuda Cruise Port Itinerary
Even though we had to balance nap schedules of a young toddler with a short visit to Bermuda, we still managed to fit a lot in. Below is our itinerary for our 24 hour cruise stop in Bermuda.
- Day 1
- Cruise ship arrived at King’s Wharf at 1:00pm
- Afternoon at Horseshoe Bay Beach
- Dinner & shopping in Hamilton
- Day 2
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise at 10:30am from Royal Dockyard
- Sightseeing around Royal Dockyard
- Cruise ship departed at 2:30pm
Getting Around Bermuda
Most cruises to Bermuda dock in either in King’s Wharf in the northwest point of Bermuda or Hamilton, in the center of Bermuda. Both locations have many things to do within walking distance. This makes a Bermuda cruise great for families with young children who may not want to venture off too far.
If you want to see the island, there are several transportation options including buses, ferries and taxis. (The buses and ferries in particular are a great option if you have a baby and aren’t traveling with a car seat.) We were docked in King’s Wharf, and there’s a ferry that runs directly from King’s Wharf to Hamilton and St. Georges. Other parts of the island can easily be reached by connecting in one of those two cities first. You can also access taxis and vans right from the King’s Wharf cruise port.
Tip: I found the Bermuda Attractions site to be the most helpful to get up to speed on public transportation in Bermuda, prior to our trip.
Things to Do in Bermuda on a Cruise
There are so many fun things to do in Bermuda throughout the island. Between shopping in Hamilton to visiting the famous pink sand beaches in Bermuda, the options are endless. Below are some ideas for things to do in Bermuda while on a cruise.
Horseshoe Bay Beach
It’s not a trip to Bermuda without seeing at least one of the many beautiful beaches. Prior to our trip, we did a lot of research, wanting to make sure we had a chance to see one of the pink sand beaches Bermuda is known for. I was originally hesitant about going to Horseshoe Bay, not wanting to go the overly touristy and crowded option.
Logic got the best of me though. I quickly realized that a beach with rental chairs and umbrellas, drinks and public bathrooms were a necessity with a baby. I was so glad we went that route. Horseshoe Bay is beautiful and unlike any other beach I’ve seen before. It’s also right next to a few coves, so we were able to walk over there from our spot to get a different view. (Without having to climb over rocks with a baby to do it.) There’s even a “kiddy beach” which is a small cove with pools of water that’s safe for small children to play in.
Tips for Visiting Horseshoe Bay
- When you first arrive to Horseshoe Bay Beach, you’ll find that it’s super crowded near the entrance. If you walk toward the middle of the beach, however, there’s a lot more space.
- There’s a cafe at Horseshoe Bay with drinks, snacks and light meals as well as a bar that serves alcoholic beverages.
- The bathroom facilities include changing rooms, a changing table for babies, and showers. There’s also an outdoor shower that’s perfect for washing sand off little ones.
- You can get taxis from Horseshoe Bay throughout the day. This is a great option if you don’t have pre-arranged transportation to the beach.
- If you’re going to Horseshoe Bay from King’s Wharf, it’s about a 30-40 minute drive depending on traffic.
Snorkel Park Beach
If you’re looking for beaches near King’s Wharf, Bermuda, look no further than Snorkel Park Beach. While this is not a pink sand beach, it’s in walking distance from the cruise ships. The amenities at Snorkel Park Beach include a restaurant, bathrooms, chair rentals and more. While not as beautiful as Horseshoe Bay, it’s convenient if you want some beach time without taking a whole day. Note: There’s a $5 admission fee during the day from Monday- Saturday. During Sundays and at night, there’s a $10 fee given the live music. Toddlers 4 and under are free at Snorkel Park Beach.
Visit Hamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton is the capital of Bermuda. It has many colorful buildings along the water that most people associate with Bermuda. Hamilton is known for its shopping. It’s a scenic walk along the water and easy to get around with a stroller. We were limited in our shopping on this trip, given that most stores were closed for the holiday. Instead, we just enjoyed the scenery and went home with our pockets a little fuller. Check out this guide for more tips on shopping in Bermuda.
Hog Penny Pub
If you’re looking for a British Pub in Bermuda, Hog Penny Pub is a great option in Hamilton. We were thankful that it was still open on the holiday, given that so many shops and restaurants in Hamilton were closed. With Bermuda being a British overseas territory, we opted for a family friendly pub versus one of the many high end seafood restaurants available.
It was a little dark inside and felt nothing like sunny and colorful Bermuda, but if you’re looking for one of the best pubs in Bermuda, that’s exactly what you’ll get. The “Whale of Wheat Fish and Chips” with grouper was yummy flavorful. The casual atmosphere was also a perfect for us since we were coming right from the beach.
Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Bermuda
If you’re visiting Bermuda with a toddler or baby, boat tours are a great way to experience the island and bring them along with you. A glass bottom boat cruise was recommended by a friend and was the perfect way to see the island, learn about the history of Bermuda and view the marine life up close. (Plus it was free for kids under 2!) It was 1.5 hours, which was the perfect amount of time to keep our son’s attention. And I was surprised to walk away with way more knowledge about coral than I ever planned to gain.
The boat departed steps away from the cruise ship, so we could just walk over there with a stroller. Keep in mind that smaller tour boats will make you leave your stroller on the dock, since there’s limited space on board.
Booking an excursion on a cruise?
If you’re traveling to Bermuda via cruise ship, the excursions offered through the cruise will typically indicate a minimum age and/or height/weight required. This is a good place to start to get a sense of what’s available when searching for things to do in Bermuda while on a cruise with kids.
You can also book excursions through companies like Viator directly. Keep in mind they will not be coordinated through the cruise ship. This could cause issues if there are delays or cancellations.
If you have kids that are a little older, Bermuda is also known for its snorkeling. It’s a great alternative to a glass bottom cruise if you want to get right in the water. While we were on the Glass Bottom Boat Cruise with our son, our family members did a snorkeling excursion on a catamaran. It also picked them up right from the Royal Naval Dockyard.
Royal Naval Dockyard
If you’re looking for fun things to do in King’s Wharf, Bermuda, the neighboring Royal Naval Dockyard has an endless number of options. The dockyard was historically the Western Atlantic base of the British Royal Navy for years. It eventually closed down as an active naval base and was refurbished as a center for tourism. There are a number of things to do at the Royal Naval Dockyard for families. Below are just a few ideas.
- Eat at one of several restaurants or get some of the best ice cream in Bermuda at Alex & Pete’s Bermuda Artisan Ice Cream.
- Go shopping at one of many stores at the Clocktower Mall.
- Play miniature golf at Fun Golf, which features holes from some of the best golf courses in the world.
- Ride on the free Royal Naval Dockyard train in the summer.
- Take a boat tour, excursion, or public transportation from Royal Naval Dockyard
Have 2 Nights in Bermuda or More?
If you have a 2 night cruise stop in Bermuda or are staying in on the island for multiple days, you have so many options for fun and unique things to do in Bermuda. In addition to the things we did, below are some other ideas for things to do with kids in Bermuda.
- Visit the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo. We talked to several people who loved it. And if we go back to Bermuda with our son, it would be at the top of my list.
- Take in the history and culture of Bermuda at St. George’s on the eastern part of the island.
- Snorkeling on a catamaran cruise in Bermuda.
- Explore more of Bermuda’s famous beaches. This map of Bermuda beaches is great if you’re looking for other options.
- Renting mopeds in Bermuda. (This is probably better if you’re visiting Bermuda with teenagers or without kids.)
Additional Tips for Visiting Bermuda by Cruise Ship
If you’re planning what to do in Bermuda on a cruise, keep the following tips in mind:
- Be prepared that transportation and store hours in Bermuda could be extremely limited if your trip falls on a national holiday. (This happened to us!) Check the National holidays in Bermuda here.
- Bermuda is essentially off the cost of North Carolina, so the weather does get cool in the late fall to early spring. Definitely something to keep in mind if you’re considering a one of those discounted Bermuda cruises in the Fall.
- See my post on 10 Tips for Cruising with a Baby or Toddler for more tips if you’re getting to Bermuda via cruise ship with little kids.
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I love both Bermuda and cruising! Excellent tip about the weather. When we lived on the East Coast, we used to go in the shoulder seasons because the crowds were smaller, but we always needed a sweater 🙂
Thank you! Great point on the shoulder seasons too, there is still plenty to do when it’s cooler as long as you dress for it!
Hi Amanda! How did you get to HB with the little one? We are cruising to Bermuda in a week and I have a 3 yr old. We didn’t want to take the expensive Cruise transfer, but I’m concerned about the private shuttles due to car seats. TIA!!
Hi Angel! We had a group of 7 and took a large van that we got right at our port. Our son sat on our lap since it’s legal there and I felt a little more comfortable than a regular car, but honestly I’m not sure I’d do it again since I’m a fanatic about car seats.
Bermuda looks amazing and you packed a lot into a short visit.
For sure! I’d definitely do another cruise to Bermuda.
Love how you’ve broken this down into both a cruise stop and a more static Bermuda vacation! Great tips.
Thanks so much!