By Plane
The flight from most East Coast destinations--including New York, Raleigh/Durham, Baltimore, and Boston -- takes about 2 hours. Flights from Atlanta take 2 1/2 hours; from Toronto, it's less than 3 hours. From London, England, the trip takes about 7 hours.
Most airlines offer the best deals on tickets booked at least 30 days in advance, with a stopover in Bermuda of at least 3 days. You might need to stay over on a Saturday night to keep fares down. Airfares fluctuate according to the season, but tend to remain competitive among the companies vying for a piece of the lucrative Bermuda run.
Peak season (summer) is the most expensive time to go; low season (usually from mid-Sept to mid-Mar) sees less expensive fares. The airlines that fly to Bermuda seldom observe a shoulder (intermediate) season.
By Cruise Ship
Cruise ships tie up at three harbors in Bermuda: St. George in the East End, the Royal Naval Dockyard in the West End, and Hamilton Harbour at the City of Hamilton. However, ships coming into the harbor at Hamilton may be on the wane.
While the cruise experience isn't for everyone, it's very appealing to some people and is certainly a carefree, all-inclusive vacation. Ships from the East Coast of the United States reach Bermuda in a little over a day. You'll spend a few full days (usually 3) moored at the island, exploring during the day and returning to the ship at night. It's convenient and comfortable -- like having a luxury hotel and restaurant that travels with you.
Of course, that's also its major disadvantage. Most cruisers don't get to know the real Bermuda as well as those who stay in hotels ashore. For instance, cruise-ship passengers generally eat all their meals aboard the ship -- mainly because they've already paid for the meals as part of their cruise price -- and so they miss out on sampling Bermuda's cuisine. They also rarely get to meet and interact with Bermudians the way land-based visitors do.
How to Get the Best Deal on Your Cruise -- Cruiselines no longer engage in the kind of ad hoc discounting that they used to. However, travel agents are often able to get their clients money-saving perks like free upgrades, a waiving of gratuities, and more. The key is: go with an experienced cruise agent. Some of the best in the business indluce Cruises Only, Vacations to Go, and Cruise Brothers.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
