Royal Naval Dockyard

Large cruise vessels berth here, either at King's Wharf or adjoining Heritage Wharf. The extensive six-acre Royal Naval Dockyard complex gives visitors plenty to see and do.

Ferries are often Bermuda's quickest and most scenic transport, particularly between Royal Naval Dockyard and either the City of Hamilton or Town of St. George. From the terminal amid Dockyard's attractions, cruise passengers arriving at King's Wharf or Heritage Wharf can take the Blue Route to Hamilton in a brisk 20-minute journey, or use the Orange Route to reach St. George's in under 40 minutes. For people based in and around Hamilton, the Dockyard ferry creates an enjoyable West End day out, arriving at the doorstep of Clocktower Mall, the National…

From here, use the 20-minute ferry or take a taxi into central Hamilton. Either is much faster than the bus.

Bus 7 or 8 travels from Royal Naval Dockyard to the City of Hamilton Mon–Sat every 15 min., between 6:45am and 11:45pm. The journey takes 1 hr. and fares are $4.50 for adults and $1 for children; drivers accept the exact amount in coins only.

A minibus shuttle also connects King's Wharf with Horseshoe Bay beach. Departures run continuously to the beach from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the final return to the cruise terminal is at 6 p.m. The price is $16 pp.

Have a printable map ready ashore.

See the cruise calendar for this port. Scroll down!

• The Royal Naval Dockyard, including its National Museum of Bermuda, is itself Bermuda's number one visitor attraction. Even if you intend to devote all your valuable time to the island's pink-sand beaches, try to reserve a few hours for it.
• Town of St. George is a scenic UNESCO World Heritage Site and the New World's oldest continually occupied British settlement. Its small, winding streets feature characteristic British Colonial architecture, fountains, gardens, squares, cobbles and plazas.
• National Museum of Bermuda, Maritime Lane: allow 1/2 a day for the Royal Naval Dockyard. Having lost its naval bases in the American Revolutionary War, the British Royal Navy moved its Atlantic Fleet headquarters here from 1812 to 1957. The Bermuda Government has thoughtfully transformed the old limestone storehouses, keep and fortress into a visitor attraction and shopping centre.
• Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, 40 North Shore Road, Flatts Village, opens daily 9AM-5PM, with last entry at 4PM. Centred on a 140,000-gallon replica coral reef, it is one of Bermuda's principal attractions, housing over three hundred birds, reptiles and mammals plus 200 fish species. Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and $5 for ages 5 to 12.
• Crystal and Fantasy Caves, Wilkinson Avenue, Bailey's Bay, opens daily 9:30AM-4:30PM, with last admission at 4:00. There are two distinctly different caves to visit.

An excellent, frequent bus network links every part of the islands with Hamilton and is used equally by residents and visitors. Bus stops have pink or blue painted poles: pink marks services towards Hamilton and blue those travelling away from Hamilton.

On the pier, turn right for free visitor information, maps and printed attraction guides. Beyond the gift stand, the Visitor Info Booth sells an unlimited Day Pass for buses and ferries at $12 for 1 day or $20 for 2 days, and supplies printed bus and ferry timetables with a small Bermuda guide.

Beyond the moped and scooter hire stand and waiting taxi queues, the ferry terminal is about a 5-minute walk ahead, with signs and separate lines for Hamilton and St. George. The stop for the 1-hour bus ride to Hamilton is also there; if many people are waiting, take the SeaExpress ferry into town.

Taxis provide another straightforward way to cross the islands. Find them at stands on Front St. in Hamilton and at major hotels, or book by phone. Every taxi has a meter and charges $4 for the first mile, followed by $1.40 for each additional mile.

Island tour: ride the ferry to St George and continue by bus to Hamilton. From there, change to the #7 bus along the south shore back to the dockyard. This takes longer than the ferry but reveals more of the island, and you can stop at Horseshoe Bay or one of the other beaches on the return journey.

Bermuda Railway Trail occupies a former railway track now converted into an excellent island walking route. The Bermuda government closed the railway in 1948 after deciding it was no longer necessary, then transformed it in 1984 into a trail for walkers and cyclists. Any bicycle hire shop can provide directions.

Hamilton has a good variety of shops, especially along Front Street, and the district is easy to cover on foot.

Restaurants close to cruise berths, such as those in St. George's, can cost as much as three times the price of a comparable one in somewhere such as Somerset Village.

Bermuda uses the Bermudian dollar, equal in value to US$. US dollars are taken everywhere; ensure that any change is returned in US$.

English is the main language spoken.