Bermuda Cruise 2023
8/12-8/17 2023
Bermuda Cruise out of Boston on Norwegian Joy. This was a cruise we or should I say Mark earned for being a VIP at the Turning Stone Casino. Cruise's ships like gamblers and we were taking a trip to Bermuda with some of the best of them. We started our journey with a night at the Turing Stone casino.
Mark and I enjoyed a little pool and hot tub time before the dinner buffet and a fun filled evening in the gaming room.
The following day we all took a bus to NYC where our bus took us right to the port. This was our second time Turning Stone took us to Bermuda. Great fun, and this time I had made some reservations for some exciting excursions. If you ever have an opportunity to take a cruise out of NYC, do it. Exiting the city with the NY skyline and a drive past Lady Liberty is amazing.
Mark and I have been on the Joy before, but we still had to explore the ship, have some lunch and enjoy the sun, before heading to our cabin. We had a few friends on this cruise, which always makes the experience more fun. Back in our room we had a welcome dessert tray. Very nice. I'm not sure how other cruises work, but this cruise goes directly to Bermuda and is docked in the port for 3 days. This is unique as you can pretty much get off the ship and be gone the entire time. Of course we would miss all the fun back on the ship, but because we knew we had three days here, and we have been her several times, we knew we wanted to book at least one excursion, so we had that planed for one of our days here. We had a beach day, an adventure day and a day to explore St. George. So we had a plan for the days we were in Bermuda, next we needed to book reservations for dinner and shows.
This is important, at least with Norwegian...YOU MUST BOOK or YOU MIGHT NOT GET IN!!! In the past we were able to book reservations before we left online. Now, there is an area where you have to wait in line and book your specialty dining, and the shows you want to attend. I suggest that you have an idea about what times you want to attend which and all because this may interfere in your potential activities off the boat or conflict with a show. Don't overplan, but have an idea. We did this and it was a crazy pain in the ass to get things changed around. Another recommendation is do the musket drill video as soon as you get in your cabin to get that over with. Everyone must attend the MUSKET DRILL. Watch the video agree that you have watched it, and when its time to check in for the drill go, scan your key card and it should be smooth from there. This is a change I do like. No longer do you need to all gather while someone yells over excited new cruise guests the emergency proceedures. We had one drill in the past where the guy was yelling at all of us implying we were going to DIE. It was crazy.
Now that all that is done it is time to enjoy the first evening.
We had dinner at the buffet, met up with fellow cruise members in the casino, caught this awesome magic show and soon were in bed. Another pointer....DO NOT MISS THE SHOWS. They are totally worth the price of admission, and in this case it was FREE so don't miss it.
Our second and third days were at sea. We spent the days on the top deck enjoying the sun, and the unlimited drinks. It was a "chill" couple of days. I did find a duck. Apparently this is a thing. A cruising duck. I found two while on this trip. He is cute. I guess you are suppose to take a picture and send it to Face Book. I have found and hid painted rocks, but never found a duck.
The next day we went into the port in Bermuda. Mark and I had our adventure excursion scheduled today. We had breakfast in the buffet and shortly after made our way off the boat to our meeting
location. (Views from of the port from the top deck)
It wasn't to far off the boat where we were to meet, so in Wendy and Mark style we arrived much to early. It worked out well because we had no cell service on the ship and the mainland did, so both of us were ready to check in on the lives we had left back home. I do have to say, it was HOT. Even with internet to distract us, the heat was unbearable. Bermuda in August is HOT. Anyone surprised?
We finally got connected with our adventure guide and prepped for our excursion. It was then that I began to second guess my thoughts on taking this adventure. The add included a jungle treck, cave exploration, cave and cliff diving, and snorkeling as well as a tour of the Island. I didn't think I would have to sign a waiver. A we are not responsible for your death should you die on this adventure waiver. WHAT???Well, I didn't hesitate, we were going, waiver or not. We were each given an adventure backpack. Basically a water bottle in a netted bag, and met our guide Ray. (Who was awesome BTW.)
Packed up in a group of about 10 and got into the van for the first leg of our tour. A tour of the Island. Ray had all kinds of facts to offer, but I honestly do not remember any of them. We enjoyed the views and eventually made it to our first stop. 
We were lead into the jungle and Ray offered some facts about the plants and things around us. I did have many more pictures, but I somehow deleted these. I should remind you that it was hot and even with the jungle trees to shade us, hiking through the jungle was not really that fun.
Here we are HOT and although Mark looks just fine, I was dying.
This cave tour was like nothing I had ever experience. It was slippery, wet, dark and tight. There was one squeeze that I seriously did not think I was going to fit through. Between my chest and my big butt, I had to contort my body around just to pass. I am so grateful for my hard hat, because I did knock my head at least once and Mark did too.
