King's Wharf, Bermuda
By Alara Shannon, Marketing | April 01, 2013 ( Comments)
King's Wharf Overview
King’s Wharf is the largest cruise port in Bermuda, located on the western tip of the island and often referred to as the West End or the Royal Naval Dockyard. A strategic British naval base, the Royal Naval Dockyard, along with its King’s Wharf pier, was built by convicts shipped over from England in the early 1800s. King’s Wharf and the dockyard operated for over 100 years, and was once Britain’s largest naval base outside the United Kingdom. From the War of 1812 until just after the Second World War, it played a vital part in the strategic defense of the Western Atlantic.
Today, however, King’s Wharf has a completely different purpose. The beautifully restored historical buildings, surrounded by sparkling crystal clear waters, offer something for everyone. A pleasant climate combined with a rich colonial history has developed King’s Wharf into something unlike anywhere else in the world. The area is teeming with opportunities to explore including The National Museum of Bermuda, local art at the Bermuda Craft Market or Bermuda Clayworks, a host of delicious restaurants, close encounters with dolphins at Dolphin Quest and so much more.
An overseas British territory, Bermuda lays just 600 nautical miles off the east coast of the United States. ‘The Bermudas’ are actually made up of a group of approximately 180 islands. All of Bermuda is just 21 square miles, but boasts 75 miles of dramatic coastlines.
Its culture is a fusion of British colonial history and African heritage, although as Britain’s oldest colony, its influence continues to dominate Bermuda’s government, educational and legal institutions. Bermuda’s architecture features whitewashed stepped roofs designed to channel rainwater into underground tanks. This is the main supply of fresh water as there are no rivers or lakes here.
Bermuda has a mild, humid subtropical maritime climate though gales and strong winds are common in winter. The island is warmed by the Gulf Stream, rarely seeing extremes of either hot or cold. The hottest part of the year: May through mid-October, when temperatures hover between 75°F and 85°F (23°C and 29°C). During the winter months, temperatures average a balmy 70°F (21°C). Hurricanes are not as prevalent here as in the Caribbean, but they do occasionally visit Bermuda. They usually begin to weaken as they approach and the island’s small size means that direct landfalls of hurricanes are rare.
Standard Time in Bermuda is Greenwich Mean Time minus four hours, meaning one hour ahead of New York. Legal tender is the Bermuda dollar, which trades at the same rate as the US dollar. BD$1=US$1. Both currencies are accepted, but change will be given in Bermudian currency. However, Canadian dollars, currency from Britain and other foreign countries are not accepted and will need to be exchanged at a local bank or ATM. On-island ATMs dispense only Bermuda dollars.
Where You'll Dock in Bermuda
Two cruise berths, King’s Wharf and Heritage Wharf (added 2009), are both located in the Royal Naval Dockyard on Ireland Island North at the western tip of the island. Get directions, brochures or tour information at one of Bermuda’s three Visitor Information Centers located at the Royal Naval Dockyard: Gazebo #2 on Dockyard Terrace, Royal Naval Dockyard Sandy’s Parish, Tel: 441 238 4842.
You can explore the port by foot; restaurants, museums and shopping are nearby. It is not possible to rent a car on the island; however, Bermuda has an excellent public transportation system. Taxis are plentiful or visitors can hire scooters for use as private transport. Ferries, buses and the Bermuda Train are easily accessible. Just remember, Bermudians drive on the left!
What to Do in Bermuda
The National Museum of Bermuda is set within the Keep, a six-acre fortress at the edge of the Royal Naval Dockyard. Eight historic buildings, including old munitions warehouses and the newly restored Commissioner’s House, contain a great variety of exhibitions on Bermuda’s rich history like shipwreck artifacts, local watercrafts and maritime art combined with spectacular sea views. The museum is free for children under 13. Admission fee for all above 13 are $10 per person. Open daily from 9:30am-5pm.
Dolphin Quest Bermuda is located at The Royal Naval Dockyard, within the old stone fortress now home to the National Museum of Bermuda. Dolphin Quest presents guests with the unique opportunity to personally interact with dolphins in or out of the water. Programs may be booked online or by phone.
Shops and boutiques are located at the Clocktower Shopping Mall in the Royal Naval Dockyard. Open seven days a week find island crafts and art, fine jewelry, upscale clothing, housewares, fragrances and more.
For items crafted by local artisans, head the Bermuda Craft Market located within the old Cooperage Building. Choose from handcrafted candles, cedar, ceramics, Christmas ornaments, decorative painting, decoupage, dolls, gems, glass jewelry and more. Open 9:30am-6pm daily from May to October; 10:30am-5pm daily from November to March. Continue your shopping tour to Bermuda Clayworks, local artisans and potters showcase their vases and dishes featuring a variety of designs. Open daily 9am-6pm daily from April to October; 9am-5pm daily from November to March.
If hoping for more of a beach day, Bermuda will not disappoint! Snorkel Park is located right at the Royal Naval Dockyard and offers full facilities, white sand beaches, watersports, a bar and restaurant. Other great beaches are a short drive away along Bermuda’s southern shores including Elbow Beach, Tobacco Bay and the very popular pink sand beaches of Horseshoe Bay.
Bermuda is a major destination for golf enthusiasts, boasting the most golf courses per square mile of any other place on earth. Conceived by some of the game’s most renowned course designers, each of the seven championship golf courses offer a stunning array of challenges and spectacular ocean vistas. Bring your own golf balls; they are very expensive on the island.
Other activities in or around King’s Wharf Bermuda include Dockyard Glassworks & Bermuda Rum Cake Company, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse or a trip to St. George which was the first settlement and original capital of Bermuda. Today the town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
King’s Wharf, Bermuda is featured on most Bermuda Cruise itineraries.
For more information on Bermuda or cruise lines that visit King’s Wharf, please call an iCruise.com cruise specialist today at 800-i-CRUISE [800-427-8473]. Or you may view Bermuda cruises here.
Bermuda Fun & Fast Facts:
- Bermuda’s famous pink-sand beaches are a result of millions of tiny red sea creatures, such as clams & mollusks! When they wash up on the beach they blend with the sand, turning it an amazing pink color.
- There are over 400 shipwrecks dating back to the 1500’s to explore.
- The warm waters of the Gulf Stream and safety of the reefs makes the waters off Bermuda home to more than 650 species of fish.
- Bermuda is the oldest British Colony.
- The unofficial name for Bermudians is Onion.
- Bermuda shorts are the most famous attire for men in Bermuda. They are worn with jacket, tie and knee sox. They are quite proper in all business and social settings. They are typically worn from the first of May through the first week of November.
- The famous tree frog, also called the whistling frog, is difficult to find. You can hear them at night and chance seeing them when it rains.
- The typical breakfast in Bermuda is codfish and potatoes.
- Bermuda’s Gombey Dancers are traditional dancers originating back to the 17th century. They perform with drums and bottle whistles in a magnificent whirl of color and rhythm.
