CRUISE VISITORS · royal caribbean CRUISE LINE
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in Bermuda: Your Port Day at Royal Naval Dockyard
Royal Caribbean docks at Heritage Wharf, steps from Snorkel Park. Here's how to plan your Bermuda port days.
Updated October 2026, based on the official 2027 Bermuda cruise ship schedule
40
Royal Caribbean calls scheduled for Bermuda season 2027
Heritage Wharf
Royal Naval Dockyard, West End
Overnight or day
5-night sailings overnight; 9-night sailings call for a day
Steps away
Snorkel Park from the Dockyard
AT A GLANCE
Your Port Day in Brief
Where you dock
Royal Caribbean ships dock at Heritage Wharf in the Royal Naval Dockyard, at Bermuda's West End. Snorkel Park Beach Club is steps away.
How long you stay
In 2027, Independence of the Seas sails from Cape Liberty, NJ, and Vision of the Seas from Baltimore. 5-night cruises stay overnight; Independence's 9-night cruises call for one day.
Make the most of it
Start your beach day minutes after you step off the ship. On an Independence overnight, take the ferry to historic St. George's for Tobacco Bay and lunch on the water by the old town hall.
THE 2027 SEASON
Royal Caribbean Ships in Bermuda in 2027
Royal Caribbean has 40 Bermuda calls scheduled for 2027, almost all by two ships (official Bermuda cruise ship schedule, Department of Marine and Ports Services, dated October 12, 2026). These are the ships and their usual weekly pattern:
| Ship | Sails from | Usual time in Bermuda (arrive - depart) | 2027 calls | 2027 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence of the Seas | Cape Liberty, NJ | 5-night: Monday 9am - Tuesday 5pm 9-night: Saturday 8am - 4pm (day call) | 20 | May 24 - October 30 |
| Vision of the Seas | Baltimore | Monday or Saturday 2pm - next day 1pm | 17 | May 31 - October 18/19 |
| Brilliance, Freedom and Mariner of the SeasOne-off sailings | Varies | One call each | 3 | Varies |
Times change
These are the official schedule's arrival and departure times at the berth. They can change for weather or operational reasons, and the start and end of the season vary most. Vision of the Seas arrives in the afternoon, so day 1 is short: Snorkel Park's beach access closes at 5pm. Your ship's app and daily planner have the final word.
Overnight or a day call?
Royal Caribbean's 5-night Bermuda cruises stay overnight. Independence of the Seas' 9-night Bermuda and Caribbean cruises spend one day in Bermuda (e.g. Saturday, June 12, 2027, 8am–4pm, per royalcaribbean.com).
Live schedule
The full official schedule is on the Marine and Ports website, and the Dockyard cruise calendar shows which ships are in port.
WHERE YOU'LL DOCK
Heritage Wharf, Royal Naval Dockyard
Royal Caribbean's regular ships berth at Heritage Wharf, one of the two cruise piers at the Royal Naval Dockyard. A few one-off calls use the neighboring King's Wharf (for example Mariner of the Seas on October 30, 2027).
Both cruise piers are in Dockyard, so the plans below work from either one. Dockyard is Bermuda's West End. Snorkel Park is on your doorstep. Hamilton and St. George's are across the island, so plan your days around the ferries.
STEPS FROM THE SHIP
From the Ship to Snorkel Park Beach Club - in 5 minutes!
Snorkel Park Beach Club is steps away from the Royal Naval Dockyard, close enough to walk from Heritage Wharf.
On the beach: snorkeling, loungers and umbrellas, a beach bar and restaurant, and kids' castles and beach games.
Beach Access
Open daily • 1 April - 31 October
All ages. Closed November through March; reopens April 1.
Sunset Bonfire
Mon, Thu & Sat • 7-9:30pm
All ages. Free entry for the sunset bonfires and live entertainment. Paid Sunset Experience package adds a meal, an open bar and unlimited s'mores.
