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Bermuda Cruise Ports: Where Will Your Ship Dock
Updated: October 2026
If you are looking at a Bermuda cruise itinerary, you probably have one immediate question. Where exactly does the ship dock? Bermuda has three active cruise ports, but your experience will vary wildly depending on which one your captain navigates into.
I am going to break down exactly where you will step ashore. You will know exactly how to find the ferry, grab a beach shuttle, and avoid the worst bottleneck lines when thousands of passengers disembark at once.
Cruise ships at Dockyard, Bermuda
At a Glance
| Data Point |
Details |
| Primary Port |
Royal Naval Dockyard (King's Wharf / Heritage Wharf) |
| Boutique Ports |
Hamilton City Port, St. George's Port |
| Transport to Beaches |
Minibus shuttles ($7-$10 per person) or public bus |
| Cruise Season |
April through November |
| Currency |
USD accepted everywhere at a 1-to-1 ratio |
Quick Reference: Which Port is Yours?
Most first-time visitors assume all ships go to the same place. In reality, the size of your vessel dictates your destination.
Mega-Ships (Royal Naval Dockyard): If you are sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, or Celebrity, you will dock at the Dockyard. The channels leading to the other ports are simply too narrow for these massive ships.
Small and Luxury Ships (Hamilton or St. George's): If you are on a smaller boutique vessel like Azamara, Regent Seven Seas, Windstar, Oceania, or Silversea, you have a good chance of docking right in the middle of town.
Bermuda Ports (Location Map)
Royal Naval Dockyard (King's Wharf and Heritage Wharf)
Let me clear up the biggest source of confusion right now. King's Wharf, Heritage Wharf, and the Royal Naval Dockyard are all the exact same location.
Royal Naval Dockyard or simply known as Dockyard, is the historical fortress complex on the far western tip of Bermuda, and the two wharves are just the names of the specific concrete piers where the ships tie up.
When you walk off the gangway here, you will immediately smell the salt air mixing with the exhaust of idling tour buses. The area is completely flat and paved, making it very easy to navigate. You will find the glass gazebo of the
Visitor Services Center within a short walk offering transport passes, free Wi-Fi and maps.
Explorer of the Seas and Norwegian Spirit at Dockyard
Photo: Kansasphoto, flickr, cc by 2.0
To get out of the port, walk past the old stone buildings toward the
Clocktower Mall. Look for the green awnings of the ferry terminal if you want to cross the Great Sound. If you need a deeper dive into the restaurants and shops inside the fortress walls, check out my complete
Kings Wharf and Dockyard Guide.
Pro-Tip: The signage for the public bus stop can be confusing. Do not stand in the massive taxi queue if you just want to go to the beach. Look for the fleet of private minibus shuttles lined up near the pier exit. Check out my guide to
Bermuda Transportation for getting around the island.
Hamilton City Port
Docking in Hamilton is a premium experience. Ships pull right up alongside
Front Street, the bustling main artery of Bermuda's capital city. You can literally walk off your ship and be sitting at a pub with a dark and stormy cocktail in under three minutes.
Because this is a working commercial city, the immediate port area is busy. Watch your step on the brick sidewalks, as they can get slippery if it has just rained. You will hear the constant hum of scooters navigating the traffic around the terminal.
Cruise ship at Hamilton Port, Bermuda
The central bus terminal is only a five-minute walk up the hill on Washington Street. From there, you can catch a pink and blue bus to anywhere on the island. For a full breakdown of the best city pubs and hidden alleyway shops, read my
Ultimate Guide to Hamilton.
St. George's Port (Penno's Wharf and Ordnance Island)
Located on the far eastern end of Bermuda, St. George's is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ships dock at either Penno's Wharf or
Ordnance Island. Both put you right in the heart of a 400-year-old town.
The vibe here is incredibly quiet compared to the Dockyard. You will walk off the ship onto uneven cobblestone streets. It is highly walkable, but wear flat shoes because the historic brickwork is notoriously rough on ankles.
Norwegian Majesty in port at St. George, Bermuda
Photo: David/flickr
From the port, it is a scenic 20-minute walk up a steep, winding hill to reach
Tobacco Bay Beach. You will pass old stone churches and smell the distinct scent of allspice trees along the way. If you do not want to walk, locals operate small shuttle vans directly from the town square.
What Surprises Visitors the Most
The biggest shock for most cruisers is the geography. Many people walk off the ship at the Dockyard expecting to see the famous pink sand beaches right next to the pier.
There are no major swimming beaches at the cruise port (other than a man-made
Snorkel Park Beach which is 6-7 minute walk from the piers). The Dockyard is a historical naval base made of limestone and concrete. Getting to the famous
Horseshoe Bay requires a 25-minute drive down the coast.
You must factor travel time into your daily plans. If your ship departs at 4:00 PM, you cannot stay on the beach until 3:30 PM. The traffic heading back to the western end of the island gets heavy in the late afternoon.
Common Mistakes Cruisers Make at the Port
Do not waste your first hour standing in the wrong line. Thousands of people disembark at the exact same time, creating massive bottlenecks for transportation.
Waiting for a metered taxi: The taxi line at the Dockyard is notoriously slow. If you are heading to Horseshoe Bay, jump into one of the $7-$10 per-person beach shuttles instead. They load up and leave every few minutes.
Buying single ferry tokens: If your ship is docked for two or three days, do not buy single tickets for the ferry to Hamilton. Purchase a multi-day transportation pass at the Visitor Services Center. It works on all public buses and ferries, saving you time and cash.
Relying on credit cards for small transport: While restaurants take cards, the beach shuttles and some small vendors are cash-only. Bring a stack of low-denomination US dollars.
Alternatives: Is a Bermuda Cruise Right for You?
Cruising to Bermuda is incredibly popular because it is easy. You unpack once, enjoy all-inclusive dining on the ship, and use the vessel as a floating hotel for two or three days. It is a highly cost-effective way to see an otherwise expensive destination.
However, a cruise limits your evening freedom. If you want to experience high-end resort nightlife, or if your dream is to wake up and walk directly onto a secluded pink sand beach at sunrise, a cruise is the wrong choice.
About the Author
By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj has been writing about Bermuda since 2008, when he launched bermuda-attractions.com, one of the longest-standing independent guides to the island. A Certified Bermuda Specialist (Bermuda Tourism Authority), his work draws on personal visits, local contacts in Bermuda, and questions and trip reports from thousands of readers over the years.
Learn more about Raj Bhattacharya
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Check out Bermuda Cruises to know all about cruises calling ports in Bermuda.
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
Reg Ohlson (March 2017)
Today I am booking a cruise for August on Oceania's Insignia which stops in Hamilton. Since I will have a suite with balcony, I would like to overlook downtown and Front Street from the balcony while we are docked. I love that view of all the activity. Can you please tell me - do cruise ships usually tie up in Hamilton on their port or starboard side? Thank you - can't wait until August - my 10th visit!
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) March 2017
Well the answer to your question is a bit tricky. I have often seen cruise ships in Hamilton docked with starboard side facing the Front Street. However there has been exceptions as well. So there is no guarantee. But your chances of watching Front street is higher with a starboard side cabin (that is the right side as you look forward).
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