Viking Cruises Bermuda Escape

The Viking Cruises Bermuda Escape ocean cruise starting in Hamilton, Bermuda is known for its pink sand beaches, bays, cliffs, and caves to explore. This post is sponsored by Viking Cruises.

Friends, we recently returned from a Viking Cruises Bermuda Escape, an 8-day journey, with beautiful sailing around the British island’s territory and an overnight in King’s Wharf. We learned so much about the colonial history and natural beauty of the subtropical island of Bermuda.

Viking Cruises Bermuda Escape

Exploring the cobblestone streets and colorful facades in Hamilton, one of our favorite getaways was taking an Uber to the pink sands of one of Bermuda’s renowned beaches–Horseshoe Bay. 

This trip was a dream come true, and a bucket-list adventure for Paul and me to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary!

Once we arrived in Hamilton and stepped foot on the stunning Viking Orion, our vacation truly began. You may find it helpful to read through these tips for crusing with Viking Cruises. If you’re planning a cruise, there are a lot of things you need to know!

What is a Rum Swizzle?

First of all, if you’re going to Bermuda, have you ever had a Rum Swizzle?

Bermuda is known for local rums and delicious cocktails with bitters, fruit juices, ginger beer and sweeteners. The two most famous original cocktails are the Dark ‘n Stormy and the Rum Swizzle. So naturally, this became our favorite drink on the ship! They even served these on some of the excursions!

Penthouse Veranda Staterooms

The day we arrived, we were escorted to our beautiful Penthouse Veranda Stateroom. The size of the room was 338 sq ft, and the king size bed was plush and comfortable, with a very large bathroom, with a beautiful glass shower and heated floors. Paul and I always talk about how well we sleep on Viking cruises!

Viking Explorer Beds have luxury linens and pillows that help give dreamy sleep.

Our favorite aspect of waking up? Espresso every morning (a coffee maker in every room) and the beautiful sunrise!  

Here are some of the amenities:

• 24-hour room service + 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
• Free Wi-Fi + 42″ flat-screen, with complimentary Movies On Demand
• Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily); security safe; hair dryer, Freyja® toiletries; plush robes and slippers
• Purified water refilled twice a day, with a stateroom steward and twice-daily housekeeping
• Spacious closet & drawers with complimentary pressing and shoe shine services
• Welcome bottle of champagne + in-suite binoculars
• Throughout the ship, you will find tucked away seating areas, perfect for relaxation, naps, reading, or meeting up with friends!
• Take a virtual tour of the ship, and see the amazing deck plan!

Ship Itinerary

As you can see, discovering the colonial history and the natural beauty of the subtropical island of Bermuda–we had the most perfect weather.

Here’s a map of the route that we cruised on the Viking Orion!

Day 1: Bermuda (Hamilton)
The cultural center of the British Territory of Bermuda, Hamilton is graced with pastel-hued streets, lined with government buildings and the massive Bermuda Cathedral. We checked into our Penthouse Veranda, and went to the top deck to enjoy the views, and grabbed some lunch at the World Cafe. That night we ate dinner at Chef’s Table.

Day 2: Bermuda (Hamilton)
Waking up in Hamilton, we leisurely strolled the streets and did some shopping. Then we set sail for a relaxing cruise on a glass-bottom boat, and witnessed the stunning underwater terrain of Bermuda’s bays. We also took an Uber to our favorite spot, Horseshoe Bay. Dinner that night was at Manfredi’s Restaurant.

Day 3: Sail the Atlantic Ocean
Days at sea are sometimes our favorite. As you cruise, you can take in the sea views from the Explorers’ Lounge, or soak up the sun on the sun deck. We both visited the spa and the fitness center on this day, and grabbed dinner that night at The Restaurant.

Day 4: Bermuda (King’s Wharf)
A British Royal Navy stronghold for two centuries, the Royal Naval Dockyard, also known as King’s Wharf, protected England’s interest in the West Indies from both the United States and France during the 19th century. Here you can view the Clock Tower and visit the Bermuda Maritime Museum, housed in the beautifully restored Commissioner’s House.

Dinner that night was back at Chef’s Table!

Day 5: Bermuda (King’s Wharf)
Bermuda’s history includes the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute and the mysteries of the world-famous Bermuda Triangle. Another excursion is touring the dockyard’s streets on two-wheels by Segway. 

Day 6: Sail the Atlantic Ocean
A morning workout at the Fitness Center was in order on this gorgeous day and then off to enjoy a hot sauna and then the chilled air of the Snow Grotto. This evening, we also enjoyed cocktails in the Explorers’ Lounge, and savored authentic Italian cuisine at Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant.

