Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic, about 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina. It is not in the Caribbean, which is why its cruise season is mainly late spring through fall, when the water is warm enough for swimming.
Most cruises sail from New York, New Jersey, Boston or Baltimore, spend about two days at sea each way, and dock for two or three days at the Royal Naval Dockyard on the island's western tip. That long stay is the appeal: you can rent a scooter or take the ferry and bus system to Horseshoe Bay, Hamilton and St. George's at your own pace and come back to the ship at night.
The island is small, clean and safe, with pastel houses, pink-sand coves, golf courses and some of the clearest water in the Atlantic. Prices ashore are high, which makes having your ship as a hotel even more valuable.
- January: Few or no cruises, average high 69 degrees F
- February: Few or no cruises, average high 69 degrees F
- March: Few or no cruises, average high 69 degrees F
- April: Shoulder season, average high 72 degrees F
- May: Best time, average high 76 degrees F
- June: Best time, average high 81 degrees F
- July: Best time, average high 85 degrees F
- August: Cruises run, average high 86 degrees F
- September: Shoulder season, average high 84 degrees F
- October: Shoulder season, average high 80 degrees F
- November: Cruises run, average high 75 degrees F
- December: Few or no cruises, average high 71 degrees F
- Best time
- Shoulder season
- Cruises run
- Few or none
Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.
Most Bermuda cruises run from April or May through October, with a few into November. May through July is warm with lower storm risk. August through October is the peak of Atlantic hurricane season and storms near Bermuda do occur.
Weather to plan around: Bermuda is in the Atlantic hurricane zone (June 1 to November 30) and storms often curve past the island in August, September and October. The open-ocean crossing from the Northeast can be rough in spring and fall, so bring motion-sickness remedies.
Ports you'll likely visit
- Royal Naval Dockyard (King's Wharf), Bermuda
The main cruise berth, with a historic fort, museum, shops, beaches nearby and ferries to Hamilton and St. George's. - Hamilton, Bermuda
The capital, with Front Street shopping and restaurants; a short ferry from Dockyard and occasionally a berth for smaller ships. - St. George's, Bermuda
A UNESCO-listed 17th-century town with narrow lanes and forts; a berth for small ships and a bus or ferry ride for others.
Highlights
Overnight in port
Two or three days docked means evenings ashore and no rush.
Pink-sand beaches
Horseshoe Bay and the south-shore coves are easy to reach by bus or taxi.
Historic St. George's
One of the oldest continuously inhabited English towns in the Americas, listed by UNESCO.
Easy from the Northeast
Drive or take the train to the port; no flights needed for many travelers.
How long, and what documents
5-7 nights round trip from New York, New Jersey, Boston or Baltimore, usually with 2-3 days docked in Bermuda.
Cruises that begin and end at the same US port are "closed-loop" sailings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID, and children under 16 need only proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate (most lines want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy). CBP also warns that the countries your ship visits may still ask for a passport, and cruise lines can set stricter rules than the government does. We recommend a passport book anyway: if you miss the ship or have to fly home early from a foreign port, you cannot board an international flight without one, and a passport card works only for land and sea crossings. Non-US citizens, including green card holders, have different rules. Check current requirements with your cruise line and the State Department before you sail.
Specialist tips
- Buy a transportation pass for Bermuda's buses and ferries; it is the cheapest way to get around, and visitors cannot rent regular cars.
- Bring layers: sea days to and from Bermuda can be cool and windy even in summer.
- Horseshoe Bay gets busy when several ships are in; quieter coves are a short walk along the shore.
- Prices on the island are high, so plan to eat most meals onboard.
