Holland America 2010 Bermuda Cruises: 7 Days roundtrip cruises from New York City aboard ms Veendam.

	Hamilton, Bermuda

Sample Shore Excursions:

Hartley's Helmet Diving
- Greg Hartley's helmet diving tour, which requires no lessons or swimming skills, offers more than just a look at marine life. Diana the Angelfish, Charles the Hogfish, Franklin the Golden-tailed Moray Eel, and Oliver the Grey Snapper await your company to perform their magic. Some creatures you hold and pet, a few do tricks, many you hand feed, and others simply hold you in awe by their majestic presence. Join them and truly be amazed. Greg will escort you to the dive vessel, located near your ship. During part of the 45-minute trip to the dive site, Captain Hartley will brief you and answer questions. At the reef, the 9ft long ladder (top rungs are flat) will be attached to the stern platform. Six or seven divers are in the water at a time. Divers have three windows to view the magnificent coral scenery. Your ever-present guide, who will also be wearing a diving helmet, will point out and identify most marine life using a special message stick during the 25-30 minute dive. You will be told of any dangerous marine life, and the benign creatures will be offered for you to touch. After all dives have been completed (up to three other dives), you will enjoy views of the entire western end of the island while on your way back to the ship.
Aquarium and Caves by Bus
- Board your pink & blue air-conditioned bus just outside of your ship where your driver/guide will point out highlights of the City of Hamilton as you drive through. Your tour will acquaint you with this beautiful island and two of its main attractions. Travel around the picturesque Harrington Sound with its beautiful bays and coves; en route you will view charming pastel colored homes with their distinctive architecture that makes the island of Bermuda so unique. A highlight of your tour includes admission to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo where you can see everything from chattering cockatoos to tiny seahorses, over 75 species of fish, pink flamingos and much more. Also included is admission to the beautiful limestone Crystal Caves, where you will have the rare opportunity to view wondrous formations of stalactites and stalagmites. For those not wishing to journey the 81 steps down into the Caves, the gardens around this area are beautifully manicured and are a great spot to relax or browse the gift shop.
Famous Homes and Hideaways Cruise
- Join Captain Ronnie O'Connor on the most informative and highly entertaining sightseeing cruise in Bermuda. This tour will give you a wealth of well-researched historical facts as well as lots of humorous personal stories about the island. Cruise along the shoreline to view charming colonial homes painted in pastel colors, which are steeped in history as well as exclusive neighborhoods known as �Millionaire's Row�. Learn more about the Island's past and present, flora and fauna and wonderful marine life as you gently cruise Bermuda's exquisite turquoise blue waters. Your captain will point out the homes of the rich and famous--such as Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, playwright Eugene O'Neal, whose daughter was married to Charlie Chaplin, and illustrator William Denslow, most famous for his work on the book �The Wonderful Wizard of Oz�. Discover tranquil island hideaways only accessible by boat. You will also see classic Bermuda landmarks such as Gibb's Hill Lighthouse, which is the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the Western Hemisphere. We hope the memories of this tour will remain with you long after you leave this beautiful island.
Hamilton & St. George Highlights by Bus
- Board your pink & blue air-conditioned bus in Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda, and head out of town as your driver/guide points out highlights of the city. View the many pastel-colored houses on the way to St. David's for a photo stop at St. David's Lighthouse. You will drive by the Carter House, which is believed to be the oldest dwelling in Bermuda, built around 1640. Pass through St. George en route to Fort St. Catherine, built in 1614. The fort houses many interesting artifacts, including replicas of Britain's Crown Jewels. Re-board the bus for the short drive back to the Town Square where you will have approximately 45 minutes to shop and sightsee at your leisure. You can visit St. Peters Church, the oldest Anglican Church in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere, or view the replica of the Deliverance whose passengers colonized the island in 1612. In the Town Square, view a cedar replica of the stocks and pillory used to punish criminals or browse the many quaint shops. Leaving St. George, you will continue along the South Shore passing by John Smith's Bay Beach before returning to Hamilton and your ship.
Hamilton Gardens and Architecture Walking Tour
