OVERVIEW

Hear enlightening commentary about the British overseas territory of Bermuda on a scenic drive to a resort in Somerset Village, where you will indulge in a traditional English tea. The British influence will be apparent most everywhere you go, beginning with the Royal Naval Dockyard. It was established as a British base of operations between Nova Scotia and the West Indies after the English were defeated in the American Revolution, and it was used militarily until abandoned in the 1980s. Bermuda’s first settlers were British – although they arrived inadvertently after being shipwrecked in 1609 – and the self-governing archipelago still follows a parliamentary system based on the United Kingdom’s. Heydon Chapel is perhaps the earliest reminder of England’s presence as it was built in 1620. You might contemplate all that you have seen and heard about Britain over a spot of tea, scones and cakes at the waterfront Willowbank resort.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for a wonderfully scenic drive and hear commentary that highlights the attractions.
• Recognize Britain’s deep influence in Bermuda, which is still a British overseas territory.
• Enjoy the quintessential English experience – a traditional tea with cakes and scones.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Your driver will pick-up shipside and shortly after exiting the Royal Naval Dockyard complex your drive takes you through quaint Somerset Village and over Somerset Bridge, the smallest drawbridge in the world. Admire Bermuda’s stunning natural beauty along the way, as you carry-on along breathtaking South Shore Road. Tour bus will pull-over at laybys dotted along this drive for photo opportunities and views of famous Horseshoe Bay and other pink sand beaches. Your tour then navigates the winding uphill drive to the base of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, towering 120 feet above sea level, a great opportunity to photograph the 360 degree views of Bermuda. You will stop to take in the sweeping view of John Smith’s Beach, one of Bermuda’s legendary pink hued beaches.

Pass by the Botanical Gardens and drive to St. George’s, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have 30 minutes to explore or shop in this unique old town. The town center provides a favorite photograph opportunity in the Stocks, aside the Ducking Stool and at the steps of St. Peter's Church, the oldest Anglican church of the Western Hemisphere. Re-joining your buses the route takes a coastline drive along the North Shore to soon arrive at famed Front Street, the busiest place on the island and life and soul of the lively capitol, City of Hamilton. Time allows for shopping and browsing in the boutique style shops and souvenir store-fronts lining Hamilton Harborfront.

Winner of Golf Digest’s Best Places to Play Golf, Bermuda’s Turtle Hill Golf Course at Fairmont's Southampton Princess, features 18 par-3 holes, most with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. With its lush tropical surroundings, dramatic elevation changes and strong coastal winds, this challenging 2,684-yard, par 54 course is designed to take your short game to new heights, requiring patience and prudent club selection. There are endless bunkers, two water hazards, and three tee offerings on all 18 holes. Green fees and shared cart included, transportation is not.

A combination of both shallow water and deep-water interaction, your swim experience will start with an introduction to these amazing mammals followed by a 20 minute hands on interaction and swim with the dolphins. Learn about conservation and the value of your participation during the shallow water portion of your experience, where you are seated waist-high on a submerged platform and the dolphins rest on your lap. Enjoy the excitement of swimming or floating in the deeper water where your interactions continue with opportunities to observe them underwater as they swim underwater as they swim under and around you in their ocean lagoon habitat. Guests will be provided with the required flotation vests, complimentary lockers, outdoor showers and post program changing rooms. An onsite photographer will take photos available for the same day viewing and purchase to ensure you can share your memories. Tour price also includes admission to the National Museum of Bermuda’s fort, maritime and cultural exhibits, which you can browse and explore in addition to your dolphin experience
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Cruise to Hamilton and explore the capital however you please by shopping on your own, enjoying a walking tour. After departing from the pier, you will soon settle in for a delightful cruise across the Great Sound, a body of impossibly turquoise water that fills the bend in the is lFgland’s distinctive fishhook shape. A coral reef at the mouth of the sound shelters the inner waters, making for a typically calm cruise to the pastel-colored capital of Hamilton. Upon disembarking, you will have several options. If you choose to shop on your own, you can expect to find one-of-a-kind jewelry, vivid artwork celebrating the island life, and classic Bermuda shorts in every color of the rainbow. You might also pick up a tasty treat like rum cake or a jar of jam flavored with Scotch bonnet peppers. Another option is to split your time between exploring on your own and an enlightening walking tour of Hamilton. Either way, you may see the glorious Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, leafy Victoria Park and the Bermuda National Gallery, a showcase for centuries of outstanding island artwork.

After departing from the pier in an open-air train trolley, you will soon arrive in the heart of the Royal Naval Dockyard. Known as the “Gibraltar of the West,” the dockyard played a vital role in War of 1812 and both World Wars. As you ride the trolley through the streets, the conductor will entertain you with colorful anecdotes and fascinating facts about the history and architecture of the dockyard. Along the way, you will pass the Royal Navy Cemetery, which dates back to 1812. Other points of interest include Lagoon Park, whose mangroves support a thriving population of birds, and Somerset Village, a residential area on Somerset Island that was settled centuries ago.

The tour ends back at the pier. However, as an alternative, the conductor will drop you at Clock Tower Mall to browse the shops and then you may return to the pier later on your own.

