Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Departure from Bermuda aboard Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
Sailaway from Bermuda from the helipad of Celebrity Summit
On the day we left Bermuda, we along with “several hundred of our closest friends” were invited to experience Sail Away from the helipad. It is the second time we got to do this, the previous time was on a cruise sailing from Barbados.
On most cruise ships, the helipad is off-limits to everyone but crew. A few of the larger ships do allow passengers on the helipad when conditions are safe. Someone always has to do the “Titanic” thing on the bow.
Generally though, sail away is by invitation only. I asked the Captain’s Club hostess how people were chosen, and she kinda answered that there was no magic formula and that the number was determined by the captain. But I do know that our past-passenger status with Celebrity – high but nowhere near the highest! – had to have helped. It was a fun time, I got a few photos and we had some free champagne-like wine. It is always a treat, and we enjoyed the experience!
National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
The Commissioners House. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
The Commissioners House. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
The Flag Pole. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
The Flag Pole. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Verandah of The Commissioners House. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
The Commissioners House. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
The Commissioners House. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
The Commissioners House. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
The Commissioners House. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Underwater archeology exhibit. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Exhibit of historical boats and nautica at The Boat Loft. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Exhibit of historical boats and nautica at The Boat Loft. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Exhibit of historical boats and nautica at The Boat Loft. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Exhibit of historical boats and nautica at The Boat Loft. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Exhibit of historical boats and nautica at The Boat Loft. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Exhibit of historical boats and nautica at The Boat Loft. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Clock mechanism at the Boat Loft. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Clock mechanism at the Boat Loft. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
Clock mechanism at the Boat Loft. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard
The National Museum of Bermuda explores the maritime and island history of Bermuda. The maritime museum is located within the grounds of the fortress keep of the former Royal Naval Dockyard.
The Commissioner’s House is used to display a number of exhibitions. The basement shows Bermuda’s Defence Heritage, a display about Bermuda’s defenses and fortifications since 1612, and the role of local forces in World War I and World War II (this is devoted only to the British aspect of Bermuda’s naval and military history, although there is a separate exhibit devoted to the United States bases). The pillared hall is site of a two-story History of Bermuda mural by the Bermudian artist Graham Foster. The main floor has a number of themes related to Bermuda’s history including slavery, immigration, and tourism. One room is dedicated to the history of the Bermuda Race. The upper floor contains collections of maps, books, coins, maritime art, and exhibits concerning activities of the Royal Navy and the US Forces, specifically during World War II. Other buildings show shipwreck artifacts, local watercraft, or are under renovation.
Other outbuildings house various exhibits. The Queen’s Exhibition Hall/1850 Ordnance House contained a display pertaining to underwater archeology. The building known as the Boat Loft contains historic local watercraft, a collection of vintage outboard motors, and a fascinating two-story clock mechanism.
Graveyard at St. Peters Church in St. Georges, Bermuda
Graveyard at St. Peters Church in St. Georges, Bermuda
Post office in Downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Coffee stand in Downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Former town hall in Downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Bank building in Downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Replica of the sailing ship ‘Deliverance’ on the waterfront in St. Georges, Bermuda
Major John Henry Burns Memorial Park in downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Waterfront in downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Waterfront in downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
The Unfinished Church in St. Georges, Bermuda
Downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Petrol station in Downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Waterfront in downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Waterfront in downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
Waterfront in downtown St. Georges, Bermuda
On our second day in Bermuda we took a ferry from the Royal Naval Dockyard to the town of St. George’s, located on St. George’s Island on the east end of Bermuda. St. George’s was established in 1612 as New London, and was the original English settlement on Bermuda. St. George’s served as the capital of Bermuda until 1815, when it was moved to Hamilton.
Downtown St. George’s is a quaint little place, pretty quiet except just before and after the arrival of the ferry. It also serves as the dock for smaller cruise ships, and the Oceania Insignia was docked there during our visit. The shops and restaurants there were very nice. For my money I would revisit St. George’s before returning to Hamilton, due to the hustle and bustle of the larger capital city.
After our tour, waiting for the time to return to the ferry, we had a very yummy lunch at Wahoo’s Bistro, a restaurant recommended by our guide. They are known for their fresh seafood, including their “Fish Sandwich” which consists of lightly fried local fish on raisin bread, with a tangy sauce. It’s a little hard to imagine the combination, but believe me when I say it was delicious! Sadly, I don’t have a photo of it. 🙁 We also indulged and had a Yellow Bird, a Bermudian cocktail made with rum (Gosling’s, of course!), pineapple and orange juice, Creme de Banana and simple syrup. We only had one (each) so we would be able to make it back to the ferry dock!
Buildings surrounding the ‘Victualling Yard” at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Buildings surrounding the ‘Victualling Yard” at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Buildings surrounding the ‘Victualling Yard” at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Frog and Onion Pub and Restaurant. At Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Frog and Onion Pub and Restaurant. At Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Entrance to the Bermuda National Museum. Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Marina at Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Marina at Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda. The twin clock towers tell different times. One is the actual time, the other shows the time of the next high tide.
