SUROY-SUROY SA BERMUDA ISLAND

BERMUDA ISLAND is in the Atlantic Ocean.  It is a Territory of the United Kingdom. 

Text and Photos By Henry Libo-on 

The beautiful islands of Bermuda were not on my bucket list as a travel destination.  In fact, before it became a reality to me, I was dreaming of how great it would be if I have the means to travel to the island of the Galapagos and make a side trip to Peru to explore the historical Machu Picchu. But I never thought that I can go to Bermuda.  

For me, Bermuda is just a distant land, a mystery, isolated and gorgeous.  It is just a name that goes well with Bermuda shorts, Bermuda grass, Bermuda Rum, Bermuda Rum Cake, Bermuda Cassava Cake, and Bermuda Triangle. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Breakaway as it docks at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda Islands after a two-day journey from New York City.  Touristang Pobre, aka Henry Libo-on, enjoys a cocktail at The Garden Cafe, a restaurant in NCL Breakaway. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Breakaway is our home for a week. 

How This Travel Began?

One day in May 2014, I was strolling down the park called Weehawken Waterfront Recreation Park on the bank of the River Hudson in Edgewater, New Jersey when I saw this huge ship docked on the riverside of New York City.  When I focused my camera I saw the name - NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY. 

I do not have any idea where this cruise ship goes but I told myself, "someday, I am going to sail with you".   Then, one day my daughter Tsa told me that I am going with them on a cruise to Bermuda.   Wow!  I do not know what to say. 

I took this photo as the cruise ship left New York for Bermuda. That is the huge Statue of Liberty-on-Liberty Island, New York City.  There are three (3) islands in this part of the Hudson River, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, and Governor's Island. These islands shared a very rich history of the early days of the United States. Norwegian Cruise Line docks at Manhattan Cruise Terminal, New York. 

This picture of Miss Liberty is special to me because you have to be in a high place to be able to capture the image this way. I was on the cruise ship as it passes by the Statue of Liberty and a nice view of the skyline of New York and New Jersey. The shot was just a postcard-perfect. (Copyright photo by Henry Libo-on, Touristang Pobre.)

Touristang Pobre with his grandson, Coco.

We packed our suitcases and my backpack with clothes good for seven days and when the day came for our departure, we just drove to New York and proceeded to the departure area of the ship. We had our travel documents ready and after we underwent the usual travel procedures, we boarded the biggest luxury cruise line to Bermuda - the Norwegian Breakaway. 

Norwegian Breakaway is like a town at sea.  TP with his little travel buddy, grandson Coco. 

Norwegian Breakaway is a luxury ship and the happiest place on the ocean.  From day one, it was a fun-filled day.  Then, every day and every night activities were lined up for the guests or shall I say, Cruisers, to enjoy. 

It was a pleasure to interact with the ship's Chefs.

Strategically located in the ship were 21 restaurants,  several bars loaded with fine drinks.  The waterpark on the upper deck served as a lounging area cum sunbathing area.  Sports-minded cruisers can select different sports activities from golf, rock climbing, basketball, and others.  For the health-conscious, there is a jogging area, a gym, and a spa. 

There are an aqua park and a pool area for children.  A swimming pool with a bar and a band were always full of people.  There is also a theater where a Broadway show Rock of Ages was presented.  For those who want to watch the latest film, there is a cinema.  

A widescreen and a stage is where the daily programs and activities were held and serve as a gathering place for guests waiting for the next performance such as a concert, cooking demonstration, or food carving techniques or shows presented by the Nickelodeon with Dora and others.  For souvenir hunters, the shopping center offers the latest styles in fashion jewelry and other items for both men and women.    

 

Professionalism and Excellence.  Fly high countrymen.

I never grow tired exploring the ship, watching different shows and various activities, visiting and if possible, dining with different bars and restaurants that are, of course, complimentary.  It was not only the crew and the service teams of Norwegian Breakaway that made me feel at home but also the cruisers who were friendly.  Kudos to Brian for making our room spic and span every day. And, because of the different nationalities onboard the ship, I felt that we were in the United Nations.  

I can not forget the a la Minstrels of Norwegian Breakaway, the Washy Washy Team who sang jolly music at the entrance of the Garden Café, almost every day. 

