In case you crave a low-key seaside day with out quite a lot of fuss, Bimini, Bahamas, is the place to be.
With its turquoise waters, lengthy stretches of sand and amiable locals, Bimini has lengthy been a favourite seaside escape for a lot of, together with Ernest Hemingway and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. About 54 miles east of Miami, Bimini is the closest level within the Bahamas to the U.S. mainland.
Bimini is absolutely two islands — North Bimini and South Bimini — separated by a strip of ocean. Ferries transport guests between the islands. The Bimini, Bahamas, cruise port, known as Resorts World Bimini Cruise Port, is in North Bimini (in Alice City). The island is nearly seven miles lengthy, making it straightforward sufficient to discover inside the eight or so hours your ship is docked.
Cruise traces equivalent to Virgin Voyages, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Line embrace stops at Bimini on their Caribbean itineraries. Moreover, Virgin Voyages’ The Seaside Membership at Bimini is a free and common choice for Virgin cruisers.
Whereas it is principally in regards to the seashores right here, a handful of native points of interest (a museum, a smattering of outlets and a few eating places) present issues to do in the event you select to depart the seaside for a bit. Moreover, a wide variety of snorkeling, diving, kayaking and different sorts of excursions can be found by means of your cruise line or with impartial distributors.
In case your subsequent Caribbean cruise includes a cease on the Bimini cruise port, here is every thing you might want to know to maximise your time on this laid-back Bahamas island.
Bimini cruise port overview
3 issues TPG loves about Bimini
- The cruise port isn’t overdeveloped, so you will not be overwhelmed by duty-free retailers, eating places and aggressive memento distributors as quickly as you step off the ship.
- Just one cruise ship can dock right here at a time, which creates a much less chaotic port day expertise.
- The dimensions of the island makes it pretty straightforward to discover seashores, native points of interest and eating places by yourself.
What we may do with out
- The porta-johns at Bimini Public Seaside are very near the meals vehicles, which may produce a less-than-appetizing odor within the space.
- Litter on some public seashores would possibly detract out of your idyllic seaside day expertise.
Bimini cruise port quick info
Arrival particulars
The Resorts World Bimini Cruise Port opened in 2021. Beforehand, the island was principally accessible through non-public charters or high-speed ferry service (Balearia Caribbean) from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The expanded cruise port can now accommodate a number of the largest vessels at sea. It is also a one-berth port, that means just one cruise ship can dock at a time.
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When you disembark, you may make your means on foot down the pier (a few five-minute stroll), snag a free shuttle to a resort or purchasing or meet up together with your tour. Markers alongside the pier sidewalk from the cruise ship direct passengers to Resorts World experiences, shore excursions and the free shuttle service. A few data and tour kiosks are additionally on the pier.
Most ships name on the port for as much as eight hours, giving cruise passengers loads of time to take a look at the island or sit back on a seaside for the day.
Language: English
Forex: The Bahamian greenback ($BSD) is the native forex, however U.S. {dollars} are freely accepted.
Time zone: Bimini, Bahamas, makes use of Japanese Commonplace Time.
High issues to do within the Bimini cruise port
Whereas not intensive, Bimini’s port name diversions supply sufficient decisions to fit your fashion, together with lively water sports activities like kayaking or snorkeling, historic points of interest and a calming seaside day by yourself or at a resort. Moreover, native eating places, meals vehicles and meals shacks present a wide variety of Bahamian dishes to attempt throughout your go to. In case you’re on a Virgin Voyages cruise, you may possible need to benefit from free entry to the road’s seaside membership.
Seaside golf equipment
Does stress-free on the seaside or by the pool with a drink in hand sound like your excellent port day in Bimini? If that’s the case, you could have a few choices.
Resorts World Bimini is a part of the Hilton at Resorts World advanced. The 4.5-acre vacation spot gives an enormous stretch of seaside, infinity swimming pools, a on line casino and a number of other eating places. Day passes begin at $40 and include using loungers and seaside umbrellas. An a la carte menu options varied cocktails and lunch gadgets (sandwiches, salads, burgers and the like). Splurge on a cabana rental (from round $650 for a seaside cabana and from $430 for a pool cabana), which comes with an unique meals menu, customized bottle service and different perks.
Whereas it is technically a part of the identical Resorts World advanced, Virgin Voyages’ The Seaside Membership at Bimini is free for Virgin passengers. It is dwelling to a large seaside, plus amenities (a pool, meals pavilions, bars and water sports activities) completely for Virgin Voyages passengers. Seaside Membership day passes are often out there to resort friends and vacationers on different cruise ships when a Virgin Voyages ship isn’t in port. Examine together with your explicit cruise line for day move choices and costs.
Dolphin Home Museum
Established in 1993 by native writer and historian Ashley Saunders, this quirky and colourful attraction is made with salvaged and recycled supplies. Saunders was impressed to create the museum after he swam with a pod of Bimini’s wild dolphins.
Its exterior partitions teem with sea glass, dolphin mosaics, shells, coconut-rum bottles and a bunch of different distinctive discovered gadgets. Inside, you may discover a powerful assortment of things like an 18th-century brass naval canon, copper from a pirate ship and a conch shell believed up to now again to the Lucayan native period. The home is on Dolphin Lane and is open Monday by means of Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 per individual, money solely (in U.S. or Bahamian {dollars}). From the cruise port, the museum is a few 40-minute stroll or 10 minutes through taxi or golf cart.