- The City of Hamilton dates back to more than two centuries and has retained much of its charm despite becoming a bustling, 21st Century city. The city boasts a number of parks and buildings dating back to its beginnings as a port and customs center. On this 90 minute tour led by a local historian and expert guide, you will visit parks, historic buildings and modern malls. The tour will educate you about the flora of Bermuda, its architecture and Hamilton's history. Your expert guide will be your eyes, ears and guide-book, giving you in 90 minutes knowledge that might take 20 years for you to gain on your own. What a time saver! You will leave this tour knowing just how Hamilton came to be and how it �ticks' today.
Trolley Train Tour of Hamilton
- Board the Trolley Train for a fun, relaxing and entertaining way to get an overview of the colorful city of Hamilton. You will drive past the famous �Bird Cage�; Albuoy's Point, City Hall, the Bermuda National Gallery, The Anglican Cathedral, and the Houses of Parliament. You will then drive past the Botanical Gardens and �Camden�, the official residence of the Premier of Bermuda. During your journey the conductor will take you back in time with the rich history of Hamilton and also bring you up to date on its modern workings.
Shilo Hamilton Carriage Tour
- This horse-drawn carriage tour will take you through the streets of Hamilton and the outlying area. Departing from Front Street you will pass by the Birdcage, Bermudian moongates and a few of Bermuda's largest exempt companies; you will learn about how they interact with the local economy. You will pass by the Fairmount Hamilton Princess and learn the history of this wonderful hotel. You will also make your way to the elite residential area of Pembroke where there are beautiful multi-million dollar homes with their white roofs and gorgeous local flora & fauna. Continuing along, you will then make your way past two vital churches, namely St. Johns Church and St. Theresa's Church and then onto Victoria Park. You will go down Par-la-Ville Road as you make your way back to Front Street and your ship.
Scenic South Shore Highlights by Taxi
- Before arriving in the Royal Dockyard area, your tour will include a picture stop at Gibb's Hill Lighthouse, which is believed to be one of the oldest cast iron lighthouses in the world. The lighthouse was built in 1846; stands 117 feet from base to lantern and the beam can be seen 40 miles out to sea. Your drive continues along the South Shore where you can make a brief stop at one of the magnificent beaches for picture taking. You will drive over the smallest drawbridge in the world, first built in 1620 and then drive through the quaint Somerset Village to the Royal Naval Dockyard where your driver/guide will point out the attractions such as Island Pottery, the Art Center, the Maritime Museum and the Crafts Market. While in the Dockyard area, 30 minutes will be allocated for you to wander around and explore on your own for shopping or sightseeing before returning to the ship.
Restless Native Catamaran Cruise
- The fun begins the moment you step aboard this spacious and comfortable 50-foot pink sailing catamaran. Voted one of Bermuda's top tours, this is an adventure you won't want to miss. Famous for its hot home-baked cookies (prepared fresh on board daily!), you�ll feel like you're out with family and friends. You'll receive complimentary iced tea & lemonade all day as well as complimentary snacks and tasty rum swizzles after your swim. You can snorkel in shallow water in a secluded and picturesque cove, sunbathe on the roomy hammocks or relax in the comfort of the interior cabin with its full amenities. You'll be entertained with stories about Bermuda's history, culture and geology and you'll learn more about the underwater world than you can imagine. You'll receive clean, quality snorkel gear and best of all, a snorkel tour with an expert guide. It's a great day out and fun for the whole family. There's an interesting gift shop on board with lots of one of a kind items.
Premier Glass Bottom Boat Cruise
- Coral reefs, a shipwreck and fish feeding are all part of this fascinating tour. Come and discover the magic with your friendly Bermudian crew aboard the �Destiny�, Bermuda's newest air-conditioned luxury cruiser. During your tour, your crew will share with you their knowledge of Bermuda's past as well as current events, and welcome any questions you might have as you journey to the beautiful Sea Gardens. Once there, you'll float over shallow coral reefs and learn about Bermuda's unique underwater eco-system. Your captain will then carefully maneuver over the �Vixen�, a 19th century sunken ship. While at this location you'll watch in wonder as hundreds of endemic fish swirl to the surface for you to feed. Prior to returning to the ship, you will have an opportunity to drift silently in search of turtles, still too shy for human contact. This is a great tour for the whole family. Simply the best two hours ever spent on the water!

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