Lamp shadow. Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Can’t have a cruise ship port without a Diamonds International. Clock Tower Shopping Mall. Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Clock Tower Shopping Mall. Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
The twin clock towers tell different times. One is the actual time, the other shows the time of the next high tide.
The twin clock towers tell different times. One is the actual time, the other shows the time of the next high tide.
Team USA Americas Cup sailboat at the Bermuda Transportation Museum. Royal Naval Dockyard
Marina at Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
Most cruise ships that visit Bermuda dock or tender at Royal Naval Dockyard, which sits at the very northwestern tip of the island. Originally established as a base for Britain’s Royal Navy, the Dockyard occupies a strategic location in the Atlantic and has played a role in many naval operations, including a key role in the War of 1812, when the British blockade of American ports was orchestrated from Bermuda.
Today the Dockyard is primarily a marina and shipping port, complete with a requisite shopping areas and restaurants, including the ubiquitous Diamonds International. The “shopping mall” was a disappointing collection of t-shirt shops and souvenir stands, a far cry from the high end shops on Front Street in Hamilton. We wasted too much time there, missing out on visiting the Bermuda Transport Museum as well as a potential lunch at a restaurant that one of our guides recommended. Next time!
Adjacent to the Dockyard is the National Museum of Bermuda, including the former Commissioner’s House which sits atop a hill overlooking the bay. I’ll detail that in another post as it is a destination unto itself.
Somerset Bridge, known as the “worlds shortest drawbridge.”
One of the famous “attractions” in Bermuda is the Somerset Bridge, reputedly the smallest working drawbridge in the world. The bridge connects Somerset Island with the mainland in the western parish of Sandys, crossing a small channel connecting the Great Sound with Ely’s Harbour.
From Wikipedia (almost as reliable as a Snapple bottle cap) 😉 :
“The bridge is mentioned in the acts of Bermuda’s first parliament, held in St. George’s on 1 August 1620. Bridges were to be constructed at Somerset, the Flatts, and Coney Island. Additionally, the road from Somerset to Warwick was to be improved, and extended to Castle Point. The bridge appears on a 1624 map of Bermuda.
The bridge is opened by hand, creating a 32-inch gap that allows the passage of a sailboat’s mast. The drawbridge is depicted on a Bermudian banknote.”
Somerset Bridge, known as the “worlds shortest drawbridge.”Somerset Bridge, known as the “worlds shortest drawbridge.”
The bridge is used very rarely these days, as most sailboats do not traverse that channel, either due to size or draft.
These guys are used to being fed. They didn’t stick around when it was apparent we had no treats!
Fairmont Hamilton Princess and Beach Club in Hamilton, Bermuda
Bermi EV rental car in Hamilton, Bermuda
Gosling Brothers liquor store in Hamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton, Bermuda
Downtown Hamilton, Bermuda
Picture of Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton on an advertisement in a shop window in Hamilton, Bermuda
Sign at a book store in Hamilton, Bermuda
Hallway between buildings along Front Street. Hamilton, Bermuda
Hallway between buildings along Front Street. Hamilton, Bermuda
Lots of scooters. Hamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton, Bermuda
City Hall and Arts Center in Hamilton, Bermuda
Hamilton, Bermuda
Sailboat in Hamilton Harbor, Bermuda
Ferry arriving in Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda
Our cruise ship docked in Bermuda at the Royal Naval Dockyard, which is located on the northwest side of the island. We were there for essentially three days – from 8am on Wednesday until 4pm on Friday. The ship acted as our hotel – we could come and go as we pleased. No having to be back on board at a given time at night. As long as we made it back to the ship on Friday afternoon we were good! In fact, if we had friends there or otherwise wanted to stay at a hotel or a resort on the island we could have done that. Of course Kathy & I returned to the ship each night. Why, when we already had a place to sleep? 😉
We booked a tour on the first day that took us around the west side of the island and included the capital of Hamilton. Hamilton is a busy little town, with a Front Street full of shops and restaurants, and the side and back streets occupied by the offices of multinational insurance and banking companies that take advantage of favorable legal and tax regulations. We spent a short time walking around the town, mostly ducking into shops to take advantage of the air conditioning – it was hot!
Our tour took us back to the ship in the early afternoon. We had a dinner reservation back in town that evening, so returned via ferry from the Dockyard to downtown Hamilton.
These photos are specifically from Hamilton, and I’ll do a series of posts from some of the other locations we visited. We did another tour on our second day, and spent the third day exploring the Dockyard. I’ve got photos from those days, too! Should provide plenty of material for a while. 🙂
Celebrity Summit docked at Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda
I’ve finished processing the photos from our visit to Bermuda, and have posted them to my Adobe Portfolio site under ‘2022-07 Celebrity Summit to Bermuda.’ As usual, this is a lot of photos but a fraction of those I took! I’ll post a few at a time and talk about them here over the coming days.