It was hard to see anything and I was also ever so grateful for our headlamps. We came into a larger room, and Ray explained the stalagtites and stalagmites to us. Just a future note to anyone who may do a tour like this, wear water shoes, but not those ones that are basically like thicker bottom socks. These types were great in the water, but I felt every rock, every root and every blade of grass in my sock style water shoes walking through the jungle and into that cave. Don't be cheep and buy yourself a nice pair of KEEN water/hike sandals.
We then walked back into the jungle and right back into another cave, and this cave had a giant lake in it. Ray said, hop on in, just when you jump make sure you jump away and out. What!!!! At first I was a little fearful. Visually it was a dark deep body of water that may or may not harbor strange critters or at the very least the creature from the black lagoon. But I had signed that wavier and I was going to take that risk...plus I was so damn hot, critters or not my fat ass was getting in that lake. So in I went. AND it WAS AMAZING!!!!! (BTW, there was a family with young kids with us, and once I saw they got in, I had to just do it.) This has been the year of stepping outside my comfort zone and I was doing it.
Ray even took pictures for us. I had so much fun swimming around in here. I even tested my fears and ventured into some of the smaller caverns. It was really fun. 100% recommend. (I just don't remember the name of the company, but if you ever come to Bermuda stop at the little buildings that offer these types of trips and see if you can find something like this. )
Getting out was a little tricky, but we got ourselves out and dried off a bit, before heading back out into the jungle. I was so relieved we did not have to go back through that cave system again. We hiked for a while more before we came upon a body of water nestled within a cove. Cliffs surrounded the area with a small trail leading to a dock. We were offered another swim off the dock or if you had the nerve you could take the trail to the right and cliff dive.
I decided I was going to do it! I was terrified, but I was going to do it. There were two natural areas to jump from. One was a little less high as the other, so I went for the lesser of the two. I possibly would not have been so fearful except that this guy in our group had discussed breaking a bone in his foot one time when he cliff jumped. Was it keep your feet flat or point them....I couldn't remember, but I knew I did not want to injure myself.
I did it!!!! It was pretty amazing. I was scared the whole time.
Up next we headed back to the van, where we did some more drying off and then headed out to a local area for lunch. (I wish I had pictures...)
I only remember that I enjoyed it, and I had ginger beer. I think it tasted pretty good.
I only remember that I enjoyed it, and I had ginger beer. I think it tasted pretty good.
Up next we went to Turtle Beach.
We had the whole place to ourselves (I think we had special access) and we were provided snorkels and off we went. We had about an hour to simply do what we wanted at the beach. My equipment wasn't fitting to well, so I just enjoyed the beach.
We had the whole place to ourselves (I think we had special access) and we were provided snorkels and off we went. We had about an hour to simply do what we wanted at the beach. My equipment wasn't fitting to well, so I just enjoyed the beach.
Wow, what a great day. Soon we were heading back to the ship, and our adventures were coming to an end. Once we were back on the ship we cleaned up and met up with some of our friends who had also had their own adventures. Many people had gone to Horseshoe Beach, one of the popular beaches in the area. Mark and I had a late dinner at the buffet and called it an early night.
The next day, we had planned to go to St. George Island. There is a boat that will take people to the Island and back which is nice. We also decided that we wanted to return to Tobacco Bay. Years ago we had gone to this quiet shallow inlet area of a beach and had loved it. Years ago, I guess not as many people knew about it. This time the place was pretty packed and the property is now owned by a club. Once a quiet beach area with a little bar, was now a loud big bar and a fee to sit on the sand. I guess you could have sat on the sand, but there was no space on the beach as there were lounge chairs lined up everywhere. We purchased a chair primarily for our things to sit on and proceeded into the waters.
This area has amazing snorkeling opportunities and the fact that it is shallow offers a vast area to snorkel with out getting to deep into the ocean waters. I had brought along our snorkel stuff as well as our floaties and we had the best time.
Mark and I went out to the very far part of the bay and relaxed on the floaties and we also went into the rock areas where there were a ton of fish to see as we snorkeled. Above is a picture of all the fish that have been seen in the bay. The workers would often launch bread out into the rock areas and the fish would swim to it making fish sightings all the more possible. I saw several that I really don't know what their names are, but Mark saw a Baracudda. I was hoping for a sea turtle or a sting ray, but mostly it was little colorful fish in several shapes colors and sizes. You can rent snorkels if you do not have your own, but if this is something you think you'll do often I recommend you get your own. Plus you know they will fit. I had wished I had my own yesterday.