Touristang Pobre is proud of what you do guys!

My favorite shows include the Broadway show, Rock of Ages, an evening of Motown music from the '80s upward, the entertaining music of Barbara Streisand performed by Filipino singers Emily and her pianist.  

Bravura Emily & Arvin.

With so many activities to watch on the ship, I seemed to forget that we were already two days and 16 hours at sea.  I took pictures of my first sunrise and sunset onboard the Norwegian Breakaway here on the Atlantic Ocean.  That was an appropriate moment to reflect on how gentle life could be when we have faith in things that we do and allow the positive vibrations to penetrate our whole being. 

As the ship continued to sail on the vast Atlantic Ocean on that Wednesday morning, we spotted an island on the horizon. I focused my camera and this is what I got.

Source: Wikipedia.

Oh my Lordie, we are now approaching Bermuda.  The ship docked at the Heritage Wharf in the Royal Naval Dockyard at around 8:00 o'clock in the morning.  We were allowed to disembark two hours later. 

Heritage Wharf viewed from the cruise ship.

Norwegian Breakaway at the Heritage Wharf, Royal Naval Dockyard.

The Royal Naval Dockyard

Things to do in Bermuda.

There are several urban areas in the Bermuda Islands.  I selected the three most accessible by Ferry, the City of Hamilton which is the capital, St. George's Town, and the Royal Naval Dockyard, the port of call of Norwegian Breakaway. There are beautiful communities in several parishes in the islands that made it more interesting to discover such as Tucker's Town, Flatts Village, and Somerset Village, among others.  Here are my suggested things to do in Bermuda.

1.  Historical and Cultural Tour.  Bermuda was founded in 1612 by the British and it is considered as one of the oldest settlements of the United Kingdom.  Some of the historical and cultural places to visit are Bermuda National Museum, the Victualling Yard (a place dedicated to storage, preparation and packing of food and drinks for the fleet), The Keep (it is a structure that houses all ammunition and military personnel who watched the islands and ready to defend it), The Commissioner's House, the King's Wharf, the old town of St. George and its historic sites and places, the City of Hamilton and the neighboring parishes around the islands. 

The Commissioner's House as seen from Victualling Yard.  Bermuda was established in 1612 although the British were here earlier than that.

The high walls separate the roads from this Yard.  Buildings and walls were made of coral stones.  The drivers in Bermuda drive on the left side of the road. The bus going to Hamilton passes this road and park at the front yard of the Bermuda National Museum.

2.  The Horseshoe Bay Beach and its pink sand.  To be honest with you, I have to dilate my eyes and closely examine the sand on the beach to see if it was pink because it was not pink to me.  There was a very light hue of color that seems to tell me it is the hue of pink.  According to one tourist who talked to me, "it was pink, maybe 50 years ago, because I have been here before", he said.  But I was amazed at my discovery.  When I climbed the highest hill on Horseshoe Beach, I saw from the distance the stronger hue of pink on the beach.  That was my biggest surprise that made me think that Horseshoe Beach was, indeed, pink and it is awesome. 

While on top of this hill-rock, I rotate myself to capture the other areas of Horseshoe Bay Beach. The photo below is what the locals call Baby Beach or the Royal Cove. 

At the south end of the Horseshoe Bay Beach are secluded smaller lagoons cum beaches.   There, I found a few couples sunbathing and the rest frolicking in the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean.   I swam on the safer side of the lagoon where small rocks block the open sea.  There were fishes swimming with me and the biggest one was as big as my palm and about 12 to 14 inches long with colorful hues of green, red, brown and yellow.

This is the hidden beach located a few minutes' walks from the Horseshoe Beach area.  There were smaller beaches and coves where I swam to enjoy the cool waters. It was a surprise because I saw several countrymen speaking in our native tongue and frolicked on the beach.

3.  Snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, kayaking, jet-skiing, and many other water sports.

Snorkel Beach Park 

Snorkel Beach Park is a 5-minute walk from the cruise ship.

4.  Golf.  Even if I saw only one golf course, I can tell that tourists come to Bermuda because they want to play golf too.

