Cruising to Bermuda
| Cruising to Bermuda -Whether you are travelling to Bermuda on The Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Majesty, Explorer of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas(Royal Caribbean International RCCL), Carnival Miracle, Costa Fortuna or the constellation, you will find Hartley's Undersea Walk the shore excursion with the most fun and value for money. |
Norwegian DawnThis ship will be at King's Wharf, Dockyard from Wednesdays at 8am Bermuda (Atlantic Time) time to 5pm on Fridays. A ship sponsored Shore Excursion will be offered on The Wednesday of arrival at 8:45, and again on Thursdays at 8:45 from June 11th on. You may book online at http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/shorexDetails.html?groupId=WRF_12 within 10 days of the ship sailing (This site is a bit misleading. The activity level is easy, and meals, except for the fish are not included. You also have to click Refresh for the cute photo to load.), or if you are a gambler, wait till you are in your cabin to book through the TV system. We will be picking up as close to the ship as you can imagine. The tours will be assembling unders a little sign that says helmet diving across the street next to the water, just outside the arrivals/security shed. click here for a satellite shot of Dockyard We will be using the dock to the right of the ferry in the middle of the photo that is heading for the ferry dock at the top of the photo. There is only slight pandemonium in the area as passengers pile off the ship looking for transportation or the meeting point of their tour. Shore excursion staff will be milling about as well as agents for various tours. I will be waiting by the sign that should say Helmet Diving or Hartley's Helmet Diving 15 minutes before shore tour departure times. Book on any of these times if you can't join us on any of the direct afternoon tours leaving from the same spot. What could be easier. If the Wednesday or Thursday morning trips are no good for you, then by all means join us on Wednesday or Thursday afternoon at 1:30. You will come out of the shed, cross the road to the water's edge and go toward the right. Just past where the Government tender docks is a long low concrete dock (It is used by many other the tour boats) and we will be there around 1:00pm dropping off our happy morning passengers. Click Contact Us & Pricing to email me info including your evening phone number so I can call you and get info not entered on the booking form, such as your card number. This is also a good time to get answers to questions refering to our trip or Bermuda in general. So do not miss the fun of this unique tour that is family run and encourages hands on interaction with the marine life. |
When we have a tour through Shore excursions there are loads of boats jostling for a space at the dock in the photo. You can see the Bonefish Bar and Grill as the terra cotta coloured building in the background to the left. Tours assemble in the shade of the porch type structure of the building behind the black railing to the left of the photo. |
Caribbean Princess (Princess Cruises)This ship makes eight calls to Bermuda at Kings Wharf. She is in at 8 or 9:00 Atlantic time and leaves at 4:00 or 5:00pm Atlantic or local time. Our ship sponsored Shore Tour has been scheduled for 9:45am regardless of the ships arrival time. This makes it risky to join us on any afternoon trip as you ship is leaving that afternoon. Your best bet is to bite the bullet, and go through Shore Excursions (Sorry). If you are on a cruise that leaves at 5:00pm and you have special circumstances, call me at 866 836 3989 and we can discuss options.click here for a satellite shot of DockyardI understand that Bermuda is the last call of your 9 day cruise antd you may be toured out. However, The Sea Trek tours offered in Grand Turk and St. Thomas are cheap imitaions of us. I have personally done the Sea Trek in St Thomas. See photo on the right. Though they are personable and do a good job with what they have, they are an exercise in failed potential. 1.Their helmets are inferior, specifically in window size, number and general visability. 2.Their operation is employee run rather than owner run (Draw your own conclusions). 3.There is very little education or information about the marine life. Nothing is identified or even pointed out underwater. 4.You are simply walking one behind the other (ten at a time)in circle, sliding you hands along a fixed chain,with your 'guide' at the front of the line. 5.There are fish there begging to be tamed and made freinds with but....nothing! Perhaps it is because they are not Hartleys. 6. They make you wear gloves and shoes (Their bottom is not sandy). I know it is unprofessional to bash the competition but I truly want you to get the best you can get. I could go on pointing out many more differences, both subtle and obvious, but I will not. Their water is bound to be warmer (We offer you full length wet suits when the water is below 80f), and the water may even be clearer, but we give you a better longer (25-30min not 15-18) dive. you could also go to www.cruisecritic.com and see what others have said about their dive with us. Very few people have done both tours. Your time is too precious to experiment around. Save the best for last. You will be talking about it all the way home and longer! |
Grandeur of the Seas(Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines)Explorer of the Seas(Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines)These ships take turns coming to the Royal Navy Dockyard, Bermuda. They dock at the Kings Wharf at 8:00am or 9:00am On Monday and leave Tuesday at 4 or 5:00pm. Again, as last year, we are offered through Shore Excursions. Our tour is scheduled for 8:45am Bermuda(Atlantic) time, and then again as early as possible on Mondays from June onward. Click here to book our tour through the shore sxcursions program.Again they say a light snack is provided, which is not quite true. Snacks are 75 cents a tiny bag or package. The activity level is easy , but they say moderate. Just a touch of CYA. click here for a satellite shot of Dockyard which shows the whole area, including the large concrete rectangle where your ship will dock, and the protected harbour in the inside where we pick you up.We have left Monday afternoon available for folks who wish to book directly with us for budgeting of scheduling reasons. For the Saturday arrivals of the Explorer of the Seas we have given them an 8:45am and 1:15pm departures. I apologise that there is no time slot for those who wish to make direct bookings. |
Norwegian Majesty (Norwegian Cruise Line)While in Bermuda this cruise ship docks at Ordinance Island in St. Georges Harbour. Click Here to see a satelite view of where Norwegian Majesty will be. As this ship gets in at 1pm on Monday (Too late to catch the end-to-end ferry), Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons are the best time to join us. The End -to End ferry leaves from between Ordinance Island and St. Georges right next door to the Visitor's Service Bureau at 10am and gets to Dockyard at 10:35. The view of the Google satalite shot is centered on the end-to-end ferry departure point. You will see the long dock we will be using on the right as the ferry pulls into the protected area of Dockyard. The tour offered by your ship is poor in comparison to ours. If you dare you can have a peek at the competition from a site made by a St. Georges survivor. Now the helmets finally have side windows.On the right is a photo from that site. Note the 'guide' is wearing scuba gear and not a helmet. That says alot and it means that they can't communicate with you very well. You have come hundreds of miles to get to Bermuda. It is worth going an extra twenty to get from St. Georges to Somerset to get the best. |
Norwegian DreamThis cruise ship arrives in St. Georges at 11:30 on Tuesday and leaves at noon of Friday. The noon end-to-end gets to Dockyard at 12:50 which is perfect or Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday's 1:30pm Dockyard trip with us. You have come hundreds of miles to get to us, another 15 on a scenic ferry ride will only add to the enjoyment. You may wish to come early on the 10 o'clock ferry on Tuesday or Wednesday in order to see and 'do' Dockyard. Get the best and come out west. |
Other shipsSome ships come to Bermuda only once or twice a season. some have had the foresight to enlist our services for their passengers. Others have not. Give us a call on the toll-free line at 866 836 3989 and we will give you the scoop.A complete lising of all the ships servicing Bermuda and the times can be found at www.rccbermuda.bm. Click on the shipping tab on the left. Cruising passengers have such a limited time on the island. We appreciate that your time is very valuable and should be spent wisely. Join us for a truly awesome experience. |
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Did the tour in St. Thomas Did a tour in St.Thomas and it doesn't compare to Hartley's Tour. On this tour we were more involved. We were able to touch and feed the fish. Hartley is a great tour guide as well as a person. Neil& Jeanne Jackson New York City |