Cruising Through The Bermuda Triangle – What to Expect, and should you avoid it?
If you are considering a cruise you may be wondering if cruises go through the Bermuda Triangle and whether it is an area to be avoided. The Bermuda Triangle has a notorious reputation!
In this article, we find out all about the Bermuda Triangle, whether its reputation is deserved, and whether it is safe to cruise there.
Do Cruises Travel Through The Bermuda Triangle?
Many cruises to Bermuda pass through the Bermuda Triangle – as do cruises to the Bahamas.
Much of the Bahamas is actually in the Bermuda Triangle itself.
Almost all cruises from the east coast of the USA to the Caribbean pass through the Bermuda Triangle.
There are still a number of people that think that cruising through the Bermuda Triangle is particularly dangerous.
My first trip to Bermuda was on Norwegian Breakaway in August 2014
Which Cruises Go Through The Bermuda Triangle?
Cruises To Bermuda
Cruises to Bermuda from America or the Caribbean will travel through the Bermuda Triangle.
I first sailed to Bermuda in 2014, on a trip from New York, and was lucky enough to take a similar trip again in 2023. Both times I sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line.
To find out why Bermuda is a great place for a holiday/vacation, read the article below:
Much of the Bahamas are within the Bermuda Triangle area.
The Bahamas are actually made up of around 700 islands but only 30 or so are inhabited.
I cruised to the Bahamas a few years ago. It was possible to find really cheap cruises to this part of the world, we sailed from Miami, and the cost of our inside cabin on Norwegian Sky cost us less than booking a hotel on land!
Cruises To The Caribbean
If you are cruising to the Caribbean from the East Coast of the USA you will pass through the Bermuda Triangle.
Many cruises which sail this type of route actually stop in Bermuda.
If you are cruising to the Caribbean from Miami you will avoid most of the Triangle – or you may just stray onto the borderline.
I sailed recently on a really cheap cruise to the Caribbean from Barbados. To find out all about it and why it was so cheap, watch the video below:
Which Cruise Lines Sail Through The Bermuda Triangle?
Most US-based cruise lines travel regularly through the Bermuda Triangle.
Why Is Bermuda a Controversial Cruise Destination?
If you sail to Bermuda from America or the Caribbean, you will sail through the waters around it, known as “The Bermuda Triangle.” This area is also known as ‘The Devil’s Triangle’ and “Hurricane Alley.”
A number of planes and ships have disappeared here over the years.
Many people believe that the circumstances of plane and ship disappearances are “mysterious.” However, it is more than likely they were caused by severe weather.
The Bermuda Triangle has been a source of controversy since the 1950s.
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory. Things may seem familiar to travellers from the UK – like these British telephone boxes!
Some of the Many Interesting Facts about the Bermuda Triangle:
The Bermuda Triangle is also called the “Devil’s Triangle” and “Hurricane Alley.”
The term “Bermuda Triangle” was first used in 1964. The phrase was used by writer Vincent Gaddis, in a magazine article
It is sometimes said to be the resting place of the famous “Lost City of Atlantis.” There is no verifiable proof that links the geographic anomalies in the triangle to the lost city.
It covers an area of 500,000 square miles. It stretches from Miami, Florida, to Bermuda Island and to San Juan in Puerto Rico.
The Bermuda Triangle lies near crucial shipping lanes. This means there is more traffic in the region, which could be a reason for a higher number of maritime accidents.
TheBermuda Triangle has one of the deepest ocean trenches on the planet. The seabed has a slightly sloping continental shelf and then an extremely deep “drop-off.” If a ship or plane crashes or sinks in this region, it could sink into the trench, and never be found again.
The compass points to True North, not the Magnetic North in the Bermuda Triangle area. This phenomenon leads to confusion in navigation, another reason why ships and planes veer off from their set course and get lost.
Cruises Specifically To Visit The Bermuda Triangle
Due to the Bermuda Triangle’s popularity “Bermuda Triangle” cruises have actually started appearing.
These are not run by the big cruise lines and focus more on the story of the Bermuda Triangle.
Trips sail from Bermuda and probably just float around for a bit before coming back to land. I imagine that the Bermuda Triangle in reality probably is a little underwhelming!
Cruise Ship Incidents in The Bermuda Triangle
In 2015 the cruise ship Norwegian Dawn “Ran Aground” near Bermuda.
Apparently, paranormal enthusiasts say that the area is cursed – although it sounds much more likely to me that the ship just got stuck on a bit of a coral reef!
The high tide pushed the ship off the reef into deeper water, and there were no injuries to the crew or passengers.
Is It Dangerous To Cruise Through The Bermuda Triangle?
There is an element of danger with any form of travel.
