I’m leaving Bermuda on a …….cruise?

 

Queen Victoria

You could! How cool would that be? Don’t worry about a plane….don’t worry about liquids in your carry-on…don’t worry about how heavy your bags are!

All those worries can disappear as you step onto the Cunard’s Queen Victoria Ports of Call cruise line leaving from Bermuda on April 30.

Where are you going to go? Start by sailing to Ponta Delgada in the Azores before heading to Lisbon, Portugal and the Cork, Ireland, Le Havre, France and finally Southampton, England.

The entire voyage is 12 days and you’ll be left in England to decide what you want to do! Head home? Sure you could. Or you could continue exploring the continent!

You’re choice and since the cruise only cost you $2,990 per person (the starting rate) you may have some pennies to play with!

Though I remember one of the best ways I have ever returned to Bermuda. It was by boat.

Not any old boat, either. It was on the Italian naval vessel, The Amerigo Vespucci. This stunning vessel was sailing around the Atlantic Ocean and I was lucky enough to join them on the portion that took us from Cadiz, Spain to….home, Bermuda!

Reefs crept around us, the blue water welcomed us and the island snuck over the horizon….it was so good to be home.

And now you could have a similar chance on the Celebrity Summit cruise. Ok, so it’s not a tall ship, but it’s still a beautiful boat that will pick you up in San Juan, Puerto Rico take you to St. Maarten before St. Thomas and then Tortola before finally arriving in….BERMUDA!

Even better? the rates start at $830 per person for this seven day cruise. Of course you’d have to get to San Juan which is why if you book this through CTravel you can get a great deal on your cruise and the flight!

Board a plane!

Of course flights are all the rage if you need a weekend away and there are plenty of flight deals going on now. So maybe you don’t want to go to NYC with the snow they’ve got, but what about visiting Orlando, Florida for just $278?!

Or go to Canada? Well, ok, so it might not be particularly warm there, but at least there’s skiing, right?

Of course CTravel has the agent to help you with that…..Brenda Warwick!

Fly to Toronto for $296 or to Montreal for just $304! An hour from Montreal and you’re into the mountains and on the slopes.

Just remember to either visit CTravel’s website quickertix.com or their main website CTravel!

Escape Bermuda in June…where? here:

Fly away...where?

June is the halfway point in the year (yeah ok anyone with a calendar can get that). It has the longest day: 21st of the summer, which, for some, is a chance to visit Wiltshire. Yep this town about two hours from London has a bunch of big rocks….ok sorry Stonehenge, where visitors come to watch the sunrise on the longest day of the year. For me that would mean actually sleeping in because I would have more day to play with, but to each their own.

Need some other ideas to get on a plane next month? Need to plan ahead? Here’s some ideas.

1. Montreal’s Jazz Festival: From June 25 until July 6 this European-feel city will be hosting the likes of Lionel Richie, Bobby McFerrin (you know…the one-man band?), Cyndi Lauper and Manhattan Transfer to name a few.

The best part? For Bermuda-bound, Westjet has just launched its service from our 21 square mile island to Canada. A cursory search on their website uncovered a flight leaving on June 25 and returning July 5th for $407! Added bonus? The flight leaves at 3 p.m. from Bermuda and gets you into Montreal by 8 p.m. Not bad I would say.

Mind The Gap

2. London: Well seeing as it is a direct flight from Bermuda even with British Airways far-from-discount-fares, it is a convenient destination time-wise. So to start you could catch the sunrise on June 21 in Stonehenge (only two hours from Heathrow so Bermudians get on your bus from Gatwick to Heathrow…no problem) and then head to Wimbledon for the first day of the tennis match.

Of course if you are here at the end of May… May 25 to the 29th to be exact, there is the annual Chelsea Flower Show held on the Royal Hospital Grounds.

3. Boston: or Baaaston. Whatever your pronunciation tendencies this will be the town to be in for June 4th for any Conan O’Brian fans. Yes the man might be off the Tonight Show but he’s not letting that stop him. Catch him at the Wang Theatre on June 4th and 5th.

If you’re heading to Bean Town at the end of the month all the better. This town knows how to throw a party and will be celebrating July 4th (yes one day) with 6!! Days of partying. From June 30th to July 5th.

4. New York, NY: Calling all those with fish tails! The annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade will be…swimming? through this town on June 19 at 2 p.m. I can’t think of anything more appropriate for Coney Island – hosting the largest and most random art show parade! Even better? Flights on Jet Blue from June 18th to June 20th (Fri to Mon) are only $240!

And for those bored by running, sick of training for Iron Mans, drunk enough saltwater for the triathalon no fear – New York is here. September 25 it is hosting the NYC Urban Race. What is it? Check it out...able to scale tall buildings? Training needs to start now..hence my inclusion.

5. Bozo Beach, Dominican Republic: For all the bad rap Bermuda’s immigration Minister has given the women of this country it’s also one of the kitesurfing capitals and a destination for many Bermudians seeking the heights of good wind. Here from June 16 to June 20 are the World Cup Kitesurfing Championships. Yeah! I didn’t know this sport had them either.

For more info about the Dominican Republic…stay tuned for the latest addition to my Bermuda Abroad page. And remember to send me photos, a story, a annecdote about your travels and Bermuda spottings abroad.