Bermuda is 21 miles end to end and people assume that means everything is five minutes away. It isn't. Hamilton to St. George's is a proper drive, and if your charter leaves from the wrong end of the island you've spent an hour of your day in a taxi before you've touched the water. Here's how to avoid that.
Which dock does a Bermuda charter leave from?
Ours leaves from whichever one is closest to you. We pick up from every major dock on the island rather than making everybody come to one home berth. The four we use most are Hamilton Harbour, the Royal Naval Dockyard, Grotto Bay and Castle Harbour, and others work on request. Tell Sean where you're staying and he'll set the pickup.
Hamilton Harbour
The middle of the island and the default for most groups. If you're staying in or around Hamilton, or your group is arriving from a few different places and you need one easy meeting point, this is it. Easiest for taxis, easiest to describe to people who don't know Bermuda, and central enough to run either direction afterwards.
Royal Naval Dockyard
The West End, and the obvious choice if you're on a cruise ship or staying out that way. It also puts you closest to the west end swim water, so a four hour trip out of Dockyard gets you more time anchored and less time running. If you're cruise passengers watching a clock, this is the one to ask for.
Grotto Bay
Hamilton Parish, out toward the east. Handy if you're staying that side, and it saves you the cross island run at the start and end of the day. It's also a decent swim stop in its own right, so an east end day can start and finish without much dead running time.
Castle Harbour
The East End, near St. George's. Sheltered water, and the stop that tends to stay usable when the wind has made a mess of the west. If you're staying in St. George's or out that way, starting here keeps the whole day on your side of the island.
How do you pick the right one?
Start with where you're sleeping, not where the boat lives. On a four hour trip the running time matters a lot, so leaving from the end of the island you're already on buys you real swimming time. On a full eight hour day it matters less and you can start wherever suits the group. If you're not sure, say where you're staying and we'll tell you which is quickest.
Can we leave from somewhere that isn't on this list?
Usually yes. These four are just the common ones. Other major docks around the island work on request, so if there's a dock right by your hotel or your rental it's worth asking rather than assuming. Ask when you're booking so it gets built into the plan properly.
Setting up your pickup
Send Sean your dates, your headcount and where you're staying, and the pickup gets sorted with the booking. Contact Sean on WhatsApp at +1 (441) 518-7077 or email info@bdaboats.com. He answers 24 hours.