Once we had our fill of beach fun, we went up to the deck and listened to the band that was playing.
Fully dry and ready to get back to the ship, we headed towards the boat docks. But...when we got there we realized we just missed the boat. There was another one coming later, but it was much later. So we decided to do some exploring of the town of St. George. It seemed everyone from the ship was at this Island, and it was just so freaken hot. Even after the beach, I was roasting just walking around town. we did some store stopping and got some history in, but really all I wanted to do was get back to the ship and cool off. Again, its August in Bermuda......
A little history of St. Georges. The town of St. Georges was initially inhabited by the Muscogee Creek Indians, but later was colonized by Europe. The Virginia Company of London ( The same company that established Jamestowne) established the area in 1612 and it was the first settlement of such colonizations that The Virginia Company had invested in that has continued success to this day.
I usually love history but I was so dang hot, that even history was not enticing.
About to be dunked for my crimes.
Statue of Sir George Somers.
Somers is given the title of colonizing Bermuda.
We did sit in this lovely little park for a bit and took in some of the shade.
We decided that we should head back to the ferry port and wait for the ride back. We waited and waited and waited. It only made the wait worse is the damn heat. We did get to relax under the tent, and there was some benches, but absolutely no breeze. Then the crowds came. This was the last ferry of the day, so everyone had to get on this ship. At least we had a little entertainment.
Once we got back to the ship. I headed directly to the pool area. I got into the "hot" tub. Its actually cool water with bubbles and I had the whole thing to myself. I spent a long bit of time in there, just enjoying the coolness. Later I met Mark back in the room cleaned up and we headed to dinner.
Tonight we dined at The Manhattan Club. Our favorite thing at this place is the Lava Cake dessert, and they did not have any this evening. Bummer. We then headed to the evening show. The Beatles tribute band. Mark is not a Beatles fan, but I was in my element and fully enjoyed the show.
We spent the rest of the evening in the casino, where I have lost all my casino allowance, so I just watched and had a few cocktails. Natalie and Megan were playing so I just cheered them on.
The next day was our last day in Bermuda. I was ready to have a chill day, but Mark was eager to go into town. I decided I was not going to deal with the heat, so he left the ship and I played lounge lizzard for the morning. We eventually met back up on the pool deck and had a later lunch at the buffet.
I found another duck.
We did some activities around the ship, but mostly just relaxed on the pool deck.
Soon we were leaving Bermuda....Even with three days in port there are always those people.....the ones that are seen running to the boat at the last minute. Its fun, because we have several people on board
yelling and cheering them on... Hurry! its not funny if they actually miss the boat. I would be crushed. I understand it can be a costly conclusion to being late. Goodbye Bermuda...
We had dinner reservations at La Cuclina, the Italian place and after was our show Elements.
The Elements show was pretty awesome. It was a dance/aerobatics/magic show, with lights and sounds and it was all pretty cool. A+ Norwegian for the shows. There was only 1 show on Norwegian that I was a little surprised about. At any rate, I highly recommend that you see the shows. A view of the setting sun.
The next day was a sea day and our 7th day on the cruise. Tomorrow we will be back in NY. Our plans of basking in the sun on the top deck were dashed, as it was raining. Raining so hard in fact it looked like snow it was so dense. Many people had put their towels and stuff on the chairs to save their seats on the deck. ( You are not suppose to do that btw), and things were soaked. We watched the rain during breakfast, and made alternative plans for the day. We did have reservations for the Broadway Cabaret show later that day, and there were things going on around the ship. Mark was not interested in most of the things going on, so I headed off to the Atrium and watched the cake decorating.
Later I headed to the show. It was pretty good. The music was wonderful. They sang all of those popular Broadway tunes. Can someone please tell me why I just cannot prevent myself from tearing up when I hear any Les Miserables songs? I just love that play. Annie tunes had me all nostalgic. I had that album as a kid and must have played it til the needle embedded the vinyl. "the sun will come out....tomorrow." I had been disappointed that Mark hadn't joined me, but he would not have enjoyed the performance, so it was ok.
Mark and I met up and had a late lunch at the buffet, before trying our last day luck in the casino. There wasn't any. We had dinner, bummed around the room, packed, and made a dash to get into the evenings comedy show as it was first come seating. The comedian was a guy named Joe Larrison. He was funny, Megan joined us for this show. It has been great getting to know her. We really didn't see much of Natalie and Mike after the first few days, but that was ok, we all had our own cruise plans.
I struggled to fall asleep that night, and was actually awake at around 2am when we sailed into the NY Harbor.
Ahh...the city that never sleeps.
Soon, we were all set to disembark and we headed out. The cruise is officially over. Great fun, good times.
TTFN!
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