SHORE EXCURSIONS

Join Rising Son Cruises for Bermuda’s ultimate sailing experience. Lounge in the roomy shaded cockpit, or lie out on one of the huge trampolines. Chat with the crew about Bermuda's past and present as you cruise toward beautiful and secluded swim sites.

The catamaran will anchor in six feet of water, where you may choose to swim up to the nearby beach, kayak or kick around with the crew's snorkel gear.

After 1.5 hours of playtime, you’ll be welcomed back aboard for unlimited complimentary Rum Swizzles. Let the island music get you into the vacation spirit as you head out for another hour of true catamaran sailing.

This well-designed ‘off the beaten track’ excursion will have you navigating the island’s Eastern End rail trail, truly a perfect fit for those adventure lovers looking for their next most memorable experience. The joys of cycle touring is now within easier reach for people of varying fitness levels thanks to the Electric Bicycle. E-bikes give cyclists a helping hand - or push over the hills making cycle tours more leisurely and difficult terrain more manageable. Our tour bus will pick-up ship-side and provide a scenic drive to the cycle depot.

. After an orientation and observed test ride by your guide, you will be ready for your electric-enhanced bicycle riding experience that will boost your pedal power, getting you up and over hilly terrain with ease. Your guided coastal cycle expedition will cross the island combining off-road Rail-Trails, trestle bridges and some shared main road-side routes that explores and uncovers shoreline beaches and gorgeous landscapes. Participants must have intermediate to advance riding skill with the desire for fun and adventure! Arrive in the Old Towne of St. George's and finish tour with return high speed Tender ride to your ship pier at the Royal Naval Dockyard.

Cruise to Hamilton and explore the capital however you please by shopping on your own, enjoying a walking tour. After departing from the pier, you will soon settle in for a delightful cruise across the Great Sound, a body of impossibly turquoise water that fills the bend in the is lFgland’s distinctive fishhook shape. A coral reef at the mouth of the sound shelters the inner waters, making for a typically calm cruise to the pastel-colored capital of Hamilton. Upon disembarking, you will have several options. If you choose to shop on your own, you can expect to find one-of-a-kind jewelry, vivid artwork celebrating the island life, and classic Bermuda shorts in every color of the rainbow. You might also pick up a tasty treat like rum cake or a jar of jam flavored with Scotch bonnet peppers. Another option is to split your time between exploring on your own and an enlightening walking tour of Hamilton. Either way, you may see the glorious Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, leafy Victoria Park and the Bermuda National Gallery, a showcase for centuries of outstanding island artwork.

We’re bringing NCL’s “White Hot” Party to Bermuda on the beautiful 60 ft. award-winning Rising Son II Catamaran. Wear your white, silver or gold attire and dance the night away as you sail into the sunset.

After departing from the pier on the Rising Son II, you will sail into the Great Sound, a body of impossibly turquoise water that fills the bend in the distinctive fishhook shape of Bermuda. A coral reef at the mouth of the sound shelters the inner waters, making for a typically calm cruise on the open-concept catamaran.

Get comfortable by lounging on the trampoline bow nets, ascend to the sun deck and relax under the covered stern cockpit. Your experienced tour guide will regale you with fascinating island legends, then as the sun descends into the sparkling bay, you'll enjoy spectacular twilight views, music and unlimited Rum Swizzle and champagne.

The “White-Hot” Catamaran Sail is the perfect way to end your day in paradise, or warm up for an exciting night on the town.

Enjoy a carefree and immensely scenic ride on an electric bike from St. George’s to Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve, where you will be free to enjoy the beach as you please.

Departing from the ship pier, enjoy the high-speed tender service across the mouth of the Great Sound before arriving thought the narrow ‘Town Cut’ into St. George’s, settled in 1612. UNESCO has designated St. George’s a World Heritage site as it is an authentic example of an English colonial town in the New World.

