While none of them were afraid to travel to Bermuda on the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, a few American visitors told The Royal Gazette yesterdaythat they just needed to get away from the memories.

"I was there when the whole thing happened," said Horizon passenger Helen Fogle, of Brooklyn, New York.

"I feel sad remembering last year, so I am purposely staying away."

But although she is vacationing on the Island, Ms Fogle admitted the events of last year are forever etched in her mind.

"Tomorrow I will say a prayer. I'll be thinking about what other people are going through," she said.

New York City resident Alison Calandra felt the same way.

"At home, we lost so many people, so we just didn't want to be there."

As they admitted that initially they had apprehensions travelling so close to the anniversary date, Ms Calandra and her friend, Dawn Pfeufer, said they felt it made sense to go on vacation, since they could never really escape the emotions of what happened one year ago today.

"I still have feelings of anxiety," said Ms Pfeufer. "We think about it every day. You can't take being safe for granted anymore."

The idea of seeing the numerous memorials throughout his town was reason enough for Connecticut resident Ed Fisher to cruise down to Bermuda aboard the Horizon.

"The memorials are great, but it's too sad for me," he said. "It's been a tough year."

"We thought it would be good to get away because we are not afraid to travel," added his friend, Mark Mothershed.

And neither were Dorianne and Frank Sanchez. The New Jersey couple were visiting the Island last year when the terrorists attacked, cutting short their vacation.

"So we decided to come back and enjoy it this time," they said.

That's exactly what everyone should do, said Deborah Smith, of Atlanta. While she said she planned her trip to Bermuda since January, according to her, the anniversary of September 11 had nothing to do with her travel arrangements.

"I have no fears. Things happen and we have to go on with our lives.

"I can't let things that happened last year affect what I do today," she said.