Day 7: Bermuda (Hamilton)
Return to Hamilton and visit the Gosling’s rum distillery, and then take to the seas for a leisurely cruise on a catamaran and explore beneath the ocean waves by snorkel. We also lingered over tea and scones in the Wintergarden, and soaked up the sun on our last day on the ship! We enjoyed a California cuisine at Chef’s Table for dinner.

Day 8: Bermuda (Hamilton)
After a quick dip in the pool, we packed up and disembarked the the ship and journeyed home!

Days at sea consist of relaxation in either the heated main pool with retractable roof or outdoor infinity pool and hot tubs. You could find Paul and me at both!

Entertainment

After dinner we’d meet new friends that we made on the ship at the Star Theatre. The entertainment was great with shows from ABBA and The Beatles. We also heard classical piano and violin, and music every night in the Explorer’s Lounge.

Bermuda Shore excursions:

Viking includes an excursion at each port. In Hamilton we joined the Famous Homes & Hideaway Cruise, with a glimpse of some beautiful homes. At King’s Wharf we enjoyed the Great Sound Catamaran Rally, which included sailing, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boards & canoeing. We also chose an optional ship wreck snorkeling tour at King’s Wharf, and also kayaked Ely’s Harbor.

The water was crystal clear and the snorkeling was spectacular!

Also, did you know that each Viking Cruise includes one shore excursion? There are many optional excursions in different ports that will allow you to customize your journey.

Staff on the ship

People ask me about my favorite cruise line. The dining and service on Viking Cruises is where they really stand apart. The quality of service we experienced with Viking exceeded all of our expectations. By the second day, most of the staff knows you by name, and will go out of their way to get to know you and make sure everything is perfect for your vacation.

The food was out of this world. We can’t say enough about the food and the staff!

The restaurants:

The main dining venue, The Restaurant, and The World Café, include indoor dining or al fresco and were available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is always fresh, with a gourmet spin! We also enjoyed a Norwegian Breakfast at Mamsen’s, which offers Norwegian specialties for breakfast, lunch, and snack in the afternoon.

Our favorite spot for lunch was the Pool Grill, where Paul got the seared tuna every day! I’m not kidding! HA.

I mixed it up with salad, bugers, sandwiches, and of course amazing onion rings.

The two specialty restaurants, Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant and The Chef’s Table, were the highlight of the cruise. The food and service in both restaurants was amazing!

Chef’s Table has a set menu, from a simple “nosh” to dessert. For example, we enjoyed Asian cuisine, Thai, Mexican, and California themed meals.

Oh, and gelato every day? Yes, indeed. 

Can you upgrade the complimentary beverage package?

Viking offers complimentary house wines, beers and soft drinks, with onboard lunches and dinners, plus specialty coffees and assorted hot teas that are available 24 hours a day. But YES, you can upgrade and enjoy unlimited beverages, with a Silver Spirits beverage package, for a small upgrade!

Bermuda Escape lectures:

A Viking Resident Historian delivers the following iconic lectures on this cruise:

– Explorers colon here or no? Age of Discovery
– Pirates & Treasure Hunters
– Islands in History
– American Revolution

What is the dress code on a Viking cruise?

During the day, dress is casual. There are no “formal nights” in the evening; evening dress is “elegant casual” for all dining venues, performances and special events. On these occasions, required attire for ladies includes a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional; jeans are not permitted.

But guess what? If you want to always be casual, you can eat every night at the World Café.

Is it safe to go on a cruise ship?

New air purification technology has been installed on all Viking ships, which have always featured independent air handling units for all guest staterooms. And additional health checks, sanitization and physical distancing measures provide further protection for Viking guests and crew at all points of the journey.

Lastly, going on a cruise with friends is the best! Paul and I have gone alone (very special), and with friends (super fun). Did you know there are special rewards for referring your friends to Viking? See their Viking Explorer Society and Viking Referral Rewards pages.

Thanks for following along, Friends! You can always email me with any questions.

Take a peek at other Viking Cruises that we’ve been on:

Viking River Cruises Zurich Switzerland
Viking River Cruise from Switzerland to Paris
Homelands Viking Cruise Excursions Norway
Homeland Viking Cruise Denmark Excursions
Viking Homelands Ocean Cruise
3 Days in Berlin, Germany
Viking River Cruises Southern France

This post is sponsored by Viking Cruises, who paid my way on this fabulous trip; but as always, all opinions are my own. I also shared my experience on social media, and you can find more videos, here.