After an orientation, instructions and observed test ride by your guide, you will be ready for your electric-enhanced bicycle riding experience. You’ll find the extra boost in your pedal power offered from the bikes allows for an effortless ride over hilly terrain and across bridges to pristine Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve. Once occupied by the U.S. military and later used as a NASA space tracking station, this serene 12-acre reserve is now protected public land that is extraordinarily beautiful.

Before long, you will reach Clearwater Beach, where you will have time to enjoy the lovely coastal setting however you please. You might take a refreshing swim in the shallow waters, stretch out on the sand and enjoy the serenity, and walk to the nearby salt marsh to observe the wildlife. Herons, egrets and kingfishers are abundant, before the return ride back to the St. George’s to meet your return tender back to the ship. Participants must have intermediate to advance riding skill level with the desire for fun and adventure!

Take in the sites of the Big Apple's most fascinating areas in midtown as well as lower Manhattan. Pass by lively Chinatown, the tree lined streets of Greenwich Village and the oh-so-fashionable SoHo district. Drive by The World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial then Battery Park to catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty in the distance. Heading back uptown, view the austere United Nations Plaza (time permitting), Rockefeller Center with its famous flags and statue, the instantly recognizable Empire State Building, and Times Square, where the ball drops every New Year’s Eve. A drive by beautiful Central Park, completes your tour before heading to the airport.

Drive the serpentine road that leads to the top of Cadillac Mountain and enjoy free time at the summit to take in the panoramic views. The mountain is the highest peak along the North Atlantic seaboard and the first place in the United States to see the sunrise from early October through early March. Its indigenous name – Wapuwoc – translates to “white mountain of the first light,” a reference to that distinction. As you ascend the mountain, the natural beauty of Acadia National Park will unfold. You will gaze out over pink granite cliffs and spruce woodlands. The higher you go the more spectacular the views, especially on a clear day. While walking about the summit, you will look out over Bar Harbour, the Porcupine Islands and Schoodic Peninsula. There is no better vantage point on Mount Desert Island. Later, you will enjoy magnificent views of the Victorian cottages and the Village Green in downtown Bar Harbor.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a scenic road up Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on North America’s east coast.
• Spend time exploring the summit and enjoying panoramic views of Bar Harbour and the islands.
• See some of Bar Harbour’s most historical landmarks while driving through town.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Behold the natural beauty of Acadia National Park from atop Cadillac Mountain and the elegance of northern New England’s grandest Gilded Age mansion. Being the highest peak on the eastern shore of North America, Cadillac Mountain offers spectacular views of Bar Harbour and the islands just offshore. Tectonic and volcanic activity formed the mountain eons ago and until receding glaciers sheared off its top it was much higher. While taking in the panoramic views, you will learn about the area’s history and some of the most influential people that lived in Bar Harbour. Financier George Sullivan Bowdoin was among them and his 1903 La Rochelle is an extraordinary example of the opulence of the time. The 35-room residence sprawls over 13,000 square feet and features a grand wishbone staircase, intricate crown moldings and period furnishings. Your guided tour includes the rare privilege of viewing the third-floor servant quarters, followed by free time to explore further.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a scenic road up Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on North America’s east coast.
• Spend time exploring the summit and enjoying panoramic views of Bar Harbour and the islands.
• Tour the finest Gilded Age mansion in northern New England and explore it further on your own.
• Get a glimpse into the lifestyle of Bar Harbour’s ultra-wealthy, early 20th-century residents.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a panoramic drive along Bermuda’s picturesque southern shore with stops along the way at the most alluring attractions. After crossing the world’s smallest drawbridge, you will travel past a lengthy nature reserve in surprisingly bucolic Somerset Village, around the Great Sound and on to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. Climb the spiral staircase of this whitewashed beacon – the world’s oldest cast-iron lighthouse – and you will be treated to 360° views of southern Bermuda. As you will notice while pausing at some of the loveliest beaches that rim the southern shores, they feature pink sand. The magnificent pastel hue comes from a combination of white limestone sediment and red single-cell organisms called foraminifera. Pastels also dominate Hamilton, Bermuda’s winsome capital, especially along Front Street. The colors beautifully complement the harbor’s turquoise water. During free time in Hamilton, you might shop in the one-of-a-kind stores or simply meander about enjoying the stylish ambiance.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the considerable highlights in southern Bermuda, both natural and manmade.
• Cross the world’s smallest drawbridge and stop at the world’s oldest cast-iron lighthouse.
• Pause on occasion to admire the naturally beautiful pink-sand beaches along the southern shores.
• Enjoy free time in Hamilton, Bermuda’s wonderfully traditional capital.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Admire the glorious sights of Frenchman Bay while paddling a kayak among the forested Porcupine Islands that lie just offshore. Your tandem kayak will be a breeze to maneuver, especially after a few helpful hints from the guide. Be sure to ask about the amusing mnemonic that makes it easy to remember the names of the five islands within the Porcupine archipelago, each of which has its own distinct features. The coast of Burnt Island looks like charcoal ashes, Long Island is the lengthiest and Bald Island was once deforested for grazing livestock. The guide will also provide enlightening commentary about the local geology, history and wildlife, which is considerable. You can expect to see harbor seals, porpoises, cormorants and bald eagles, whose giant stick nests can be seen high in the trees. Another highlight is viewing the opulent summer “cottages” on Frenchman Bay built by the likes of the Rockefellers, Carnegies and Vanderbilts.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Paddle a tandem kayak among the naturally beautiful Porcupine Islands in Frenchman Bay.
• Look for seals, porpoises and birds such as majestic bald eagles.
• Pass lavish “cottages” that wealthy industrialists built during the Gilded Age.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Explore the geological wonders and eerie formations in Crystal Caves and then spend hours relaxing at a series of beaches linked by footpaths and surrounded by a nature reserve.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a leisurely tender ride to St. George’s Island, the northernmost point of hook-shaped Bermuda. A short scenic drive will bring you to Crystal Caves, which were discovered in 1907 when a teenager tried to retrieve his cricket ball from a hole and found it led to a huge series of caverns.

