Bermuda Cruise
| Bermuda Cruise -Whether you are cruising to Bermuda on The Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Spirit, Celebrity Summit, Explorer of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas(Royal Caribbean International RCCL), Caribbean Princess, Carnival Miracle, or the Constellation, you will find Hartley's Undersea Walk the Bermuda shore excursion with the most fun and value for money. | 
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Norwegian DawnThe Norwegian Dawn will be at the newly built pier Heritage Wharf to the north, yet still attached to King's Wharf, Dockyard from Wednesdays at 8am Bermuda (Atlantic Time) time to 5pm on Fridays. The New Berth, which was not yet built when the Google satellite photo was taken, extends in a northeasterly direction at the elbow of Kings Wharf, where the pier makes a turn to the northwest. A Norwegian Dawn sponsored Shore Excursion will be offered on Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8:45. As the summer gets busier there will be a third trip offered at 12:15 on Friday. You may book online at http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/shorexDetails.html?groupId=WRF_12 prior to 10 days of the ship sailing. Some of this site is a bit misleading as the activity level is easy, not moderate, and meals, except for the fish, are not included. You also have to click Refresh for the cute photo to load. If your ship is sailing within 10 days then you can book through the TV system the moment you get in your cabin. Do not wait till the Shore Excursions desk opens. We will be picking up as close to the ship as you can imagine. The tours will be assembling just after the first set of metal gates. Our boat will be by the dock face on the right between your ship and the fortification walls of Dockyard. See the photo below in the Norwegian Spirit section. Click here for a Google satellite shot of Dockyard There is only slight pandemonium in the area as Norwegian Dawn passengers pile off the ship looking for transportation or the meeting point of their shore tours. Norwegian Dawn Shore Excursion staff will be milling about as well as agents for various tours. An agent may be holding a sign that says 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 dock face about 100 yards along, just a ways down closer to the fortification wall of Dockyard proper. See more photos on Procedures for Diving). What could be easier? If the Wednesday, Thursday or Friday morning trips are no good for you, then by all means join us on Wednesday or Thursday afternoon at 1:30. We will be picking up passengers from various ships and hotels who have booked directly with us from the dock previously mentioned, which is pictured at the top of the Procedures for Diving Page. 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. |
Norwegian SpiritThis cruise ship arrives in Dockyard at the new berth, Heritage Wharf, on Sunday at 11am and leaves at 5:30 on Tuesday. During most of the season we anticipate being offered at 8:45 on Mondays and, after June 28, on Tuesday at 12:15 as well. However, during the last three weeks of August the second trip will be offered at Sunday at 1:30 not at 12:15 on Tuesday. This is so we can provide the Enchantment/Explorer of the Seas with a second Tuesday trip. If, for budgeting or scheduling reasons, shore excursions tours are not right for you, you may join us Sunday (not the last three weeks of August as mentioned above), or Monday at 1:30 by calling toll-free 866 836 3989. |
Enchantmentof 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 on Tuesdays. During the last three weeks of August the trip may be moved to 8:15 so we can squeeze a 12:15 which will get back in good time before you leave. The ship will wait for any shore excursion to return before leaving if it is delayed for any reason. This is not the case if you book on your own. 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 Google 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. See the photo further up the page. For the ship sponsored Shore Excursions tour we will be using the dock to the right of the ferry under way, in the middle of the satelite photo that is heading for the ferry dock at the top of the satelite photo. This is the dock shown below.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. I apologise that there is no time slot for those who wish to make direct bookings. It is too stressful to join us on our afternoon trip when your ship is leaving that afternoon. Therfore, it is best for Explorer and Enchantment passengers to just go with the flow and book through shore excursions. We will make sure there is enough value in our tour to make up for the small extra charge. |
Celebrity SummitThis Celebrity ship arrives at Kings Wharf at 9am on Wednesdays, an hour after the Norwegian Dawn comes along side the Heritage Wharf, just to the north. We hope to be offered by Shore excursions on Fridays at 8:45am. During the latter part of July and all of August, the trip will be at 8:15 so we can do a third trip for the Dawn at 12:15. We must start earlier so we can get the afternoon trip back in time for the Dawn's 5pm departure. If there is another tour you must do on that Friday, or you hate getting up early, you are invited to join us directly on either the Wednesday or Thursday 1:30 trip. If it is not after 9pm Eastern time then call me at 866 836 3989 and make your reservation. |
