"Bermuda ~ The Somers Isles" Bermuda by starship

Although October can often be prime hurricane season in the Atlantic and along the Eastern Seaboard of the USA, it turned out to be a great time for our visit to Bermuda by ship. We slipped in after the devastating effects of Hurricane Irene, and before any more tropical storms could develop into new hurricanes.

As Bermuda is known for being expensive, traveling there by ship was especially cost effective. Rather than having to pay separately for airfare, hotel, plus all meals and any additional expenses, we were able to get a rather inexpensive cruise covering virtually everything.

With two days at sea to relax before arriving at King's Wharf, the cool weather in the mid-Atlantic region quickly gave way to the warm, sub-tropical climate of Bermuda in only a day's time. Blue skies, fresh air, warm daily temps and friendly Bermudians greeted us and the weather remained favorable during our forays to Hamilton, the Royal Naval Dockyard , and the town of St. George's, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The only time we had less than desirable weather was one late afternoon after leaving St. George's to hike the low cliffs above the southside beaches and Horseshoe Bay. Clouds had gathered and we were caught in a short rain shower, but that mattered little when in the midst of such of beauty!!

Moon Gate in Somers Gardens in St. George

We decided to make our goal for this trip to be more geared toward a combination of relaxation and sightseeing rather than our usual method of traveling and sightseeing --- which could be summed up as "see it all now, sleep when you're dead." I think we achieved our goal to a spectacular degree, thanks in large part to the nature of Bermuda itself.

Visitors shouldn't be fooled into thinking there is little to do in Bermuda other than enjoying the ocean and pink sand beaches. Aside from the enormous appeal of Bermuda's natural beauty and stunning beaches which it's known for, there are points of history, museums, churches, forts, shopping, and great pubs aplenty. Just getting to these points of interest via ferries, buses, and other forms of transportation add to the enjoyment because of the ease of it all.

If the ocean is your magnet, the waters surrounding Bermuda offer great opportunities for viewing marine life, swimming, diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, etc.

My favorite activities during this trip were: riding the ferries & buses; watching the re-enactment of "dunkings" in St. George's and the tour of the Perfurmery; glimpsing of the legendary pink sand beaches & turquoise waters; the Hog Penny Pub and the people of Hamilton; the historic buildings & shopping at the Royal Naval Dockyards of King's Wharf.

What I regret missing: the Maritime Museum near King's Wharf which everyone raved about; seeing St. George's in depth; snorkeling & the marine wildlife; soaking up some sun at Horseshoe Bay Beach; Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, and various forts.

NOTE: I have built a separate page on the city of "Hamilton." As not each place we visited in Bermuda is necessarily available on the VT travel page list, I decided to combine the 3 places we visited into this Bermuda page (a work in progress). For a more detailed look into Hamilton itself, please visit: Hamilton, Bermuda.

Commissioner

During our visit to Bermuda, I learned of some interesting historical connections ---

Sir George Somers was Admiral of the Britain's Virginia Company's Third Supply Relief Fleet when he set sail from Plymouth, England, in June of 1609, bound for Jamestown, Virginia. His ship was engulfed in a fierce storm crossing the Atlantic and drawn off course. Somers intentionally ran his ship upon the reefs surrounding the island of Bermuda, then known as "Virgineola," saving the ship from floundering at sea, and thereby saving all 150 souls and one dog on board. He and the ship's other survivors became some of the first permanent settlers on Bermuda.

Admiral Somers was later able to complete his original mission on a ship built in Bermuda of Bermudian Cypress in May of 1610, along with Lord Delaware, Sir Thomas Gates, and Captain Christopher Newport, bringing food and supplies to the colony of approximately 60 Virginia settlers who were clinging to life at that point. Had it not been for Somers and the others, the settlers of the fledgling Virginia colony would likely not have survived.

Being not only the first to explore and map the island, as well as subsequently being credited with its colonization, the country now known as Bermuda, was known in the 17th century as the "Somers Isles." Today the name of "Somers" is still attached to ships, gardens, buildings, stores and much more.

Which brings me to the point of the interesting connections to me: I grew up within 30 minutes of Jamestown, Virginia, where those earliest settlers struggled to survive; the city of Newport News, and Christopher Newport University is even closer to my hometown; and the name "Somers" is connected to me personally.

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• Pros:Sublime beaches, relaxed atmosphere, friendly people, enough to do & see for a week!
• Cons:Can be expensive!
• In a nutshell:Had such a great time we'd love to go back!