A Whale of a Good Time

As if there weren’t enough good reasons to love March here’s one more: The first of the month marks the official beginning of whale watching season—a two-month stretch where you can spot massive humpbacks swim, dive and breach off the shores of Bermuda. Interestingly, the island is the only mid-ocean platform in the Northern Hemisphere to provide a window into their behavior, an annual migratory pattern that begins in the Caribbean and ends in north Atlantic feeding grounds. It’s quite a sight, as the above video clearly attests. Shot by documentary filmmaker Andrew Stevenson, the amazing footage catches a pod of humpbacks swimming along Bermuda’s south shore, slapping the surface with their fins, and best of all, vigorously jumping from the water just yards from the boat. If you’ve got the time, poke around his YouTube channel where you’ll also find stunning underwater footage and hauntingly beautiful recordings of whales singing while swimming through Bermuda’s Challenger Banks. If all of this sounds right up you’re alley then why not try it yourself? The Bermuda Zoological Society begins its whale-watching excursions on Saturday, March 27, with full-day trips on the research vessel Endurance through the end of April ($70 members, $85 non-members). And charter company Fantasea Bermuda runs full-day trips aboard its glass-bottomed fishing boats for the next two months ($85). Still can’t get enough? Then be sure to visit the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute on March 11 when the discovery center premieres Andrew Stevenson’s latest film, “Where the Whales Sing,” a documentary he shot over a three-year period that traces the migratory patterns of humpbacks through Bermuda.

From the Tarmac

It was about a month ago when Canadians got some excellent news from WestJet—that the low-cost carrier would begin flying nonstop from Toronto to Bermuda effective May 2010, with one-way flights as low as $129. Those who were paying attention—or perhaps, following WestJet on Twitter—heard about the airline’s one-day sale yesterday, when it slashed fares in half, making a roundtrip flight to Bermuda about $170 with taxes. That deal is unfortunately over, but the good news is there are more cheap flights on the way, this time for everyone in Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. That’s right folks, USA3000 is back. According to USA Today, the charter and discount airline is ramping up its seasonal service to Bermuda, with twice-weekly flights from Baltimore’s BWI and Philadelphia International beginning June 11th. Considering one-way flights will be as low as $99 this summer, there’s really no good reason not to plan Bermuda getaway. But don’t wait too long: The fair weather flier will only be operating from the two east coast gateways through August 16th. Happy jetting!

Happy Anniversary!

Have you heard the news? Bermuda’s own Fairmont Hamilton Princess is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year—no small feat considering many island hotels hardly stick around long enough to replace the wall-to-wall carpeting (like Club Med in St. George’s or the Wyndham in Southampton, both of which have been demolished; watch Club Med get imploded here). Of course, getting rid of the old to make room for the new is a good thing, but there’s something to be said for a historic hotel and the Fairmont Hamilton Princess is indeed the Grand Dame of ‘em all. First opened in 1885, the hotel was named for Princess Louise, daughter of England’s Queen Victoria. As the story goes, she visited Bermuda two years earlier and fell in love with the island, calling it “the place of eternal spring.” When a leading Bermuda businessman decided to build a hotel to attract affluent Americans, he honored the royal visit by naming his hotel “The Princess.” Since then the landmark hotel’s storied history has only grown in stature: Not only was it a favorite of Mark Twain’s in the early 1900’s but it played a pivotal role in World War II, when the hotel became an intelligence center run by Allied servicemen. It was at The Princess where all mail, radio and telegraphic traffic bound for Europe and the Americans was intercepted and analyzed before being routed to their destinations. Pretty heady stuff. So in order to celebrate its anniversary the hotel has cooked up a special deal for anyone celebrating theirs: Couples who stay at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess during their wedding anniversary will receive one complimentary night’s stay and additional nights for only $125 per person, a pretty incredible deal considering a room can cost upwards of $400 with taxes during peak season. Best of all, the 125th Anniversary Package is good through the end of the year. Just make sure to bring your marriage certificate to seal the deal.

Money Matters

This just in: According to the New York Times, former U.S. representative and Merrill Lynch executive Harold Ford Jr. will not challenge New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for the democratic U.S. senate nomination. So what does this have to do with Bermuda? The charismatic businessman is expected to be the keynote speaker at this year’s general meeting of the Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA), an organization of island-based companies that provides services and products to offshore clients. As noted in the BIBA press release, he’ll speak on “the challenges and opportunities that face America and how Bermuda can play a vital role in the U.S. and global economy.” Currently Bermuda’s vital role in the U.S. and global economy is centered around its tax structure or lack thereof—the reason why thousands of international corporations, most of them American, are domiciled here. Bermuda is no tax haven—after all, it’s not Macau or the Cayman Islands for that matter—but White House estimates suggest nearly one-third of foreign profits reported by U.S. corporations in 2003 came from Bermuda and two other low-tax countries (the Netherlands and Ireland). For big businesses it’s more like tax avoidance than tax evasion, even still, it makes Ford’s speaking engagement a particularly odd choice since the former congressman voted to end offshore tax havens in 2004. Just saying. The good news is tickets are still available to Ford’s BIBA powwow Thursday afternoon at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. As for me, well, I think I'll keep the $100 entrance fee in the bank.

Bermuda Stew

Is it March already? Seems like it was just yesterday when I was admiring scooter driving Santas, listening to jazzy performances and ducking howling winds that have visited our shores for the past two months. Winter’s been a blast but I sure am ready to hit the beach, aren’t you? So in anticipation of a sunny spring here are a few random thoughts to stir the pot—what I like to call Bermuda Stew. The Winter Games officially ended yesterday and it seems like Bermudian cross-country skier Tucker Murphy is still turning heads. From yesterday’s New York Times Inside The Rings blog: “I saw two things here that no one should see during the Winter Olympics: cherry trees in bloom and a guy riding a hotel elevator in Bermuda shorts.” Well done, Tucker. You’ve single-handedly brought cool back to the Olympics. With March comes shoulder-season discounts and here’s one from Port Royal Golf Course: For one day only visitors can play the championship course for just $99, including green fee and cart, which means the home of the 2009/2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf is half-off on March 13th. Wanna see what it's like to play the course's signature hole? Watch this video. Big news from your dinner plates: Lobster season is officially over at the end of this month. Care to taste the sweetest spiny lobster in the world? Then get yourself to Bermuda before March 31st. Try Port O Call on Front Street. Yes, it’s that good. And in case you’re wondering what that silly-looking video is up top, well, go ahead and click play. It’s a little piece I like to call “To Bermuda With Love,” and it might just be the most entertaining 1 minute and 53 seconds you watch all day. Here's the plot in nutshell: When a randy New York City straphanger gets travel advice from an English gentleman, a romantic Bermuda vacation is just a few subway stops away. You're welcome.