Things to Do in Bermuda (King's Wharf) on a Cruise

Quick Take

King's Wharf is the cruise port at the western tip of Bermuda, set inside the old Royal Naval Dockyard. The single best thing about it is that most ships stay two or even three days, so you're not cramming an island into one afternoon. That docked stretch is your secret weapon, and I'll show you how to use it.

My plan across a multi-day stay: spend day one exploring the Dockyard itself, ride the ferry to Hamilton and St. George on the next day, and give a full day to Horseshoe Bay's pink sand and the nearby snorkel coves. Buy a transport pass, take the fast ferry when you can, and don't overpay for taxis. Prices and skips are below.

Why the Two-to-Three Day Stay Changes Everything

Most Bermuda cruises dock at King's Wharf and stay put for two or three days, which is unusual and wonderful. You sleep on the ship each night and step off fresh each morning without repacking. That means you can spread the island across days instead of racing to see it all before an early all-aboard.

I use the first day for the Dockyard and a relaxed pace while everyone else scatters. Day two I ride the ferry to Hamilton and over to St. George.

Day three, weather permitting, is all beach. This rhythm keeps you from burning out and lets you adjust if one day turns rainy.

It also means you can eat dinner back on the ship, save money on shore meals, and head out again for an evening stroll around the Dockyard. Few cruise ports give you that kind of breathing room.

The Royal Naval Dockyard

You don't have to go anywhere to have a good first day, because the Dockyard is a full attraction on its own. The old fortress walls hold the National Museum of Bermuda, the Dockyard Glassworks, the Bermuda Rum Cake Company, a crafts market, and plenty of shops and bars. It's walkable straight off the ship, which makes it a perfect low-stress start.

The National Museum sits inside the historic Keep and runs about $15 per adult, with great views from the ramparts. Watching glassblowers at the Glassworks is free to enter, and tasting rum cake samples costs nothing but willpower. Give yourself a couple of hours here before you rush off to a ferry.

Ferries to Hamilton and St. George

The ferry is the star of Bermuda transport, and I'd build a whole day around it. The Blue Route runs from the Dockyard to Hamilton, the capital, in about 20 minutes across the harbor. Hamilton is the shopping and dining hub, with Front Street shops and easy strolling.

The Orange Route ferry connects the Dockyard to St. George on the eastern end, a UNESCO World Heritage town with cobbled lanes and colonial history. This ferry runs seasonally and less often, so check the schedule before you count on it. A single ferry ride costs roughly $5 per adult if you pay cash, but a transport pass is the smarter buy.

I prefer the ferry over the bus for the views and the speed. Sitting on the top deck as you cross the Great Sound is a highlight in its own right, and it beats a long, winding bus ride to the same place.

Transport Passes and Getting Around

Skip paying cash fare by fare and buy a pass at the Visitor Information Centre right at the Dockyard. A one-day transport pass covers both buses and ferries across all zones and runs around $19 per adult. Multi-day passes exist too, which fit the two-to-three day stay perfectly.

Rental cars aren't a thing for visitors in Bermuda, so your realistic options are ferries, public buses, taxis, and small electric mini-cars. Buses use exact-change tokens or a pass, so a pass saves fumbling for coins. For most cruisers, a multi-day pass plus your feet covers everything you'll want to do.

Taxis are available but add up fast, often $40 or more one way to distant points. I'd reserve taxis for a specific beach run when the timing beats the bus, not as your default.

Horseshoe Bay and the Pink Sand

Horseshoe Bay is the postcard beach, with soft pink-tinged sand and turquoise water framed by rock formations. It's on the south shore, reachable by public bus or by the seasonal beach shuttle that runs from the Dockyard. The shuttle costs in the range of $15 to $16 per person round trip and saves you a transfer.

Chair and umbrella rentals run about $15 to $30 depending on the setup, and there's a beach cafe for lunch. Arrive early on a busy cruise day to claim your spot before the crowds land. If Horseshoe fills up, walk the coastal path to the quieter coves next door, which are often calmer and less packed.

Snorkeling and the Water

Bermuda's water is clear and warm in season, and you have easy snorkel options without booking a boat. The coves around Horseshoe Bay have rocky edges that draw fish, and the calmer neighboring beaches are great for beginners. Bring or rent a mask set and you're set for hours.

Back at the Dockyard, Snorkel Park Beach is a paid beach club with gear rental, loungers, and a bar, with entry usually in the $10 to $15 range. It's convenient if you want water time without leaving the port area. For serious snorkeling over shipwrecks, a booked boat tour runs higher, often $70 to $110 per person.