5.  Gourmet Tour.  Bermuda is the home of Bermuda Rum Cake, Bermuda Rum, Bermuda Cassava Cake, and other food and beverages as well as local delicacies that made Bermuda world-famous.  When you are in the Dockyard, do not forget to visit Bone Fish Grill and Bar, the Dockyard Pastry Shop, Calico Jack's Pirate Ship and Floating Bar, Freeport Seafood Restaurant & Bar, Frog & Onion Restaurant and Pub & the Dockyard Brewing Company, Ltd., the Bermuda Rum Cake Company, Bermy Berry Yogurt, and many specialty restaurants and bars around Hamilton and St. George's town.

From this restaurant, you can walk straight to Frog & Onions Pub

6.  Running Tour.  When I say a running tour, it means that you will be riding the bus or the ferry to discover and explore places in Bermuda.  Walking Tour is exploring the towns by walking and this is what I did in Hamilton and St. George's Town.  There are so many things to see in the Royal Naval Dockyard.  As soon as you arrive at the Heritage Wharf, ask for a copy of The Dockyard Times.  This is, to me, your travel guide around the Dockyard.  Also, you can ask for a copy of the magazine "Experience Bermuda - Royal Naval Dockyard; EB St. George's; EB Hamilton.

Trolley Train at Royal Naval Dockyard

Bermuda International Airport at St. George's Town

Airport Terminal 

From the Dockyard, you can take the bus to Hamilton.  Explore Hamilton by riding the bus or walk from the bus terminal or the ferry terminal and do your sightseeing of the capital.  On Church Street, you can find the biggest cathedral, the junction of Parliament Street, the City Hall of Hamilton, and other modern and historical places.  There is a ferry that serves the Dockyard and Hamilton.

City Hall of Hamilton.

Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity on Church Street.

Parliament Street.

Bus Terminal on Church Street, City of Hamilton serves passengers going to the St. George's town and the Royal Naval Dockyard.

From the Dockyard, you can take the ferry to St. George's town or take the bus from Hamilton bus terminal (bay 10 and 11) to St. George's town.  I took the bus from Hamilton and enjoyed the sceneries along the way. Nature, cultural and heritage trip, so to speak.  Around the Ferry Terminal at St. George's are the oldest church, the city hall, old heritage buildings and houses, the monument to the town's founder, Admiral Sir George Somers.  He was also known as the Founder of Bermuda.  

Town Hall of St. George's 

Touristang Pobre is sitting on the Chairman's Chair inside the Town Council Session Hall.

Do you want to try this?

St. George's Preservation Area

St. George's Town is a UNESCO heritage site since 2000. It is also considered as the oldest place in the United Kingdom to be continuously inhabited for the last 200 years. 

St. Peter's Church, Their Majesties Chappell.  At the side of the church is the centuries-old burial site for slaves, free Blacks, and other locals.

Both Hamilton and St. George's are the home of world-class hotels and resorts catering to international tourists and time shareholders.

Heritage Sites at St. George's Town

"The streets of the town of St. George guard centuries' worth of history whose reach transcends far beyond the isolation of Bermuda."  Experience Bermuda Magazine.

I can sense the spirit of the founding fathers through the hidden symbols on this heritage building.

The vicinity of the Ferry Terminal, St. George's Town

7.  Other Activities.  This may depend solely on your creative imagination.  Mine was actually to meet the Solid Waste Management Team but I was caught between priorities and lack of connection that I was not able to achieve this.  Nevertheless, Bermuda Islands practice the 3 Rs - reuse, reduce, and recycle.  I hope they also do the 4th R which is rot, meaning composting.   The islands are small and waste disposal will be an issue if Bermuda does not strictly enforce the 4Rs. I learned later that Bermuda Island built an Incinerator to solve the increasing problem of solid waste disposal.

How to maximize your three (3) days at Bermuda when you are on a cruise ship?

This is the question that I should have asked myself at the very beginning of this cruise but failed to do.  Now, I would like to share this experience on how you can maximize your time and visit more places as possible.

a)  The cruise ship arrives mostly in the early morning, say 8:00 o'clock and you are allowed to disembark two hours later.  Right away, after disembarkation, take the bus at a nearby bus stop located in front of the Bermuda National Museum and do your tour of the City of Hamilton, the capital.  Try to savor the local cuisine by eating in the local restaurant.

