Did you know that you can do a day trip to The Bahamas on the Balearia Caribbean Ferry? Bimini is only give or take 50 miles from Fort Lauderdale via ferry which is a 2 hour ride to pristine beaches, sunny temps, the bluest water and lots of conch salad. Here’s what you should know about the day trip to The Bahamas.
***Please note that both Bimini trips were complimentary tickets/hotel stay as a collaboration between Balearia Caribbean and myself but all opinions are my own. Also note that some links used in this blog post are affiliate links in which I earn a commission with no extra cost to you.***
Getting Ready For A Day Trip To The Bahamas
A day trip to The Bahamas from South Florida is possible in a variety of ways but one of the more feasible ways is taking the ferry to The Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale. This ferry service caters to a variety of different travelers especially persons who don’t fly or persons who maybe don’t have a lot of paid time off or just want to make the most of their trip to Fort Lauderdale/Miami.
Packing Essentials For Ferry To The Bahamas
If you do decide on the day trip, there’s several things you need to acquaint yourself with because you have a limited amount of time on the island. The ferry leaves Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale around 8am and docks in Bimini, The Bahamas around 10am and leaves around 5/6pm in the evening. You do need a passport to travel back and forth because the ferry is not a closed loop cruise and The Bahamas is not a U.S. territory. Also, the Bahamian dollar is 1:1 with the US dollar and you can use US dollars and Bahamian dollars interchangeably while in The Bahamas.
Some items that I would prioritize packing are:
- Beach Bag/Tote or Backpack
- Towel(s)
- A change of clothes
- Sunscreen
- Fan
- Cash (for food/drinks/rentals/transportation) – there are ATM’s on the island
- Comfortable, walking shoes/sandals
Budget for golf cart rentals, it simply varies on which vendor you go to and what time of the year it is or if there are crowds. On average a daily rental starts at about $100+ USD per cart.
Things To Know About the Balearia Caribbean Ferry
The ferry leaves only from Fort Everglades Port at this time. You can find the calendar for sailings on the Balearia Caribbean Ferry website or via Viator which includes a transfer from your Miami hotel. Again, you need a Passport to travel to The Bahamas via the Balearia Caribbean Ferry. The boat tends to leave early in the morning at 8am so you should get there at least an hour before but I got there around 6am. Make sure to eat prior to getting to the terminal and also make sure you have a plan in place for transportation when you get back to Fort Lauderdale because leaving Port Everglades can get pretty confusing. There are usually taxis as well as a shuttle and Lyft/Uber does service the area.
You can book Economy or Economy Premium seats. Economy Premium are separated from the Economy seating area and complimentary drinks/snacks are served for Economy Premium tickets. Large bags are stored away in a certain area once you board but you are able to take a carryon and backpack with you and store close to your seat depending on how many persons are on-board. Depending on the size of your luggage or if you have additional pieces – you will be charged per piece of luggage when checking in.
On The Ferry To The Bahamas
After boarding, it was pretty quiet and we had a lot of space and room to roam around on the ferry. There’s a duty-free liquor store and concession stand where you can buy drinks and pastries, sandwiches. Be warned that the ride (dependent on weather) can get pretty rocky. I’ve done the trip 3x and thankfully only had this experience once so definitely get Dramamine chews/tablets or patches. The Bimini isles are only about 50 miles away from Fort Everglades port and you can almost tell immediately that the boat is approaching Bimini because the water turns to this beautiful turquoise blue.
Arrival Into The Bahamas (Bimini)
Once you arrive and disembark the boat; you immediately join a line to go through immigration/customs before boarding the free trolley that transports travelers to Resorts World Bimini and the marina area where you can rent a golf cart. Other options for transportation tend to be taxi drivers or persons operating golf carts for a fee of $5-10 per ride. I used 700 Adventures company who drove us back and forth for $5 one way (at the time/price may have changed).
@bahamianista I didn’t wanna leaveee 🥹 #biminibahamas #baleariaferry #baleariacaribbean #blacktravelblogger ♬ Liki Tiki – Kes & J Perry & Michael Brun
Things To Do In Bimini
While the beach is the obvious choice, there’s several things to take advantage of when you arrive in Bimini whether it’s for the day trip or if you’re staying a few days.
- Dolphin Museum
- Cultural Fishing Expedition
- Bimini Beach Club
- Resorts World Casino
- Snorkel At Sapona ShipWreck (check Bimini Big Game Club & Resort for charters)
- Radio Beach
- Straw Market
- Island Bike Tour
- Honeymoon Harbour/Sapona Day Trip
For the beach club you can purchase day passes in the Resorts World Bimini hotel lobby or at the entrance of the beach club itself (anywhere between $10 and $50 dollars).
Places To Eat In Bimini
If you’re on the search for authentically Bahamian food/drinks; here’s a list of restaurants.
- Stuarts Conch Stand
- Smitty’s Bar & Restaurant
- Edith’s Pizza
- CJ’s Deli
- Sherry’s Place
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Leaving Bimini
The ferry operators will say to be back to the boat around 5:30pm or so which only gives 6 hours or so to enjoy the island so make sure you have a plan of what you want to do but there’s not a lot going on (outside of regatta/homecoming or holiday weekends) so if you relax the whole time – good for you! The trolley is free of charge so you can catch it at the beach club or the marina or just drive your golf cart back to the vendor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is It?
The ticket on the Balearia Caribbean Ferry starts at $200+ USD roundtrip for an economy ticket.
Can You Stay For Longer Than A Day?
Yes you can stay longer than just the day trip. There are a few hotels and rental properties available via VRBO/Airbnb:
Hotels
Rental Properties
Where Can I Find A Golf Cart Rental?
We rented from Sue & Joys which is close to the Marina; they also have a convenience store. However, once you arrive to the Marina- there are several vendors selling golf cart rentals. If you’re staying at the hotel- you can usually source a vendor’s contact from the hotel staff or just ask around.
Should I take cash with me?
Some places do indeed take debit/credit cards/Apple Pay; however it’s best to travel with cash on you.
Here’s a video recap of my stay at Resorts World Bimini via Balearia Caribbean Ferry:
For any more questions, check out these tips for taking the Ferry to The Bahamas.
