1. The destination isn’t the point of cruises. The vast majority of the cruise is spent on the ship – basically a huge floating resort. In most cases, the destination visit is less than 8 hrs and most people take all their meals and entertainment on the ship. On NCL the Bermuda stays are longer, (up to 2.5 days), which allows far more time to explore, but most cruises pull in and out on the same day, or afternoon-overnight-morning. The short visit means most people stay within easy walking or taxi/ferry/minibus distance of the ship.

2. The ships don’t even start talking about the port until the day before docking. Until then, it is all about what is happening on the ship (which is the main reason people cruise anyway). Even then, the port and shopping presentations are not very popular, other than for people looking for discounts (which is the whole point of the marketing linkages with local businesses). Most people know where they want to go to make the most of their brief stay (see #1).

3. I’ve always thought that Bermuda’s reliance on the public bus system for tourist transport was nuts. I totally understand Bermudians’ frustrations with tourists locking up all the bus seats. The addition of the minibuses has helped. Scooters were fun back in the 90s, but the traffic situation is far more dangerous now than it was then.

4. With all the development in Dockyard, and the restrictions of big ships to that area, few people will get to see Hamilton or St. G. unless there are easy ways to get there. The best thing Bermuda could do would be to add more ferry service (NCLs addition of their own ferry has helped) to move people from Dockyard to the other port attractions on the island. If people can’t get there and back quickly and without spending a fortune, they won’t leave Dockyard much further than Horseshoe Bay. Particularly if the purpose is shopping and sightseeing (instead of a beach day). There just isn’t time during the port call.

5. When we came in the 90′s we stopped in Hamilton for a full day, then moved to St. G for another. We spent most of our time there and it was great. Dockyard was just a sleepy attraction at the end of a long scooter ride. Now Dockyard and a beach or two is all people have time to see.

Just wanted to throw that perspective out there.

no, only the ‘real, true, born lacals’

The taxi industry has been a mess since well back in the 1980s. No Minister has come along with the backbone to deal with them. DrEB looked like he might but he caved to them just like so many UBP Ministers before him. The Minister of Hanky Panky talks the talk but so far no walking. None expected of him.

At one point Bermuda had a bus system with a good reputation. No longer. Again, no improvements in the foreseeable future. When a worthwhile management team runs the bus service again maybe there will be a service that operates for the people not the bus drivers. Bring on the mini buses.

The ships. Don’t expect any lasting or meaningful changes from the ships. Commissions from preferred shore retailers & shore excursions are what puffs up their bottom line. It is the way they operate worldwide. Don’t expect tiny Bermuda to be able to break their MO. We tried. Specifically the tour boat operators of Bermuda tried as far back as the late 1980s working through the Chamber of Commerce. Like slamming your head against a wall. All you get is a headache.

It makes no sense sending a well known public figure out on a clandestine mission. Once word is out the cover is blown. Most likely in the first hour in Bermuda. Send a relative nobody who has had experience in the hospitality field.

He seems to be a sociable person. I suspect that he had the opportunity to have conversations with other passengers and probably received direct and unbiased feedback. I would certainly support this type of research over yet another lengthy and costly third-party study.

The kicker to me will be what comes of it. Revitalizing a national “pride in product” I think is important. Regrettably it often only takes one bad experience (transport, personal interaction, etc.) to undermine the hard work of many.

And, of course, he blames it on a mythical ‘downturn in the world’s economy’.

I do hope that he will be able to change what seems to be a poor product on the Bermuda side.

Have you (Minster Zane and Bermuda ever given thought that all bus service (mini bus as well) could be made free by raising a tad more on our cruise tax and also a tad more on the car/bike tax so that everyone can ride public transport. It would cut back on waiting for tokens, not getting change, maybe cutting back on overall car traffic. With the extra $ raised could possibly get more busses. Give it some thought, this might work or not.

The fault i find here, is that it doesn’t go far enough and should have been anonymous. I cannot believe he wasn’t recognised on buses, in taxis…secondly, did he look at how boat tours and excursions are priced and sold on board, and then compare to what trickles out to the actual tour operators?

And we all know our buses, taxis and mini-bus services suck. He needs to talk to Minister “who rarely gets things done” Burch.

This:
“I felt embarrassed for our visitors riding the bus, but at the same time I saw an urgent need to increase the bus service capacity to provide a more comfortable experience for our residents who rely on public transportation.
Ok … so when will the cancellations stop and a new schedule begin?

And this:
“We understand from the Chair of the Retail Division of the Chamber of Commerce, here today, Mr. Somers Cooper, that over 200 Bermudian jobs have been lost in the retail business sector in the last two-years as a result of enforced redundancies or early retirements.

This is not all due to the cruise ships – what are government’s plans to revice the economy?

I would suggest Bernews viewers Google State of Alaska vs Panoff Publishing, consent judgement to understand what is really going on. The good Minister was very understated in this regard but at least he understands, is listening, and is watching out for Bermudians.

I suspect where people become suspicious, relates to whether any rubber will actually end-up hitting the road and any issues, now witnessed firsthand, will ultimately be addressed and resolved. Transport concerns are nothing new. It does appear however that a number of other issues were identified.