It isn’t more dangerous to cruise through the Bermuda Triangle than to cruise in any other part of the world that might experience similar extreme weather.
There has never been a modern mega-ship that has disappeared within the Bermuda Triangle.
Bermuda is made up of a number of Islands. It is located approximately 650 miles off the coast of the USA
Weather in Bermuda
Bermuda has a subtropical climate and the temperatures are normally between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit / 15 to 26 degrees Celsius
Bermuda has no rainy season. Heavy downpours (often at night in the summer) don’t usually last longer than a couple of hours.
The hurricane season in Bermuda officially runs from June 1 to November 30.
The weather in Bermuda and in the Bermuda Triangle can sometimes be stormy.
Cruises to the Caribbean – especially in hurricane season – are well known for having to avoid storms from time to time.
What Do Cruise Ships Do If A Hurricane Is Forecast?
Cruise Ship itineraries are often modified if a storm is approaching. Cruise ships will do their best to miss the worst of the storm.
Due to improvements in weather forecasting, it is often possible to know quite far in advance if the weather is likely to be bad.
If a storm is likely to happen during a cruise the cruise line can:
Miss a port.
Return earlier than scheduled.
Change the itinerary to avoid the storm.
Cancel the cruise completely (as a last resort).
Bermuda Tourism Authority point out on its website that although Hurricanes do sometimes come, they are well prepared! They do not want the risk of a Hurricane to put you off travelling to Bermuda…
Four key things to know: 1. Most hotels have “hurricane guarantees” that provide refunds or future complimentary stays. 2. The island usually gets plenty of advance notice of an approaching storm. 3. The emergency services are very well-versed in storm preparation. 4. Bermuda’s stone buildings are incredibly strong and many have withstood hurricanes for centuries
Bermuda Tourism Authority
Incidents at Sea in The Bermuda Triangle
These are just some of the reported incidents within the triangle in the last 100 years. Note that none of these incidents happened to large cruise ships – and most incidents can be explained by weather.
1918: USS Cyclopsleft Barbados on March 4, and was lost with all 306 crew and passengers.
1921: Carroll A. Deeringwasfound aground and abandoned.
1925: SS Cotopaxi bound for Havana, Cuba, radioed a distress call reporting that the ship was sinking. She and her 32 crew members were never found.
1941: USS Proteus was lost with all 58 persons on board in heavy seas. The following month, her sister ship USS Nereus was lost with all 61 persons on board.
1958: Revonoc was lost with owner Harvey Conover and four others between Key West and Miami Florida in a Hurricane.
1963: SS Marine Sulphur Queen was lost with 39 crewmen. In the investigation, the Coast Guard determined that the ship was unsafe and not seaworthy, and never should have sailed.
2015: In July2015, two 14-year-old boys, Austin Stephanos, and Perry Cohen went on a fishing trip in their 19-foot boat. Despite the 15,000 square nautical miles wide search by US Coast Guard, the pair’s boat was found a year later off the coast of Bermuda, but the boys were never seen again.
2015: SS El Faro, with a crew of 33 aboard, sank off of the coast of the Bahamas. Search crews identified the vessel 15,000 feet below the surface. She had been sailing close to “Tropical Storm Joaquin.” Two days later, after Joaquin had become a Category 4 hurricane, the vessel likely encountered swells of 20 to 40 ft (6 to 12 m) and winds over 80 knots. A $100 million lawsuit was filed against the ship owners by a family member of one of the missing crew – citing negligence on the company’s behalf in letting a non-seaworthy vessel sail into a hurricane.
What is it Like Cruising Through The Bermuda Triangle?
I have cruised through the Bermuda Triangle three times – and it wasn’t any different to sailing in any other part of the world!
If you are considering a cruise, please do not be put off by the alarming Bermuda Triangle stories!
I asked members of our Facebook Group if they have cruised through the Bermuda Triangle. Below are some of their responses:
I have! Honestly it was as flat as bath water. I don’t think anyone would have noticed that we were sailing through it had the Captain not announced it!
Victoria
I think this is most people’s experience! Certainly, it was for me and my family…
Yes, with absolutely no problems. The only issues were a severe storm and the captain sailed us to safety, but we still travelled through it. We have been through it 3 times now.
Susan
Susan’s story isn’t out of the ordinary. Cruise lines are very good at avoiding storms!
I took a wonderful trip to Bermuda onboard the Norwegian Prima in 2023. To find out all about that trip and the amazing ship, watch this video next:
Before You Go!
Lots of people worry about rough weather, and feeling seasick on a cruise. There are lots of things you can do to minimize the risk! Read the article below to find out how I cope with seasickness:
The cabin you book can have a great effect on the amount of movement you will feel onboard. Find out about the best cabins to book to avoid seasickness here:
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