Night Lounge
Selected nights • 10pm-3am
Guests 18 and over. It doesn't run every night, so don't plan your overnight around it. Check directly with the venue over email or WhatsApp.
Seasonal: Snorkel Park Beach Club is closed November through March and reopens April 1. Tobacco Bay Beach Club is open all year round.
TWO DAYS IN BERMUDA
A Plan for Each Royal Caribbean Ship
On an overnight you can do a West End beach day at Snorkel Park and, on Independence, a day in St. George's for Tobacco Bay and lunch on the harbor. The order depends on your ship and sailing, because the Sunset Bonfire runs on Monday, Thursday and Saturday nights and the Orange Route ferry to St. George's doesn't run on Sundays. These plans are for Snorkel Park's season, April to October.
PLAN A
Independence of the Seas, 5-night (Monday → Tuesday)
Day 1 (Monday): St. George's, then the Bonfire
Take the morning Orange Route ferry to St. George's for Tobacco Bay and lunch at Wahoo's or White Horse, ferry back for early evening, then the Monday Sunset Bonfire at Snorkel Park from 7pm. Always check the latest ferry schedule directly.
Day 2 (Tuesday): Snorkel Park
Snorkel Park on the All-Inclusive Day Pass, then back well before all-aboard. Tuesday's ferry times (last boat back is usually 4pm) make St. George's too tight today. Always check the latest ferry schedule directly.
PLAN B
Vision of the Seas (Monday or Saturday 2pm → next day 1pm)
Day 1 (afternoon): Snorkel Park, then the Bonfire
Walk straight to Snorkel Park for about three hours on the beach before the 5pm close, spend a couple of hours exploring the historical dockyard, then head back to Snorkel Park for 7pm: both Monday and Saturday are Sunset Bonfire nights.
Day 2 (morning): beach or Dockyard
Snorkel Park morning, or a stroll around Dockyard, then back aboard well before all-aboard. With a 1pm departure there isn't time for the round trip to St. George's. The 3-Day Beach Pass covers both visits.
Single day call
Independence of the Seas, 9-night sailings (Saturdays, about 8am–4pm)
Keep it simple and close: walk to Snorkel Park as soon as you're ashore and spend the day on the All-Inclusive Day Pass or in a Cabana for 3. Beach access typically runs 8am–5pm. Tobacco Bay and St. George's are across the island and depend on ferry times, so save them for a trip with an overnight. Head back aboard well before all-aboard.
Winter call (November–March)
Royal Caribbean's late-season one-off calls (for example, Brilliance of the Seas on November 17)
Snorkel Park Beach Club is closed November through March, and the Sunset Bonfire doesn't run. Head to St. George's instead: Tobacco Bay Beach Club is open as normal (swim and snorkel weather permitting), so just turn up on the day. Then have lunch at Wahoo's or White Horse on the harbor. Check the winter ferry timetable before you go; a taxi is the backup.
ST. GEORGE'S DAY
Lunch on the Harbor, and Tobacco Bay
AWARD-WINNING
Wahoo's Bistro & Patio
Our stunning waterfront restaurant on Water Street, St George's. Fresh local fish, Wahoo Nuggets to share, and a lobster menu in season (September through March). Award-winning cocktails, recognized at Bacardí's Art of the Pour 2026.
BERMUDA'S OLDEST PUB
White Horse Pub & Restaurant
Bermuda's oldest pub, dating back to the 1700s, right on the harbor in St. George's. Its menu mixes pub favorites with a modern twist. With live music, hand-crafted cocktails and a gastropub menu it's a place you don't want to skip.
FREE BEACH ENTRY
Tobacco Bay Beach Club
A sheltered snorkeling cove just outside town. Beach access is free; Tobacco Bay VIP Adult and VIP Couples include a lounger under a shared umbrella, lunch, a 4-hour drinks package and snorkel gear. Arrive early to secure a spot!