St. George and the East End

St. George deserves more attention than most cruisers give it, and the long docked stay makes it doable. Founded in 1612, it's one of the oldest continuously inhabited English towns in the Americas, and the whole place carries UNESCO World Heritage status.

You can wander St. Peter's Church, the old town square, and the narrow lanes with names like Featherbed Alley in an easy afternoon.

Getting there takes some planning, since the Orange Route ferry runs seasonally and the bus ride is long. Check the ferry schedule the morning you go, and pair the trip with a stop at a nearby beach if the timing lines up. This is exactly the kind of outing the multi-day stay is built for.

Entry to most St. George sights is free or just a few dollars, so the town is a budget-friendly history day. I'd give it its own half-day rather than trying to squeeze it around a beach run.

Planning Your Days Across the Stay

The trick to King's Wharf is treating it like a short land vacation rather than a single port call. I sketch a rough plan before we dock so I don't waste the first morning deciding. A clean version looks like this: Dockyard and settling in on day one, ferry to Hamilton in the morning and back for a relaxed evening on day two, and a full beach day on the last day.

Weather should steer your order. If day two looks sunny and day three looks gray, swap the beach earlier and save the town for the cloudy day. Because you sleep on the ship each night, you can adjust on the fly without losing much.

Watch the all-aboard on your final day, since it's the one day the ship actually leaves. Give yourself an hour of cushion before departure so a delayed ferry never becomes a missed ship.

Glassblowing and Rum

Two easy Dockyard stops round out a slower day. The Dockyard Glassworks lets you watch artisans shape molten glass, and you can buy a piece as a souvenir with actual meaning. It's free to walk in and watch, which makes it a nice break from the sun.

Bermuda's rum tradition is worth a taste, and the Rum Cake Company hands out samples of its dark rum cakes for free. If you want the real thing, look for local dark rum and a Rum Swizzle, the island's signature cocktail, at a Dockyard bar. A drink runs in the range of $12 to $16.

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What I'd Skip

I'd skip the pricier ship shore excursions that just bus you to Horseshoe Bay, since a transport pass and the public shuttle get you there for a fraction of the cost. I'd also pass on renting a taxi for a full-island loop, because the ferries cover the best of Bermuda far more cheaply. And unless you're a diver, I'd think twice about a costly shipwreck boat tour when the shore snorkeling is already good.

One more caution: don't try to do Hamilton, St. George, and a beach all in one day. The multi-day stay exists so you can spread these out. Cramming them turns a relaxed island into a stressful shuffle.

If you would rather book your shore excursions on your own, I compare options and book most of my independent tours through Viator, which shows real traveler reviews and free cancellation on most tours. (Heads up: that is an affiliate link, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do cruise ships stay at King's Wharf?
Most Bermuda cruises dock for two or three days, so you have several full days ashore without repacking or rushing an early all-aboard.

What's the best way to get to Horseshoe Bay?
Take the public bus with a transport pass or the seasonal beach shuttle from the Dockyard, which runs around $15 to $16 round trip and saves a transfer.

Is a transport pass worth it?
Yes. A day pass runs about $19 and covers buses and ferries across all zones, and multi-day passes pair well with the long docked stay.

Can I rent a car in Bermuda?
No, visitors can't rent traditional cars. You get around by ferry, bus, taxi, or small electric mini-cars, and ferries plus a pass cover most cruisers' needs.

How far is Hamilton from the Dockyard?
The Blue Route ferry reaches Hamilton in about 20 minutes across the harbor, which is faster and more scenic than the bus.

Where's the easiest snorkeling near the port?
Snorkel Park Beach sits right at the Dockyard with gear rental and a bar for a small entry fee, and the coves near Horseshoe Bay are great too.

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Final Thoughts

Bermuda is one of the most relaxed cruise ports out there, and the long docked stay is the reason. Use the first day for the Dockyard, give the ferries a full day for Hamilton and St. George, and save a day for the pink sand. Buy a pass, skip the taxis, and let the island unfold slowly.

If you want help picking a Bermuda sailing and mapping these days out, that's exactly what I do as an advisor. Reach out and I'll build you an itinerary that makes the most of every day at King's Wharf.

More cruise reads:

• Best Bermuda Cruise Excursions (and What to Skip)
• The Ultimate Bermuda Cruise Guide: Ports, Pink Sand, and Honest Tips
• Best Time to Cruise Bermuda: Month-by-Month Guide
• Cruise Packing List: Exactly What to Bring (From 40+ Cruises)
• Guarantee Cabin vs Picking Your Own: Which Should You Book?
• Best Amber Cove Cruise Excursions (and What to Skip)