Bermuda: Glass Bottom Boat Cruise & Coral Reef Tour

Watch Fish Dart Past Your Feet While You Stay Completely Dry

You board a glass bottom boat and cruise over Bermuda's coral reefs and the HMS Vixen shipwreck, watching fish and sea life through the hull while a knowledgeable crew explains what you're seeing. The boat's shallow draft gets you closer to the reef than standard tours, and you'll have time to look for sea turtles in the sea grass beds before heading back. The whole experience takes a couple of hours, includes a cash bar, and runs from Daniel's Head Park with public transit nearby.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bermuda glass bottom boat cruise

• Board glass bottom boat
• Relax on upper deck
• Listen to captain's commentary
• Cruise over coral reef sea gardens
• Stop at HMS Vixen shipwreck
• View marine life through glass bottom
• Pause at sea grass beds
• Look for sea turtles
• Return cruise with cash bar

The experience

The hull of the glass bottom boat fills with light the moment you step aboard, and below you can already see the sandy bottom and the first scatter of reef. The boat holds up to 300 passengers, but the real draw is the shallow draft. It lets the captain take you closer to the coral gardens than deeper-hulled boats can go, so the fish and sea fans aren't small shapes in the distance. They're right there, moving across the glass like they're in an aquarium you're standing inside. Your knowledgeable crew points out what you're seeing as you cruise over the Sea Gardens, miles of the world's northernmost coral reef, and the commentary isn't the generic stuff. They tell you about the actual fish behavior, the history of the reef, and the stories behind what Bermuda looks like from underwater.

The boat makes a stop at the HMS Vixen, a scuttled ship that sits on the reef with a backstory the crew clearly enjoys telling: the kind of detail that sticks with you after the cruise ends. Then you move into the sea grass beds nearby, where the captain slows down and keeps an eye out for sea turtles. They're transient, so spotting one isn't guaranteed, but the crew knows where to look and they're patient about it. The whole glass bottom boat cruise takes a couple of hours, and you spend most of it on the upper deck in the open air, watching the water change color as you move between shallow and deeper sections. There's a cash bar if you want a drink, and the return trip back is the relaxing part: no more stops, just the boat moving through the water and the reef falling away beneath you.

The boat operates from Daniel's Head Park, and public transportation gets you there if you don't have a rental car. Weather can cancel the cruise, and the tour needs a minimum number of passengers to run, so it's worth checking conditions the day before. You need to be able to walk on and off via steps, and the boat has a 300-pound weight limit per person. If you have mobility concerns, reach out to an agent before booking. They can tell you whether this particular cruise works for your situation.

What’s included

Your cruise includes entry to the glass bottom boat, access to the viewing areas over the coral reef and shipwreck, knowledgeable crew commentary throughout the journey, a stop at the Sea Gardens and the HMS Vixen, and time in the sea grass beds to look for sea turtles. A cash bar is available on board if you'd like a drink during the return trip.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 13:30Last departure this season: 21 Dec

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 to 65 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Island Tour Centre

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Bermuda's coral reef and marine life without getting wet or needing to snorkel or dive. The glass bottom boat does the work of getting you close to the reef, and the crew's commentary turns what you're seeing into something you actually understand.

Traveler reviews

4.59★★★★★★★★★★

237 verified traveler reviews

5 ★180

4 ★32

3 ★15

2 ★4

1 ★6

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the glass bottom boat cruise?

The cruise takes approximately 2–3 hours, including stops at the coral reef and the HMS Vixen shipwreck.

Can you see fish and coral clearly through the glass bottom?

Yes. The boat's shallow draft allows it to get closer to the reef than deeper-hulled boats, so marine life and coral are visible up close through the viewing areas.

Is there a chance to see sea turtles?

The boat makes a stop in the sea grass beds where sea turtles take refuge, but sightings aren't guaranteed since they're transient visitors to the area.

What's included in the cruise?

Entry to the cruise, knowledgeable crew commentary, and stops at the Sea Gardens and HMS Vixen shipwreck. A cash bar is available on board.

How do I get to Daniel's Head Park?

Public transportation options are available nearby the park. You can also arrange your own transport or rent a car.

Is the cruise suitable for all fitness levels?

The cruise is suitable for most fitness levels, but you must be able to walk on and off the boat via steps. Guests with mobility concerns should contact an agent before booking.

What's the weight limit?

The maximum weight per person is 300 pounds.

Can the cruise be cancelled?

Yes. All tours are subject to weather conditions and require a minimum number of participants to run.

What is the HMS Vixen?

The HMS Vixen is a scuttled ship that sits on the reef. The crew shares its history and backstory during the cruise.