After lunch, you can take the bus to Horseshoe Beach.  Go down at the bus stop and walk a little towards the beach.  I suggest you leave the place before 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon. 

Take the bus again going to the Dockyard and you can go back to the cruise ship to relax.
In the evening, you can visit the Snorkel Beach Park, about five-minute-walk from the Heritage Wharf.  Or, you can reserve it on your last day on the island.

b)  On your second day, you can explore St. George's Town.  Take the ferry from the Dockyard to St. George's.  Travel time is about 45 minutes.  Ferry schedule varies but mostly the first trip is 9:00 a.m. from the Dockyard.  Ask for your copy of the Bus Schedule and the Ferry Schedule at the Heritage Wharf.  The moment you arrive at St. George's ferry terminal, walk towards the Town Hall.  Do your walking tour of the historical and heritage sites and places there, including the old streets and local boutiques. 

There are several restaurants and bars you can choose from if you decide to try their local cuisine.  Please take note of the last trip of the ferry to the Dockyard and be there at the ferry terminal one hour before departure time so that you can be assured of a seat.  I took the 12:15 p.m. ferry to the Dockyard even if the last trip was 2:15 p.m.

In case you miss the ferry back to the Dockyard, you can take the bus to the designated bus stop at St. George's town.  The bus goes to Hamilton and from there you either take the ferry to the Dockyard or continue your trip by riding the bus from the Hamilton bus terminal.

c) On your third and last day, you have the whole morning and until 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon to stay on the island.  You can spend this time to visit the historical and cultural sites and places within the Royal Naval Dockyard such as the Victualling Yard, The Keep, the Commissioner's House, the King's Wharf, the Bermuda Rum Cake Company, the souvenir shops, and other places of interest.

If you wish to visit other beaches located along the routes of the bus, be sure to prepare your itinerary and strictly follow it to save time.  Every passenger of the cruise ship is required to be on the ship by 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon.  It is good to be on the ship by 3:00 p.m. The ship leaves at 4:00 o'clock or sometimes 5:00 o'clock p.m.

In case you are left behind, just be ready with all your travel documents and check the next flight to the United States.  The airport is at St. George's Town.  That is why this last day should be reserved for your tour of the Dockyard because it is near the cruise ship.

My short stint on Bermuda is the most memorable travel adventure I had so far.  Considering the distance and isolation of Bermuda, I could not imagine that I visited it.

Bermuda is so lovable.  You will like it here.  When I was in the hidden part of Horseshoe Beach, I thought I was on my private beach and hideaway.  You too can find your little piece of paradise on Bermuda. Now that I have learned to love this place, it would be impossible to eradicate it from my cerebral cortex....lol.  But I guess you will love Bermuda too.

It is indeed true...happiness is a contagious feeling and when you are on an island like Bermuda your state of happiness affects the islanders and their joy to have you on their island influences your state of euphoria to the highest level.   How can this emotional and intellectual connections be eradicated? Not easy.

So, it may take a long, long time to forget Bermuda...in the meantime, I do not have any intention of doing it, Let's Be Happy.  Tara'

 

Source: youtube...thank you, Pharrell Williams, and Into Bermuda.

Photography by Henry C. Libo-on, the Touristang Pobre.

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This blog is based on my own personal experience and I am sharing with you the facts and figures that I learned on the days I was in the Bermuda Islands.  If after writing this story, there will be changes in the Facts and Figures that I stated here, please be responsible to correct the information to suit your own needs.  Thank you. 

SHOUTOUT TO ALL MY CLASSMATES BCHS CLASS '71.

*Liby Sarmen

*Tersah Longakit Seronio

*Marilyn Turbanos Masinda

*Leah Jalando-on Alvarez

*Sally Quijote Labrador

*Dominga Ramirez

*Edurne Amolong

*Edith Joy Plotner 

*Gee Ponce

*Phinks Rojo

*Cecille Espanola Baquiran

* AND ALL...haha....

All photos by Henry Libo-on of Touristang Pobre, unless specified as coming from secondary sources such as Wikipedia, Yahoo, and others. Thanks.  

Updated on 06 June 2018.
Updated on 27 October 2019.
Reviewed on 29 November 2019.
Reviewed on 12 June 2020.

Reviewed on August 8, 2020. 

Reviewed on April 27, 2023.