St. George's Harbour, Bermuda: History, Geography, and More

St. George's Harbour, Bermuda, has a rich history dating back to the 17th century. The harbour was a strategic location for the British Navy, providing a safe haven for ships and a base for military operations.

The harbour's unique geography is characterized by a narrow entrance and a series of islands, making it a challenging but picturesque spot. Its crystal-clear waters are home to a diverse array of marine life, including colourful fish and coral reefs.

Located on the eastern end of St. George's Island, the harbour offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront, exploring the historic buildings and quaint shops that line the harbour.

St George's Harbour has a rich history dating back to 1609 when the Sea Venture was driven onto the reefs off St Catherine's Point. The crew and passengers stayed on St George's Island for nearly a year before the first intentional settlers arrived from Britain.

The harbour was well fortified during this time, as can still be seen in the several period forts located nearby. In the 19th Century, a Royal Naval base was established in Bermuda, initially in St George's Harbour.

The harbour's cruising season runs from April through November, with Port St George welcoming a variety of cruise ships. Here's a sneak peek at some of the ships scheduled to visit in 2025:

St. George's Harbour is a beautiful and historic waterway that separates St. George's Island from St. David's Island.

The harbour is surrounded by numerous islands, including Smith's and Paget Islands, which guard the entrance to the Atlantic Ocean at Gunner Bay in the northeast.

Several other islands lie within the harbour, such as the historically important Ordnance Island.

Ferry Reach, a long channel, links the harbour with another opening to the Atlantic Ocean and the picturesque Castle Harbour in the south.

To navigate the harbour, sailors must fly a yellow quarantine flag and navigate their ship towards the Customs dock.

Visitors who don't bring their vessel through customs will be fined, so make sure to follow the rules.

The waters of Bermuda are protected by coral reef, which can be perilous to sailors, so be sure to exercise caution when sailing.

Bermuda's geography is characterized by its numerous islands and narrow channels. The harbour is a beautiful and historic part of the island.

The harbour separates St George's Island in the north and west from St David's Island in the south and east. Several other islands lie to the south and east, closing the harbour from the open sea to the east, and separating it from Smith's Sound, to the south.

The water is open to the Atlantic Ocean at Gunner Bay in the north-east, where its mouth is guarded by numerous islands, notably Smith's and Paget Islands. The waters of Bermuda are also protected by coral reef, which can be perilous to sailors.

Ferry Reach is a long channel that links the harbour with another opening to the Atlantic Ocean and the picturesque Castle Harbour. This channel is a vital part of Bermuda's geography, connecting the harbour to the open ocean.

St George's Harbour has a rich history dating back to 1609, when the Sea Venture was driven onto the reefs off St Catherine's Point, leading to the first settlements in Bermuda.

The harbour was well fortified during this time, with several period forts still visible nearby. I've always been fascinated by the history behind these structures, and I'm sure you will be too.

The first intentional settlers arrived from Britain in 1609 and settled briefly on St David's Island before moving to St George's Island to create the Town of St George, the oldest continuously-inhabited English-speaking settlement in the New World.

A Royal Naval base was established in Bermuda in the 19th Century, initially in St George's Harbour, but later moved to Ireland Island in the west.

The build-up of the dockyard at the west end of Bermuda resulted in considerable defence infrastructure around St George's, including many 19th and 20th Century forts and batteries built by the regular British Army on the islands surrounding the harbour.

The original channel used by shipping to access the harbour lies to the south of Paget Island, but was replaced a century ago by dredging out the passage to the north of Paget Island.

Here's a list of some of the key historical events and locations in St George's Harbour:

Port St George is a popular cruise destination in Bermuda, with a cruise ship schedule that lists all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule is available online and includes links to full itineraries and lowest rates.

St George's Island is one of Bermuda's main islands, located in the country's northeastern part, and covers a total area of around 3 km 2 / 1 mi. The island has a rich history, with the first settlement dating back to 1612.

The port's cruising season runs from April through November, with a total of 19 ship calls scheduled for season 2020. This is up from 16 ship calls in 2019.

The USD 2 million project to upgrade St George Harbour's shoreline was completed in March 2017 and included a major facelift of the Hunter's Wharf. The project also included improvements to the Penno's Wharf and the addition of two catamaran ferries.

Here's a breakdown of the cruise ship schedule for Port St George:

Larger cruise ships don't enter the harbour, but anchor at Murray's Anchorage and transport passengers to the Penno's Wharf via tender boats. The travel time between the ship anchorage and the tendering wharf is approximately 1 hour.