Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa — Hotel in Somerset Island

This comprehensive review of the Cambridge Resort and Spa in Bermuda is worth reading till the end if you plan to stay at this hotel!

While the location and beaches were undeniably beautiful, my experience at the resort was extremely disappointing.I took the time to read recent Google reviews and TripAdvisor posts about the resort before booking, and it is puzzling how they garnered positive feedback from some clients and prominent magazines. Other guests at the hotel and even locals on the island shared the same sentiment of disappointment and dissatisfaction since the hotel has been sold. This inconsistency between our experience and the positive reviews raises questions.

We had booked twice at the Breeze's Restaurant, but our reservations were transferred to the Harbor due to pre-planned weddings. The front desk should have been aware of these events prior to booking our reservation. It was only at the last moment, when we noticed the white chairs and decorations, that we realized there were weddings taking place. This lack of communication and transparency added to the overall frustration and inconvenience of our stay and led many guests, including myself, to opt for dining outside the resort, as we were not satisfied with the alternative option.

The cleanliness of the accommodations was subpar. Upon entering our room, we discovered dirty socks and sunscreens left in the drawer. The room was not consistently cleaned, and fresh towels were not provided. Despite multiple attempts to address this with the receptionist, no resolution was reached, and I had to directly contact housekeeping, only to discover that they were not notified by the reception. Additionally, I must highlight the lack of attention from housekeeping regarding the room service trays left outside all rooms on the Roven side for the last four days of our stay.

Concerning the restroom facilities on the beaches. It was evident that the restrooms were not properly cleaned, as there were instances of unattended paper toilette and an unmistakable smell of urine. The gym floor was noticeably dirty, with dirt and so was the equipment. It was evident that proper maintenance and cleanliness were lacking. Furthermore, the air conditioning in the gym struggled to adequately cool the space, making workouts uncomfortable and less enjoyable.

The beach experience was also disappointing. The absence of chairs and parasols left guests resorting to placing towels on the ground at the long bay beach. Additionally, the close proximity of beachgoers made it difficult to move without intruding on neighboring guests' space. Basic amenities, such as daily water delivery to the room, were consistently overlooked. Despite requesting water every day, it never arrived, which was a letdown.

Based on my observations and encounters during my time at the Cambridge Resort and Spa, it is evident that there are significant problems concerning food quality, staff training, and communication between reception, housekeeping, and the restaurant. Regrettably, I have no intention of returning to this establishment...

This is a special place! our family of six adults including four 20-something "kids" arrived with an itinerary full of Bermudan excursions and activities thanks to the expert guidance of concierge Cindy Lambe. And then… we cancelled all. Well, almost all. (Cindy was understanding.) We just couldn’t bring ourselves to leave the property. We did venture out one day to the famous pink sand Horseshoe Bay Beach, but were overwhelmed by the sheer mass of tour groups piled on inflatable loungers under color and number-coded umbrellas. We joined the fray, bodysurfed in the clear water for a bit, then retreated back to tranquil CB. (Likely a quieter experience with an earlier start. Mind the advice to have CB book taxis in advance. Taxi apps can only be so helpful when there is an onslaught of cruise ship visitors. We were also advised to take advantage of the bus...but did not.) We enjoyed every CB beach and cove, the outdoor pool, the serene body-temp indoor spa pool, tennis, basketball and darts; and all restaurants save the Sunken Harbor Club (sounded amazing but a serious gourmet experience was not our vibe.) Ten out of ten for all. Beach towels, loungers, umbrellas and water bottle fillers are conveniently stationed wherever you might think to want them. Private nooks abound. We spent hours lulled by the sight of bobbing boats, swooping Bermudan long tails, changing shades of turquoise water, sometimes puffy and sometimes stormy clouds, pinch-me glorious sunrises and sunsets. We didn't know we were stressed until we felt it melting away. A highlight for "the kids" was a 2-hour motorboat rental through on-site H2O water sport rentals. No experience needed. Our best memories were made simply hanging out at our cottage "Windswept" - a 2+1-bedroom cottage with rollaway beds that was beyond perfect for us. We loved its location that was a bit on its own. The west/ocean-facing main cottage has a generous size great room with fireplace and 2 ensuite bedrooms up 1/2-flights of stairs. There is an attached east/bay-facing suite down a 1/2-flight of stairs with its own lounge area and large ensuite bath. Each of the 2 parts of the cottage has a covered patio with table and chairs plus loungers and umbrellas in its own grassy yard. We felt worlds away and completely spoiled. The 2 mini-fridges, ice-buckets plus a small foam cooler we had arranged for in advance did not quite contain our beverages and snacks (20-somethings...) The staff (helpful, friendly, attentive) must have grown tired of our ice requests because a large igloo cooler appeared on our patio one morning. Easy online-order deliveries from Pronto and Lindo Markets kept us in Swizzle fixings, etc. We ordered in pizza from Il Pomodoro one night for a break from restaurant dinners. Truly magical 5 nights. Next time we will bring water shoes. Literally our...

We returned to Bermuda for our 25th anniversary bringing back with us our children ages 16 and 20. We stayed at another resort with them 15 years ago. This was a special trip for us and a big decision to stay at Cambridge. I was delighted prior to our arrival to fill out the preferences form that I was sent via email, but it would have been better not to do that since it turned out to be a disappointment when only a couple of things I took the time to answer on the questionnaire were fulfilled. The two bedroom cottage worked out nicely for us, and ultimately was the reason we decided to book Cambridge for this trip. There seems to be a need to reserve these well in advance. I loved the details - fresh flowers, little mini bar, vast ocean views and luxurious bathrooms. The patio was absolutely perfect for having breakfast delivered each day. We especially loved when the Cambridge staff would set it up for us with tablecloths - wow! There was a a bit of inconsistency in this though, and one day we did not realize the trays were dropped off inside the cottage on the sofa. Housekeeping arrived each day while we were either waiting for breakfast or during breakfast, so I mentioned that was not ideal (one day they were making the bed while I was there in the room).... After I mentioned the timing issue, they did not come at all the next day, leaving behind used glasses and lots of empty water bottles and things that needed to be cleaned up and removed. The best part of Cambridge is the restaurant and pool staff (genuinely kind, helpful, wonderful)! Kristan treated us like family! The Monday night BBQ was amazing - highly recommend. Other highlights: the spa treatments were great, help getting taxis much appreciated, super fun new tennis/pickleball/basketball/ping pong/darts area, beautiful setting surrounded by water, and turtle cove is stunning. The beaches were not the endless clear soft sand and ocean views we have in photographs from our stay at the other resort. Some black seaweed, rocks (bring water shoes) and boats sometimes take over at Cambridge. It usually never felt crowded anywhere though which is a huge plus, and just one day in particular we felt we had an unusual amount of space to ourselves at the small pool area - awesome! There were mostly older couples, and families with very young children while we were there. Our teen/young adults found plenty to do and we all really enjoyed our time and the tremendous Bermuda...