Bermuda Tours: Frequently Asked Questions
Prices, the paid entries, the cruise pier, swimming, children, the weather and cancellation, answered from the operators' own listings and the official pages. Ready to book Bermuda guided tours? The answers below settle most of what you need first.
Two answers matter more than the rest. First, there is no island ticket: you pay for the tour, and on some days for a cave or the lighthouse climb, and your card says which. Second, most tours meet you on the Dockyard pier, but not all of them: the snorkel boats leave from the Watersports Centre nearby, and a few start in Hamilton or St. George's.
How much do Bermuda tours cost?
Shared tours run from $66 to $203 a person: island drives from $66 to $80, boat trips from $70 to $155, and cave days from $85 to $150. The private boats cost $500 to $1,175 for the whole group.
Do I need tickets for Bermuda's sights?
There is no island ticket, and the beaches and towns are free. The paid entries are Crystal Caves (US$24 a cave, US$35 for both), the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse climb (US$2.50) and the National Museum of Bermuda (US$20). Each tour card says whether its fare covers them.
Can I cancel a Bermuda tour?
Most tours listed here refund in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. The Hamilton food walk is the exception: it is non-refundable. Each card states its own terms.
Which tours include Crystal Caves entry?
Every cave tour listed here puts the Crystal Cave entrance in the fare. The Titan cave tour does not include Fantasy Cave, the second cave on the same site.
Are private tours priced per person or per group?
The private boats are priced per group, for up to 8, 10 or 15 people. The private car tour is $100 a person with a minimum of seven, and the St. George's walk is per person for two to eight.
Where do Bermuda tours meet cruise passengers?
Most meet on the pier at the Royal Naval Dockyard, between King's Wharf and Heritage Wharf. Look for the sign your listing names: the pink buses, the orange Titan shirts or the black-and-white star. The snorkel boats start at the Dockyard Watersports Centre nearby.
Will I get back to the ship on time?
The pier tours are timed to ship calls, and several ask for your all-aboard time when you book. On a day you plan yourself, leave an hour's margin.
Can I see the whole island in one day?
Yes, by coach or minibus. The island drives cover the Dockyard to St. George's in four to six hours, with short stops on the way.
Is there time for a beach on an island tour?
Only a short stop. For hours on the sand, pick the beach hop or a cave-and-beach day, which give you two hours at a beach.
Can I rent a car in Bermuda?
No. Visitors may not rent standard cars. You can take taxis, ferries and buses, or rent an electric two-seater micro-car or a scooter.
Do I need to swim for a snorkel tour?
Yes. The snorkel listings ask for competent swimmers who can manage water too deep to stand in, and a ladder back aboard. Flotation is supplied, but it does not replace swimming.
What if I cannot swim?
Take the glass-bottom boat, the sunset cruise or the helmet dive. The helmet dive lets you walk on the sea floor with your head dry.
Are the boat tours good for kids?
Yes, within each listing's age limit: the helmet dive and the shipwreck snorkel take children from 5, and the two-stop snorkel from 7. Check your card before you book.
What is the best time to visit Bermuda?
May to October, for a warm sea and the full tour schedule; winter is cooler and quieter. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November.
Which beach do the tours stop at?
Horseshoe Bay, John Smith's Bay, Tobacco Bay or Clearwater Beach, depending on the tour. Each card lists its own stops.
Is the lighthouse climb included?
Not on the pink-bus drive or the shops, sights and shores drive: bring US$2.50 for the climb. The two Titan drives include the base and grounds only.
What is not included on most boat trips?
Towels, food and tips, as a rule. Drinks vary: the Restless Native catamarans pour unlimited rum swizzles, while others run a cash bar.
Do tours take US dollars?
Yes. The Bermuda dollar is pegged one to one to the US dollar, and US dollars are accepted everywhere on the island.
How far ahead should I book?
Book once your ship's times are confirmed, because ship days fill the pier tours first. Several tours ask for your ship's name and docking time when you book.
What if my ship docks in St. George's or Hamilton?
The St. George's walk meets at the St. George's ferry terminal, and the private catamaran boards on Front Street in Hamilton. Most other tours start at the Dockyard, a ferry ride away.
How much are the ferry and bus?
A bus ride costs US$3.50 or US$5 in cash, and the ferries take no cash. A transportation pass with unlimited bus and ferry rides costs US$19 for one day or US$44 for three.
How long is the ferry from the Dockyard to Hamilton?
The Blue route takes 15 to 20 minutes. The Orange route runs from the Dockyard to St. George's in 45 minutes, from May to October only.
Can I ride the bus in a wet swimsuit?
No. Buses, ferries and taxis do not take wet or sandy passengers, so bring a cover-up and a towel.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, valid for 45 days beyond your stay. Air visitors file an Arrival Card; cruise passengers do not.
Is the snorkeling good?
Bermuda's reefs are the northernmost coral reefs of the Atlantic. The wreck and two-stop trips go out to the reef line; the catamaran coves are shallower and calmer. Fish are wild, so nothing is promised.
Which wrecks can I see?
The glass-bottom boats pass over the HMS Vixen. The shipwreck snorkel visits the Constellation and the Montana, a paddle steamer wrecked on the reef in December 1863.
How cold is the water?
The sea averages about 66°F in January and about 83°F in August, on the Bermuda Weather Service's long-term normals. The helmet dive supplies wetsuits below 80°F.
What happens if the weather turns?
Boat trips do not sail in heavy rain or thunder. The shipwreck snorkel switches to an inshore wreck and a shoreline reef when the sea offshore is rough.
Are any tours wheelchair accessible?
The helmet dive describes itself as wheelchair accessible. The island drives, the caves and the snorkel boats do not, so ask the operator before you book.
Are the Crystal Caves hard to walk?
There are steps down to the water and back up, taken in stages. The cave tours ask that you can manage them, and one advises against it with breathing, knee or hip problems.
Is St. George's worth the trip?
The town, founded 1612, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. St. Peter's Church and the Unfinished Church are a short walk apart, and the history walk starts there.
Is Gibbs Hill Lighthouse open every day?
It opens daily from 10am to 4pm, but it closes for the whole of February. The climb is 185 steps in eight flights.
What is the national drink?
The Rum Swizzle, which most of the catamarans pour. The Dark 'n Stormy is a name Gosling's has registered.
Still deciding? The practical detail is in the visitor guide, what travelers made of each tour is in the reviews, and every fare sits side by side on Bermuda Tours.