With the sun blazing overhead and temperatures soaring to a sweltering 88°F—feeling more like 97°F—Bermuda’s beloved Horseshoe Bay Beach was buzzing with life today. As the cruise ship season swings into high gear and the July 4th holiday approaches, visitors and locals alike are flocking to the pink sand to beat the heat.
We caught up with Talani Bulford, entrepreneur and operator of the concessions at Horseshoe Bay, to get the pulse of the beach season so far.
“The first quarter of the season was very slow,” Bulford admitted. “Bermuda had a 50% reduction in cruise ships, which seriously affected arrivals to the beach. But by mid-June, we started seeing momentum.”
Now, just days into July, the beach is bustling—and Bulford is hopeful the second half of summer will make up for lost time.
“The last two weeks have been pretty steady,” he said. “We’re optimistic that July will help us recover what we lost over the past three months.”
And with temperatures unseasonably high—recording 86 to 87 degrees already this week—business is booming in more ways than one.
“Oh, that just makes people want to drink more!” Bulford laughed. “Drink our happy juice and our world-famous ‘Orgasm.’ It hits different.”
Business on the Rise, Despite Mixed Ship Traffic Bulford explained that not all cruise ships generate the same level of business.
“When Carnival ships come on weekends, we see a big bump in visitor spending. Some other ships are what I call ‘spends-verse.’ Different ships cater to different markets.”
Peak days? Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, which coincide with major cruise arrivals.
Still, it’s not just tourists filling the sands. Bulford’s setup is also a hit with locals.
“We serve about 200 locals every weekend. A lot of them tell us it’s just easier to rent chairs and umbrellas from us. We even use our UTVs to help carry their coolers from the parking lot to the beach. It’s all about service.”
Youth Employment & Electric Atmosphere Bulford proudly shared that 80% of his team is under 25.
“We believe in making Bermuda great again,” he said, chuckling. “It’s hot, and it’s electric out here. The vibes are real—people are smiling, they’re drinking, enjoying themselves. It’s a good atmosphere.”
There have been no major incidents on the beach this season, he noted—a testament to both the crowd and his team’s diligence.
Lifeguards & Safety Measures
With the return of government lifeguards, safety remains a priority.
“We’re happy to see them back. I’m still willing to invest in and donate jet skis to help lifeguards respond faster and make the beach even safer.”
Tackling the Seabed & Government Gaps
Earlier this year, the beach faced a challenge with seabed accumulation. But Bulford says his team stepped up.
“We rake the beach every morning at 5:45 a.m. It used to be the government’s responsibility. We’d love if they brought the tractors back. It’s a physically demanding job, especially in this heat.”
“Imagine raking 450 meters of beach and then serving over 800 guests—it takes a toll.”
Record-Breaking Weekend Crowd The biggest crowd so far?
“Just over 1,100 people when two Carnival ships arrived last weekend. It was the most we’ve seen in four years of running this contract,” Beaufort shared. “And no issues—just good vibes and happy tourists.”
A Call to Bermuda Bulford ended with a heartfelt appeal:
“Everyone needs to pull their socks up and help make Bermuda great again. The tourists are happy to be here, and we’re happy to have them. But we need to treat our guests like we treat our mothers and fathers. That’s how we make this place shine.”
Horseshoe Bay is hot—in more ways than one. With the beach buzzing and the summer heat ramping up, the message is clear: hydrate, smile, and soak in the good vibes while they last.
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