Caribbean Princess (Princess Cruises)The Caribbean Princess makes ten calls to Bermuda, almost always at Kings Wharf. She is in at 8 or 9:00 Atlantic time and leaves at 5:00pm Atlantic or local time. Most times our ship sponsored Shore Tour is scheduled at 8:45. It is risky to attempt to join us directly on our afternoon trip as your ship leaves early. The easiest solution is to bite the bullet and join us through shore excursions. Click here for a Google satellite shot of DockyardI understand that Bermuda may be the last call of your 9 day cruise and you may be toured out. However, The Sea Trek tours offered in Grand Turk and St. Thomas are imitations of us unworthy of your precious time. My father Bronson Hartley built his first diving helmet in 1930, and started this type of tour in 1947. I have personally done the Sea Trek in St Thomas. See photo on the right. Though they are personable and do a good job... 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. Their water is bound to be warmer (We offer you full length wet suits when the water is below 80f), and their 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. Click Here to see Princess Cruises Shore Excursions web site on our tour. I am fighting them on the 10 years old age limit. It should be age five. Our tour is the fourth one up from the bottom. Your time is too precious to experiment . Hartley's Helmet Diving is the best. You will be talking about it all the way home and longer! |
This photo shows us picking up for ships at Kings Wharf, including Caribbean Princess, Enchantment of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Celebrity's Summit. Sometimes tours assemble in the shade of the porch type structure of the building way behind the black railing to the right of the photo, between the larger tree and the pink building just to the right. Other times tours assemble next to the assembled boats, at the top of the inclined slope, inside the black railing. Signs would be placed on poles fixed to the black railing. |
Veendam (Holland American Line)While in Bermuda this cruise ship docks at Ordinance Island in St. Georges Harbour. (Or Pennos Wharf I am not sure(Click Here to see a Google satelite view of where Veendam will be. Though the ship gets in on Tuesday at 8am in time to catch a short 40 minute ferry ride directly to Dockyard, You may want to wait till Thursday afternoon, when the ship is in Hamilton, to join us. Alternatively, if you do not want to spend the over two hour episode of your ship moving from St. Georges to Hamilton (You will see the same scenery when your ship leaves on Friday), you can take either the 10am, 11am or noon end-to-end ferry to Dockyard on Wednesday and do our 1:30 tour. After our trip simply take the 20 minute Dockyard to Hamilton ferry to catch up with your ship. Our tour is way better than the one offered through the ship while in St. Georges. 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. Here is a youtube link to see for yourself. Again note how the guide is wearing scuba gear, and that the passengers are left to fend for and entertain themselves. If the guide is looking at one person he can't see the others because a mask is front viewing only. In addition, if the guide is with one person, he is neglecting the others as they are all scattered about and not on a grab-bar as is required by law. There are no tame fish to pass around, no message stick for instruction and education, and not much interaction between guide, divers and fish. The music is nice and the sergeant majors look pretty. Notice how the ladder is a standard 'climb out of the water scuba dive boat deal' and not the custom 'all the way to the bottom' wide ladder we have. The guide has to lift each diver up. 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. It is a most efficient use of time to take the earlier ferry so you 'do Dockyard' while you are there for our tour. here is another Youtube link in case you are not convinced . Turn the sound down as there is no music. Check out the bored, self-absorbed attitude of the guide with his hands tucked in, and just sitting there waiting for the dive to be over. He might be a very nice guy and is loving to his dog, but does he look as though he cares about the divers? Still, I am sure he must. Give us a call at (866) 836-3989 and when you join us, you will discover why those who have tried other helmet dives insist ours is the best. |
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. Check out this YouTube video of Charles the Hogfish being very cool while I hold him. |
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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 |
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