Bermuda’s tourism product is cruising towards better times thanks to a major project underway in Dockyard.
Upgrades to the King’s Wharf pier will mean it matches “the size and stature” of Heritage Wharf, so that larger ships are able to berth there, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Piling drilling and the laying of prefabricated concrete is due to start on October 2, creating 100 feet extensions on each side of the Kings Wharf terminal building, between the pier and the dolphins.
It will also create more gangways, so passengers can more easily embark and disembark the ships.
Ability to host larger cruise ships
If all goes according to plan, it will open in April 2026.
A transport spokeswoman said: “Should time and weather cooperate, the tour dock on the north side of the terminal will be extended by 100 feet to accommodate the Norwegian Cruise Line tender Spirit of St George so it may berth across from the NCL ships while they are in port.
“The vision is to upgrade Kings Wharf to size and stature of Heritage Wharf.”
The work is being done through a partnership between the ministry, Norwegian Cruise Line and the Bermuda Land Corporation.
Transport minister Wayne Furbert has said it improves Bermuda’s ability to host the kind of large vessels that currently berth at Heritage Wharf.
The spokeswoman said: “By extending the pier, it will provide more options for various ships, enhance ship operations and the guest experience, allowing for faster disembarkation and embarkation passenger flows.
“The extended pier will also attract certain ships back to Bermuda.”
Deal to bolster tourism
King’s Wharf and the Royal Naval Dockyard were built by convicts shipped over from Britain in the early 1800s and at one stage was the UK’s largest overseas naval base.
It operated as a naval base for more than 100 years, when Dockyard was regarded as a key part in the strategic defence of the Western Atlantic.
In recent decades, Dockyard has evolved into a tourist destination, and King’s Wharf has undergone a series of construction projects so that it can host increasingly large cruise ships.
The latest work comes after Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings extended an operating agreement with the Ministry of Transport to 2037.
While construction work takes place, Bermuda will receive fewer cruise ship visits, but the ministry says the move will sow the seeds for a busier 2026.
NCLH executive vice-president Dan Farkas has said the expansion will mean the King’s Wharf pier can “comfortably accommodate our larger vessels” and “enhance the overall visitor experience”.
The agreement, he said, “underscores our commitment to the island”.
