Bermuda Cruises

Bermuda is the Northeast's cruise. Ships sail from New York, Cape Liberty in New Jersey, Boston and Philadelphia, cross open ocean for roughly two days, and spend the middle of the week tied up at the island before two more sea days home. Because there is only one destination, time in port is the thing to compare: some ships stay two or even three days and use the ship as a hotel, while others give Bermuda a single short call on a longer route. Five- and seven-night trips are the norm.

Almost every big ship docks at the Royal Naval Dockyard on the island's far western tip, at King's Wharf or Heritage Wharf, which sit side by side. The Dockyard itself has museums, shops and a craft market, but Hamilton and St. George's are at the other end of the island. Ferries run from the Dockyard to Hamilton, St. George's, Somerset, Paget and Warwick, and buses run frequently. Taxis charge by the hour - around $30 to $40 - so a transport day pass is the cheaper way to cover the island.

The season runs from early April to mid-November. Bermuda lies in the Atlantic hurricane belt, and the June 1 to November 30 season peaks from August to October, so late-season sailings carry some risk of a rerouted or shortened trip.

The draw is the convenience: drive or take the train to the pier, no flight, and a closed-loop round trip on which a U.S. citizen can board with a birth certificate and photo ID. It suits families in the Northeast, couples wanting beaches without a long trip, and anyone who prefers a few unhurried days in one place to a new port every morning.

Sources: cruisemapper.com, cruisetimetables.com, aoml.noaa.gov, egovrush.com