The Crossing-Bermuda

We arrived in Bermuda around 8:30AM Thursay March 25 for a stay for the day. Bermuda to my surprise is really a chain of islands or archipelago of 138 islands, some no larger than my MINI Cooper. Captain Juan Bermudez discovered Bermuda in 1503 but the action started when Capt George Somers a British mariner suffered damages on the reefs in what is now St. Georges Island and declared Bermuda a British colony. Today it is a British protectorate but fully governed through the Bermuda Parliament and nine parishes at the community level. The Parliament Building sits right on Front St where the S.S. Mariner docked:


Security for the Bermuda government officials was quite relaxed as I was able to walk the grounds and enter the Parliament building without seeing any security guards. I was even able to photograph the VW belonging to the Chief Justice sitting in his personal car port. The Opposition Leader was provided a parking spot out on the lawn! Seems the bipartisan spirit is in tatters everywhere.






If you click on either photo you can read
the parking spot placard. Seems one could leave a pipe bomb message without much effort.



We spent about 4 hours touring the city of Hamilton, St Georges Island where Bermuda was founded and the Island waterfront along 5 parishes. It is a spectacular setting with all the small bays and inlets plus the ocean waterfront.

We lunched on Bermuda chowder at this St. Georges waterfront bistro. One could adjust chowder with either a sweet rum or highly spicy vinegar. It is a beautiful quaint waterfront spot.




Bermuda has an exceptionally high living standard and at last count had the highest GDP per capita of any economy in the world. It creates its wealth by hosting over 4000 financial service and insurance firms based on a favorable tax and legal climate. Bermuda has passed through 5 phases of development since its founding in 1610: salt harvesting, farming, shipbuilding, tourism and now financial services. Our guide claimed they introduced potatoes to the US. So who introduced us to the Bermuda onion?

The two islands are scattered with spectacular homes for such celebrities as H Ross Perot, Michael Bloomberg, Italian Premier Bertolosconi and of course Michael Douglas born in Bermuda. I shot a few waterfront photos as we sailed out of Hamilton Harbor:


Again if you click on either photo you can get a closer look at your future Bermuda home.





Our next stop is Funchal, Madiera Islands. Directions are simple: turn right outside the Harbor, go directly east for 2500 miles and turn left into the Funchal Harbor! Our 90 degree heading has only varied a degree or so for the last two days. We will be at sea for five days before arriving at Funchal at 8AM on March 31.

More from Funchal.

Lee

The Crossing- Seven Seas Mariner

An avid reader asked about our stateroom so I will give a little info on the Mariner. The ship measures 709 feet long with a 93 foot beam. It displaces 48000 tons which "back in the day" was a normal size ocean liner. No more, as I described in a prior post the latest behemoth "Oasis of the Seas" displaces 220,000 tons and has a passenger capacity of 5400.

The Mariner has capacity for 700 passengers, there are 575 on board now, the crew totals 445 so the ratio is 1 crew per 1.6 passengers. There are eight passenger decks, 5 restaurants ranging from an outdoor grill and bar on the pool deck to Le Cordon Bleu Signatures restaurant and Prime 7 a steakhouse, these require reservations but there are no charges for any. There is a large coffee house and library, the Constellation theater, Stars night club, the Observation bar and lounge, the Mariner bar and lounge, a Casino and two botiques. There are assorted other public rooms for cards, reading, whatever. All the ship is beautifully done in natural stone, teak, glass and chrome.

The Mariner is an all suite, all balcony ship with suites ranging in size from 350 sq ft to 2000 sq ft. We have a standard size suite on deck 7 which includes a granite bath with a walk in full bench shower, a full walk in closet













a king size bed, a sitting area with a sofa, chair, built in desk and TV










and a balcony with two chairs and a table.













Still no boredom on day 2 1/2 at sea. Today started with several fitness class options, then a lecture on using puts and calls for monthly income, a wine class demonstrating how food enhancers impact wines, followed by a lecture "going behind the scenes at White House state dinners by a former military aide to several Presidents, then a choice of a blackjack tourney or a bingo contenst! I opted for the salt water pool and hot tubs on a great sunny day. Sally just returned from her yoga class.

Bermuda tomorrow.

The Crossing

We are about 500 miles out from Florida with 350 miles or so to go to reach our first stop in Bermuda. So what does one do at sea.

There are many options. The Mariner has a more than adequate fitness center along with a sauna and it offers classes for spinning, pilates, free weights, etc. There is a complete Spa operated by Canyon Ranch. There were classes throughout the day starting with art collecting at 10AM, a cooking class at 11AM a lecture on Bermuda at 3PM and high tea at 4:30PM! Last night at 6PM we had a block party which entails going out in the hallway for wine and cheese to meet our neighbors. This crossing seems to have more Europeans aboard than most Regent cruises. We are mostly old with a few youngsters mixed in. I noticed two small children under 6. Must be hard to entertain them for 18 days.

I spent my time starting at the fitness center then visited the pool and hot tubs on deck 11 while the sun was shining:










There are two personality types around the ships' pool: the readers













and the soakers:










See you in Bermuda!

Lee

The Crossing

Well we are aboard the Seven Seas Mariner in Ft Lauderdale awaiting departure for our first stop in Hamilton, Bermuda. Port Everglades where we are moored at the moment is the largest cruise port in the world hosting 14 individual cruise lines and processing over 3 million passengers per year through its piers. It is home to the newest, largest cruise ship in the world Oasis of the Seas a 220,000 ton ship with a 5400 passenger capacity and measuring well over 1000 ft in length! Our little Mariner with around 500 passengers looks like a pilot fish along side the Oasis.

We boarded around 1 pm through a security process much like the airports. Document check followed by x-ray checks and then a health screen prior to ship check in. They only screened for a runny nose or loose bowels! Heart attacks must be acceptable at sea. Interesting to watch the ship being re provisioned for our voyage across the Atlantic. Every pallet brought on board was checked by a sniffing dog...who was hopefully in good form.

Our luggage came aboard after X ray screening via this large basket. It was placed in our room by 4PM just in time for us to "muster" for our lifeboat drill.








We exited via the port channel and dropped our harbor pilot off on his boat while making 20knots... like a grab and go Somalia pirate.









Weather is 69 deg, mostly overcast, but improving and seas are 10 feet. The ship does a slight rock like a baby's cradle.

The Mariner is truly living in the lap of luxury. The Regent line is an all inclusive cruise line covering air fare, all excursions, food, adult beverages and has a no tipping policy. My wallet went into the drawer and will not come out until we reach Monte Carlo.

More later.