Bermuda Back on Cruise Lines' Radars

Bermuda, that British overseas territory in the North Atlantic, took a big hit in 2012 and 2013 when Carnival and Holland America elected to stop cruising there.

Bermuda wants them back.

The government passed a bill this month that may do the job. While in port, ships will be allowed to open casinos from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. instead of only when ships are in international waters. Cruise lines will pay licensing fees.

Legislators believe the impact on the local economy will be minimal as most passengers return to ships by nine and aren't spending locally.

This follows another big break for Bermuda.

Norwegian chose to send its new mega ship Breakaway to the idyllic island in its inaugural season, and its Dawn ship also sails there from Boston.

Bermuda's also on the itinerary for two other lines. Celebrity's Summit will continue seven-day sailings from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, from where Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas will also cruise to Bermuda. Fleet mate Grandeur of the Seas will be back, too, sailing from Baltimore.

Quantum of the Seas, Royal's feature-laden, new generation ship will replace Explorer on the Bermuda run in 2015. Having another mega ship visit will help the island rebound from the big hit.

And I have a suggestion for Holland America: Create a modest Canadian connection to Bermuda.

This line's summer seven-day cruises between Boston and Montreal will continue in 2014.

How about taking a few cruises from the 2015 schedule and turning them into a "Bermuda triangle" - Montreal to Bermuda to Boston, with a few Canadian ports along the way?

Source: The Star Phoenix