Bermuda Cruise Ship Port Guide

Bermuda gives you three cruise ports to choose from, though really your ship chooses for you: Royal Naval Dockyard out west, Hamilton bang in the middle, and St. George’s over east. Most big ships pull into Royal Naval Dockyard, where you walk straight off onto King’s Wharf, no tender in sight, with beaches, shops and a museum all within a stroll.

A Bermuda cruise doesn’t behave like a typical Caribbean one. Ships usually stick around for two or three days rather than the usual few hours, so your cabin becomes a floating hotel room while you come and go as you please. Sailings generally run between April and October from a handful of US East Coast ports, and plenty of travellers swear by the shoulder months, late spring and early autumn, when the season’s properly underway but the beaches and buses haven’t filled up yet.

Bermuda’s Three Cruise Ports at a Glance

Ask where Bermuda cruise ships dock and you’ll get three different answers, depending on your ship’s size and the day’s schedule. Here’s the quick version before we get into the detail.

Royal Naval Dockyard: Bermuda’s Busiest Cruise Ship Terminal

Royal Naval Dockyard sits at the western end of the island and handles the lion’s share of Bermuda’s cruise calls, nothing else comes close. Across its 24 acres you’ll find the Bermuda National Museum, boutiques, cafes and two berths, King’s Wharf and Heritage Wharf. King’s Wharf goes back to the 1850s, built originally as a protected basin for ship repairs, while Heritage Wharf turned up later, purely so a second ship could squeeze in alongside.

Cruise lines calling here include Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Oceania Cruises, MSC Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, so you’re in good company whoever you sail with. The season runs from early April to mid November, and things get properly busy come summer. For the full rundown on both berths, see our detailed King’s Wharf and Heritage Wharf port guide.

Here’s what to expect on arrival:

• You walk straight off the ship onto King’s Wharf or Heritage Wharf, no tender in sight, and the ground is flat the whole way, no surprises underfoot.
• The terminal’s built with mobility scooters and wheelchairs in mind.
• Taxi ranks wait at King’s Wharf and near the National Museum.
• Bus 7 or 8 heads to Hamilton Monday to Saturday roughly every 15 minutes from early morning to late evening. Drivers want exact change in coins, and they mean it, there’s no change given.
• Ferries run regularly between King’s Wharf and St. George’s, Hamilton, Warwick, Paget and Somerset.
• Some itineraries throw in an overnight stay at Royal Naval Dockyard, and a few keep the ship in port for three days straight, so nobody’s rushing back before dark.

Hamilton: Bermuda’s Central Cruise Port

Hamilton sits more or less in the middle of the island, on Hamilton Harbour, about 15 miles from St. George’s. It’s a medium sized port, and while far fewer ships schedule a stop here compared with Royal Naval Dockyard, it does get called on as a backup when ships can’t get into Dockyard or St. George’s.

If your ship does put in at Hamilton, the city centre’s an easy walk from the wharf. For everything else, read our full Hamilton cruise ship port guide.

St. George’s: Bermuda’s Historic East End Port

St. George’s is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest continually inhabited British settlement in the New World, which makes it worth the trip even if your ship never docks there. Ships tie up at Penno’s Wharf or Ordnance Island, both able to take vessels up to 750 feet, and once you’re ashore it’s a short walk into town.

One quirk before you go: years of sediment build up have made the water off St. George’s shallower, so on some calls your ship anchors further out at Murray’s Anchorage instead of pulling alongside. When that happens, you’re tendered ashore, which eats into the day at both ends, so leave some slack in your plans if you’re hoping for a full day in town. Read more in our St. George’s cruise ship port guide.

Comparing Bermuda Cruises: Departure Ports and Lines

Most Bermuda cruises sail round trip from one of seven US departure points, all dotted along the US East Coast cruise ports guide. Which one works for you usually comes down to which cruise line you fancy and how far you’re prepared to travel just to reach the ship.

Travelling from New Jersey, ships generally leave from the Cape Liberty cruise terminal near Bayonne. From Virginia instead, our Norfolk, Virginia cruise port guide has what you need, where Carnival typically runs a seven night round trip to King’s Wharf, with sailings clustered in the warmer months.

Getting Around Once You’re Ashore

From King’s Wharf, the Blue Route ferry gets you to Hamilton in about 20 minutes, and the Orange Route reaches St. George’s in under 40, both a far more relaxed way to see the island than sticking to your ship’s own port.