GETTING AROUND
Getting Around from Dockyard
Walk
Snorkel Park, the Dockyard shops, restaurants and museum are all within walking distance of Heritage Wharf.
Orange Route ferry to St. George's
A direct public ferry from Dockyard, Monday to Saturday in summer. No Sunday service is listed.
Ferries to Hamilton
Public ferries also link Dockyard with the City of Hamilton. Transportation passes cover both ferries and buses.
Taxis and buses
Taxis at Dockyard are the backup for Sundays or after the last ferry. There's no direct bus to St. George's.
Orange Route ferry - 2026 summer timetable - check for 2027 updates
Leaves Dockyard
9:30am · 11:30am · 3pm, plus 5pm Mon/Wed/Thu/Sat
Leaves St. George's
10:20am · 2pm · 4pm, plus 6pm Mon/Wed/Thu/Sat
Sundays
No Orange Route service listed
Source: Department of Marine and Ports Services, marineandports.bm - always check directly for the latest ferry schedule.
BACK ON TIME
All-Aboard: How to Get Back on Time
All-aboard, not departure
Royal Caribbean sets all-aboard earlier than the departure time and publishes it in the Royal Caribbean app and your daily planner. Check it the night before and again in the morning.
Plan from the last ferry
Check the time of the last ferry from St. George's before you go, and plan to be back at Dockyard well before all-aboard. A taxi is your backup.
Keep departure day local
On your last day, stay in Dockyard. Snorkel Park is steps from Heritage Wharf.
Set an alarm
Set a phone alarm for when you need to leave the beach, and keep your cruise card and ID with you.
Your Bermuda experience starts at the gangway.
Snorkel Park Beach Club is steps from the Dockyard. Book ahead for busy ship days.
FAQ
Know Before You Go!
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in Bermuda
Where do Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ships dock in Bermuda?
Royal Caribbean ships dock at Heritage Wharf in the Royal Naval Dockyard, at Bermuda's West End. A few one-off calls use the neighboring King's Wharf. Snorkel Park Beach Club is steps away from the Dockyard. Check your ship's app to see which pier your call uses.
How long does Royal Caribbean stay in Bermuda?
Royal Caribbean's 5-night Bermuda cruises stay overnight, usually from a morning or early afternoon arrival to the next afternoon. Independence of the Seas' 9-night sailings call for one day, about 8am to 4pm. Your ship's app has exact times.
How far is Snorkel Park from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
Snorkel Park Beach Club is steps away from Heritage Wharf and King's Wharf, close enough to walk from the gangway in under five minutes.
Can I get to Tobacco Bay from the Royal Naval Dockyard?
Yes. The ferry to St. George's takes under an hour and runs in summer, roughly April to early November, but not on Sundays. Check the official timetable for the day you're in port.
What is there to do in the evening on an overnight in Bermuda?
Dockyard offers the Sunset Bonfire and Night Lounge at Snorkel Park Beach Club, waterfront dining at local pubs and restaurants, and evening harbor views right by the ship.
Can kids go to Snorkel Park?
Yes. Snorkel Park Beach Club welcomes families with calm, shallow waters, white sand, and beach amenities suited for children during daytime hours.
When do I need to be back on the ship?
All-aboard times are usually set 30 to 60 minutes before departure on your final port day. Always check your daily ship newsletter and the ship's clock before heading ashore.
Does Royal Caribbean stay overnight in Bermuda?
On most sailings, yes. The 5-night Bermuda cruises on Independence of the Seas and Vision of the Seas include an overnight at Royal Naval Dockyard. Independence's 9-night Bermuda and Caribbean cruises are a single day call instead, so check your itinerary.
Do I need to book Snorkel Park in advance?
While general admission can be purchased on arrival, booking packages in advance (such as loungers, umbrellas, and cabanas) guarantees your spot on busy multi-ship port days.
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