Verandah of The Commissioners House. National Museum of Bermuda, at the Royal Naval Dockyard. (Yes, they eventually left! )
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Pasta-making demonstration in Tuscan Grille aboard Celebrity Summit
Kathy & I have always enjoyed the fact that much of the food on cruise ships is actually made on board. Most of the breads, sauces, ice cream & gelato are made on board. Some of the pasta is also made in-house, but generally only in the specialty restaurants. The sheer volume of pasta needed to serve hundreds or thousands of dishes does not lend itself to in-house preparation.
Celebrity cruise ships have a specialty restaurant called Tuscan Grille, which is essentially an Italian-themed steakhouse. It’s a long way from Tuscany, but is appropriately decorated, and a lot of the menu items are Tuscany influenced. We especially look forward to the artisan breads, yummy olive oil and aged balsamic vinegars. And the cheese! Sigh…. 🙂 There is nothing like the peppery taste of a good olive oil. And while you can’t get Pici Pasta there, what they do make in house is pretty darned good!
The same morning as our sushi making demonstration, there was a pasta making demonstration. They were timed so that we could easily leave one and go to the next, getting there in plenty of time for a front row seat. And there was no plexiglass to blur our view and cause reflections, so I was able to get some pretty decent photos.
Chef Michael walked us through a very basic pasta dough recipe, then handed the dough off to his assistant Glenn, to run it through the fancy, $30,000 German pasta machine, pressing out spaghetti and rigatoni. Just a little more robust than a home pasta maker! Once again, we were not able to sample the output, but as it turned out we were scheduled to have dinner there that evening, so we made a point of trying out several of the pasta offerings. They were quite good!
For anyone who didn’t get the musical reference in the title:
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
Sushi making demonstration at Sushi on 5. Aboard Celebrity Summit
One of the things we love about sea days on a cruise is there are often educational – or at least entertaining – activities scheduled throughout the day. Sometimes they take the form of a guest lecturer, a Q&A with the captain and officers, or cooking demonstrations. The first one we attended was a sushi making demonstration in the ship’s sushi restaurant, Sushi On 5. So called because it is on, you guessed it, Deck 5. It used to also cost $5, but inflation…that was a while ago. It is now an ala carte specialty restaurant, which we don’t mind paying extra for because we like sushi. 😉
Kathy & I are by no means experts, but we have come to enjoy sushi in its various forms. We enjoyed listening to Raymond, one of the waiters and the manager of the restaurant, explaining to a skeptical couple that sushi does not necessarily mean ‘raw fish,’ that the term actually refers to the style of rice used in sushi cuisine. And of course some dishes served at sushi restaurants do not even contain rice, such as sashimi.
Sushi chef John took us through the process of preparing the various ingredients for his dishes, including a shrimp roll, nigiri, sashimi and a custom dish, the name of I’ve forgotten but it looks like an ice cream cone with fish. I asked him about his knives, which he explained were hard Japanese steel, and that he spends an hour every morning sharpening them in order to cut the fish smoothly and cleanly. They sure looked sharp to me!
We didn’t get to taste the samples, but we had already eaten lunch there and we returned one evening for dinner, both of which we enjoyed very much. Raymond walked us through the menu and made some excellent suggestions for dishes that we enjoyed.
It was an interesting and educational experience, and one of the many reasons we love sea days!
The Statue of Liberty. Viewed from aboard Celebrity Summit departing Cape Liberty, New Jersey
The Statue of Liberty. Viewed from aboard Celebrity Summit departing Cape Liberty, New Jersey
The Statue of Liberty. Viewed from aboard Celebrity Summit departing Cape Liberty, New Jersey
The Statue of Liberty. Viewed from aboard Celebrity Summit departing Cape Liberty, New Jersey
Staten Island Ferry. On the Hudson River near the Statue of Liberty
Bayonne Golf Club from Celebrity Summit
Robbins Reef Lighthouse. On the Hudson River near Cape Liberty, NJ
New York City skyline from Celebrity Summit
New York City skyline from Celebrity Summit
Jersey City skyline from Celebrity Summit
Sailing ship on the Hudson River
Sailing ship on the Hudson River
Approaching the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge aboard Celebrity Summit
Approaching the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge aboard Celebrity Summit
Departing the Hudson River below the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge aboard Celebrity Summit
Sorry, old song reference for you youngsters. 😉
One of the highlights of our departure from Cape Liberty was that our ship turned “up” the Hudson River for a sail-by of the Statue of Liberty. For me it was special, because previously the only view I had had of the famous landmark was the view from an airplane window as we landed in Newark. And that was nearly 10 years ago.
We discussed coming to Jersey City a day or two earlier, but as I said in my last post, we decided to keep this trip a little more simple. And, knowing that our ship was due to sail past the statue meant that we didn’t have to endure the lines and the crowds to sail to the island itself. Another time, for sure.
So as we sailed out of the port, around (well not quite around) the statue, we got a “sea level view” of the NYC and Jersey City skylines and waterfront, and a fish-eye view of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge as we passed below it. In no time at all we were at sea, steaming towards the <suspenseful music plays> Bermuda Triangle. More to come!