This well-designed ‘off the beaten track’ excursion will have you navigating the island’s Eastern End rail trail, truly a perfect fit for those adventure lovers looking for their next most memorable experience. The joys of cycle touring is now within easier reach for people of varying fitness levels thanks to the Electric Bicycle. E-bikes give cyclists a helping hand - or push over the hills making cycle tours more leisurely and difficult terrain more manageable. Our tour bus will pick-up ship-side and provide a scenic drive to the cycle depot.

. After an orientation and observed test ride by your guide, you will be ready for your electric-enhanced bicycle riding experience that will boost your pedal power, getting you up and over hilly terrain with ease. Your guided coastal cycle expedition will cross the island combining off-road Rail-Trails, trestle bridges and some shared main road-side routes that explores and uncovers shoreline beaches and gorgeous landscapes. Participants must have intermediate to advance riding skill with the desire for fun and adventure! Arrive in the Old Towne of St. George's and finish tour with return high speed Tender ride to your ship pier at the Royal Naval Dockyard.

Join the crew on your snorkel boat, as your Captain sets course for the wreck of the 'Constellation', a shipwreck made world-famous by the film "The Deep". Three decades later, there is even more beautiful coral and fish surrounding the shipwreck. The wreck lies in only 20 feet of water, but is six miles off the north coast of Bermuda. The views are as breathtaking above the water, as they are below. After a full snorkel instruction and safety briefing, you’ll have approximately 45 minutes to explore the 'Constellation', as well as the nearby wreck of the 'Montana'. The Captain will then sound the horn, and prepare to cruise to your next snorkel location, a beautiful and secluded cluster of the world's most healthy coral reef. You’ll have another half hour to venture out and explore the underwater world before making the way back to your ship. In the event of inclement sea conditions, captain reserves the right to substitute with an inshore reef site.

Admire the glorious sights of Frenchman Bay while paddling a kayak among the forested Porcupine Islands that lie just offshore. Your tandem kayak will be a breeze to maneuver, especially after a few helpful hints from the guide. Be sure to ask about the amusing mnemonic that makes it easy to remember the names of the five islands within the Porcupine archipelago, each of which has its own distinct features. The coast of Burnt Island looks like charcoal ashes, Long Island is the lengthiest and Bald Island was once deforested for grazing livestock. The guide will also provide enlightening commentary about the local geology, history and wildlife, which is considerable. You can expect to see harbor seals, porpoises, cormorants and bald eagles, whose giant stick nests can be seen high in the trees. Another highlight is viewing the opulent summer “cottages” on Frenchman Bay built by the likes of the Rockefellers, Carnegies and Vanderbilts.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Paddle a tandem kayak among the naturally beautiful Porcupine Islands in Frenchman Bay.
• Look for seals, porpoises and birds such as majestic bald eagles.
• Pass lavish “cottages” that wealthy industrialists built during the Gilded Age.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Experience the famous carriage roads of Acadia by bicycle and crisscross some of the most scenic areas of the park. The roads were constructed by John D. Rockefeller Jr. beginning in 1913; upset by a ruling allowing automobiles onto Mount Desert Island, he decided to provide a haven free of any motorized traffic. The roads recently underwent a multi-million dollar refurbishment so they’re in excellent condition for cycling. You’ll be custom fitted with a 24-speed mountain or hybrid bike, designed specifically for hard packed gravel such as you’ll find on the carriage trails. Your professional guide will stop often to offer interpretive information about the island’s history and lore.

Enjoy a carefree and immensely scenic ride on an electric bike from St. George’s to Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve, where you will be free to enjoy the beach as you please.

Departing from the ship pier, enjoy the high-speed tender service across the mouth of the Great Sound before arriving thought the narrow ‘Town Cut’ into St. George’s, settled in 1612. UNESCO has designated St. George’s a World Heritage site as it is an authentic example of an English colonial town in the New World.

After an orientation, instructions and observed test ride by your guide, you will be ready for your electric-enhanced bicycle riding experience. You’ll find the extra boost in your pedal power offered from the bikes allows for an effortless ride over hilly terrain and across bridges to pristine Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve. Once occupied by the U.S. military and later used as a NASA space tracking station, this serene 12-acre reserve is now protected public land that is extraordinarily beautiful.

Before long, you will reach Clearwater Beach, where you will have time to enjoy the lovely coastal setting however you please. You might take a refreshing swim in the shallow waters, stretch out on the sand and enjoy the serenity, and walk to the nearby salt marsh to observe the wildlife. Herons, egrets and kingfishers are abundant, before the return ride back to the St. George’s to meet your return tender back to the ship. Participants must have intermediate to advance riding skill level with the desire for fun and adventure!

Step aboard a comfortable and stable catamaran for a trip to the northernmost coral reef in the world. Relax on deck while the crew provides informative commentary on the island and the fascinating undersea ecosystem. After a leisurely cruise, you'll find yourself moored in a magical deep blue oasis, bordered by fringe reef on nearly all sides. Here, you'll be given a mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy vest and instruction on how you may best enjoy this undersea paradise. Immerse yourself in crystal clear waters under the watchful eye of your instructors and explore the great expanses of pristine reef. After snorkeling, the sails will be hoisted (weather permitting) and you can enjoy a relaxing sail back with a complimentary Rum Swizzle. A cash bar is also available.