Cruisin’ Bermuda
On August 10, we flew to LaGuardia, grabbed a taxi, and headed for the docks to board the Norwegian Sea for its sailing to Bermuda. We did not spend any time in New York on this trip, but we were treated to a lovely view of the humidity hazed skyline from the harbor.
It’s always thrilling to see this lady as you pass.
Immediately after our 4:00 pm sailing, we participated in the compulsory muster drill. For those of you who don’t know, that’s when they make all the passengers put on their life jackets, go out on the deck, and pretend the ship is sinking. It often surprises first time cruisers to discover that the cruise director and his/her staff, the photographers, and the entertainers are the ones responsible for rescuing the passengers in case of emergency, so you are likely to be met by a dancer giving instructions in a very businesslike manner at the muster drill. There are actually good reasons for this choice in rescuers. Cruise ship crews almost always come from other countries and many of them have limited English skills, so they would not be effective in communicating with anxious passengers in an emergency situation. They are also responsible for keeping the ship afloat as long as possible so the passengers have plenty of time to get off – a good plan in my estimation!
After the drill, we unpacked and settled into our cabin. One of the nicest things about cruising is that you do unpack your luggage and put your belongings into closets and drawers – so much better than living out of a suitcase! Cruise ship cabins are incredibly small and the ones on this ship are smaller than most. They are very efficient, however, so it does not take long to feel comfortable in the small space. With everything put away and luggage stowed under the beds, the space becomes quite cozy.
Next on our agenda was chow. This was actually our second meal aboard because we hit the buffet line right after we boarded. They were carving some lovely prime rib as well as serving a variety of other treats, but that was 4 hours earlier, so we were ready for food again. This time we chose LeBistro, one of NCL’s alternative dining choices. There is a cover charge for this intimate dining area. When we were on NCL’s Majesty a little over a year ago, we decided to forgo LeBistro because it had no ocean view, opening right onto the busy corridor outside one of the main dining rooms with no barrier to offer protection from onlookers – hardly worth paying extra. We have been on the Sea before, though, and we knew that on this ship LeBistro is very private with lovely views of the ocean, so we booked a table for an early seating and were not disappointed as we enjoyed a marvelous meal at a table by a picture window.
Monday, a day at sea, was our first full day aboard the ship. First days at sea are very nice. It’s an opportunity to rest up from traveling, explore the ship, participate in activities, browse the shops, try your luck at the casino (the shops and casino must close when a ship is in port), or sit on deck with a book. I have been on ships which did not offer this first day at sea and I have learned to avoid such itineraries if possible. I enjoy my ports so much more if I am relaxed when I reach them.
Tuesday morning, we awoke to this view of St. George’s, our first port in Bermuda.
Bermudans consider themselves to be part of the Caribbean, but if you have spent much time in the Caribbean, you know that most islands do not look like this. Bermuda is much more densely populated and the homes are more substantially built, giving the island a much more prosperous look than its Caribbean neighbors to the south. Part of this is probably because being almost 1000 miles north of most Caribbean islands, there is more temperature variation over the course of the year, making a different type of housing necessary, and part of it is probably because I suspect Bermuda really is more prosperous than the typical Caribbean island. In any case, this is representative housing for this island.
Near the harbor in the heart of St. George’s stands this church, which is the oldest Anglican church still in use in the western hemisphere.
It is very simple by today’s standards, but quite lovely and very inspirational. We talked to a woman from the church who told us that many people from all over the world come to be married there.
The communion service, shown on the top shelf in this picture. was given to the church by King William of England about 200 years ago (Bermuda is still part of the British Empire).
The items on the second shelf were gifts of Charles and Diana when they visited Bermuda on their honeymoon, and those on the bottom shelf were used in the coronation of Elizabeth II.
Outside the church is a cemetery with graves so old that the stones are no longer readable. The people in the picture are our traveling companions, Ross and Sheila.
It’s been unusually hot and dry in Bermuda this summer, so you can see that the grass in the cemetery is dead. The lack of rain has not reached critical proportions yet, but it is close to it. The island has no source of fresh water, so inhabitants depend heavily on collecting rain water. You may have noticed the unusual roofs which facilitate rainwater collection from homes and other buildings. They also use imported water and desalinated sea water.
More on Bermuda and cruising to come …
I am heading out early in the morning and will not be home until Sunday. I will be back around to visit and to tell you more about Bermuda then.
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