Bermuda considering upgrade of St. George’s cruise terminal

Posted on 9 October, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

Bermuda considering upgrade of St. George’s cruise terminal

By Tom Stieghorst

Bermuda may build a larger cruise terminal in St. George’s to accommodate bigger ships.

Tourism and Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell said in the House of Assembly last week that he is in conversations with the cruise industry about options for a cruise pier in St. George’s.

King’s Wharf is the primary Bermuda destination for mega-ships. If a larger terminal in St. George’s were developed, a channel leading to the pier would have to be widened.

Bermuda will get an estimated 343,000 cruise passengers this year. To grow that number significantly, a new terminal will be needed, Crockwell told the Royal Gazette newspaper. A spokesman for the tourism minister confirmed his comments.

Cruise ships docked in Bermuda permitted to open casinos at night

Posted on 4 October, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

Cruise ships docked in Bermuda permitted to open casinos at night

By Tom Stieghorst

Ministers in Bermuda approved legislation allowing cruise ships to open their casinos during the evening while still docked.

In exchange, the government will get a license fee for ships that carry more than 2,000 passengers.

Casinos could only open between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. and only for passengers, not for residents of Bermuda.

Proponents argued that most cruise ship passengers are back on the ship after 9 p.m., so the casinos do not compete with local attractions. They also argued that the change will help keep Bermuda competitive with other cruise ports.

Opponents said local bars and restaurants will suffer as fewer people leave the ship in the evening, and that the decision should have been put off until after a promised referendum on gaming in Bermuda.

Norwegian Dawn overnights in Bermuda due to storm

Posted on 12 September, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Dawn overnights in Bermuda due to storm

By Gay Nagle Myers

The Norwegian Dawn spent the night on Tuesday in Bermuda due to Tropical Storm Gabrielle. The ship departed mid-morning Wednesday and is expected to arrive on schedule in Boston on Friday morning.

The Norwegian Breakaway is scheduled to arrive at King’s Wharf in Bermuda on Wednesday evening for a two-night stay as scheduled.

JetBlue and US Airways waived change fees for flights to/from Bermuda on Wednesday.

Rain and wind buffeted Bermuda during the storm, but no major damage was reported.
Gabrielle was well out to sea by Wednesday afternoon.

Humberto in the far eastern Atlantic became the eighth named storm of the year and the first hurricane of the season on Wednesday morning.

Humberto poses no threat to land at this stage, according to the National Hurricane Center.