You will have the opportunity to explore the wonders underground, which include a crystal-clear lake and a profusion of white stalactites eerily illuminated for added drama. Parts of the caves are accessed along a pontoon boardwalk that floats atop the lake, allowing a closer look at the geological formations underwater. As an alternative, you may remain above ground and meander the gardens and browse the gift shop.

. Continuing, you will soon arrive at the Clearwater Beach & Cooper’s Island Reserve, a secluded wedge of undeveloped land on Bermuda’s eastern end. The area contains six interconnected beaches, an idyllic setting to enjoy hours relaxing in the sun, doing whatever you please.

You may take a refreshing swim in the shallow waters, observe the marine life while snorkeling or simply lie back in a lounge chair and enjoy the serenity.

OVERVIEW

Hear enlightening commentary about the British overseas territory of Bermuda on a scenic drive to a resort in Somerset Village, where you will indulge in a traditional English tea. The British influence will be apparent most everywhere you go, beginning with the Royal Naval Dockyard. It was established as a British base of operations between Nova Scotia and the West Indies after the English were defeated in the American Revolution, and it was used militarily until abandoned in the 1980s. Bermuda’s first settlers were British – although they arrived inadvertently after being shipwrecked in 1609 – and the self-governing archipelago still follows a parliamentary system based on the United Kingdom’s. Heydon Chapel is perhaps the earliest reminder of England’s presence as it was built in 1620. You might contemplate all that you have seen and heard about Britain over a spot of tea, scones and cakes at the waterfront Willowbank resort.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for a wonderfully scenic drive and hear commentary that highlights the attractions.
• Recognize Britain’s deep influence in Bermuda, which is still a British overseas territory.
• Enjoy the quintessential English experience – a traditional tea with cakes and scones.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.