One thing that catches out first timers: you can’t rent a car in Bermuda as a visitor, full stop, only residents are allowed behind the wheel. So it’s a scooter, a bike, a taxi, or the buses and ferries. Buses aren’t wheelchair accessible, so if mobility’s a concern, stick to ferries or taxis.

The number 7 bus runs along the South Shore past several of Bermuda’s best beaches, and it’s worth the ride just for the view. The number 8 is a shorter hop with glimpses of the harbour.

Beaches Near the Bermuda Cruise Port

Docked at Royal Naval Dockyard, your closest beach is Snorkel Park Beach Club, tucked into the northwest corner and less than a five minute walk from the ship. It has restrooms, showers, a restaurant and bar, a volleyball court, and rentals for snorkel gear, kayaks, pedal boats and paddleboards. The catch is the large ships moored nearby, their propellers stir up sediment and the water clouds over, so treat it as a spot for a relaxed swim rather than serious snorkelling. If you’d rather bring your own kit than join the rental queue, a quick dry beach towel earns its keep on a day like this.

Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda’s best known beach, sits on the south shore around 20 to 30 minutes away depending on traffic. A shuttle van runs straight from the dockyard to the entrance and is the lightest option on your wallet, while taxis, a private driver or a cruise line transfer all cost more for the sake of speed or flexibility.

Glass Beach is a small hidden cove around 30 minutes’ walk from King’s Wharf, named for the sea glass that washes up on its shore, and a pair of comfortable walking shoes beats flip flops on that walk every time. If Horseshoe Bay’s crowds aren’t for you, Warwick Long Bay offers a similarly long stretch of sand, around half a mile, with chairs, umbrellas and snorkel gear for hire from a concessionaire on site.

When Several Cruise Ships Are in Bermuda at Once

Royal Naval Dockyard has two berths, King’s Wharf and Heritage Wharf, so it’s entirely normal for two large ships to be in port on the same day. Bermuda welcomed more than 535,000 cruise visitors last year, up 1.9 percent, according to the Bermuda Tourism Authority, and on peak summer days that shows. Expect the dockyard’s shops, the National Museum and Snorkel Park to feel busy, with buses and taxis both worth a queue.

If Royal Naval Dockyard’s full, or the conditions won’t allow a ship to dock, it’s occasionally sent to Hamilton instead. Check with your cruise line the evening before if the weather’s been rough.

Common Questions

Do cruise ships need to tender in Bermuda?

Not as a rule. Ships dock alongside at Royal Naval Dockyard and Hamilton. At St. George’s, shallow water can force a ship to anchor at Murray’s Anchorage instead, and then it’s tenders all the way in.

Can I rent a car in Bermuda as a cruise passenger?

No, driving’s reserved for residents only. Visitors get around by taxi, bus, ferry, or by hiring a scooter or bike.

Which is Bermuda’s busiest cruise port?

Royal Naval Dockyard, out at the West End, handles the great majority of Bermuda’s cruise calls and hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Is Royal Naval Dockyard wheelchair accessible?

The dockyard’s cruise facilities are built with mobility scooters and wheelchairs in mind. Buses, though, aren’t wheelchair accessible, so ferries or taxis are the better bet.

What’s the closest beach to the cruise port?

Snorkel Park Beach Club, tucked in the northwest corner of Royal Naval Dockyard, is less than a five minute walk from the ship, with full facilities and gear for hire.

How long do cruise ships stay in Bermuda?

Many ships stay at Royal Naval Dockyard for two or three days rather than the usual single day, so passengers can treat it as a hotel and explore at their own pace.

When does the Bermuda cruise season run?

The main season at Royal Naval Dockyard runs from early April to mid November, with the busiest schedules landing in summer.

Do all Bermuda cruises dock at the same port?

No. Most large ships use Royal Naval Dockyard, but some head to Hamilton or St. George’s instead, and ships get diverted to Hamilton now and then if Dockyard’s full.

Why Trust About2Cruise

This guide draws on published port information, cruise line schedules and Bermuda tourism data, to give you a practical, current picture of how Bermuda’s three cruise ports work for passengers with a few hours or days ashore. We don’t sell cruises or take commission from any port, so our aim is simply to help you plan a smoother day. You can read more about how we put our guides together on our about us and editorial approach page.