Bimini Museum
Historical past buffs will recognize the gathering of artifacts, images and shows that inform the story of the island and of those that contributed to its improvement. Constructed by the Bimini Historic Society, the free museum on Kings Freeway additionally options memorabilia from one in every of its notable former residents, Ernest Hemingway. (Though the museum is at the moment closed for renovations with no clear reopening date, hold this one in your radar and verify again right here for updates.)
Fashionable Bimini excursions
Fashionable excursions on Bimini largely encompass resort day passes and water actions equivalent to snorkeling, Jet Snowboarding, fishing, kayaking and scuba diving. Nonetheless, cultural and meals excursions with an area information are different unbelievable methods to spend your time in port.
Bimini’s first dive operation, Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Heart, has been working since 1975. It is the jumping-off level for a slew of scuba diving and snorkeling excursions, in addition to dolphin, shark and stingray safaris. Some excursions discover the well-known shipwreck SS Sapona, a World Warfare 1-era cargo steamer that rests in Honeymoon Harbour off the coast of Bimini.
Different snorkeling websites in Bimini value testing embrace Rainbow Reef, a coral ridge dwelling to plentiful marine life, and Bimini Highway, the place rows of organized stone monoliths are mentioned to be a part of the misplaced metropolis of Atlantis. The Therapeutic Gap is one other legend to discover. Surrounded by mangroves, this freshwater spring is barely accessible by boat. The waters are believed to include minerals with therapeutic powers, therefore the identify.
Farther afield on South Bimini, you may discover a “Fountain of Youth” nestled within the forest. Whereas there is no document of Ponce De Leon visiting Bimini, locals imagine the freshwater properly gives therapeutic and rejuvenation. The properly and a historic marker are positioned off the street to the airport. Some tour excursions embrace a cease right here, in addition to present ferry transportation from the cruise port to South Bimini. In case you’re exploring South Bimini by yourself, the ferry prices round $10 per individual (every means).
Moreover, excursions of the Bimini Shark Lab can be found on choose dates all year long. Friends can study in regards to the lab’s historical past and analysis and get a glimpse of a brief shark checkup. You would possibly even get to see some juvenile lemon sharks of their pure setting. Notice that you need to e book your tour at the very least per week prematurely, and transportation to and from the Shark Lab isn’t included. You will must take the ferry to South Bimini, then catch a taxi to the Shark Lab from there.
Referred to as the “Huge Sport Fishing Capital of the World,” Bimini is a major spot for fishing fans. Cruisers can e book fishing charters to reel in marlin, tuna, wahoo and different sorts of fish.
A cultural tour through an open-air tram is a well-liked method to expertise Bimini’s historical past and delicacies. You will coast by means of colourful neighborhoods and cease at historic landmarks and museums. Alongside the best way, pattern native dishes and revel in a conch-cracking demonstration.
Associated: Shore excursions: What new cruisers must know
Bimini seashores close to the cruise port
The seaside is arguably Bimini’s largest lure, and cruisers have loads of choices. In case you do not want all of the perks (or need the associated fee) of a seaside membership expertise, there are a handful of seashores to take pleasure in freed from cost.
The closest spot to throw down a seaside towel and soar within the water is at Bimini Public Seaside, positioned on the finish of the cruise pier. The realm to the appropriate (as you exit the pier) has some native meals vehicles and porta-johns. You will additionally discover kiosks for chairs, umbrellas and cabana leases. Two chairs with umbrellas price $60, and cabanas price $120 (for 4 individuals or fewer) or $225 (for six or extra individuals). The realm to the left lacks these facilities, however you may take pleasure in fewer crowds.
Maintain strolling straight from the pier and cross Kings Freeway to achieve Kayak Seaside (a few five-minute stroll from the top of the pier). It is dotted with thatch umbrellas for shade, and you’ll lease a kayak from native distributors. Nonetheless, it is not the best seaside for lounging, as it is a bit crowded and never as fairly as different seashores on the island.
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KRISTY TOLLEY/THE POINTS GUY
About 2.5 miles (or a 10-minute taxi journey) from the pier, Radio Seaside is one other public seaside choice for guests. It is a no-frills seaside, with no lifeguard and solely a handful of rustic food and drinks shacks. Nonetheless, you may discover public restrooms, and bushes line a part of the seaside providing a little bit of shade. Moreover, a vendor gives Jet Ski and kayak leases. Notice that sections of the seaside have numerous litter. Nonetheless, the water right here remains to be pristine.
Easy methods to get round Bimini by yourself
You will not discover a public bus or automotive rental amenities in Bimini. Nonetheless, you do have transportation decisions, and Bimini is sufficiently small that you could get the place you might want to go along with minimal effort.
Tram: A free tram takes cruisers from the pier to a handful of spots, together with the Resorts World properties and the Fisherman’s Village purchasing space. Decide-up places are well-marked, and a tram comes round about each 15 to half-hour.
On foot: Some native seashores and space resorts are inside strolling distance. (You may attain Hilton Resorts World inside about 10 or quarter-hour.)
Taxi: Taxis are plentiful across the cruise port space. Charges aren’t metered and would possibly range relying on the place you need to go, however the widespread fare is $5 per individual to most places.
Golf cart: You will discover a few golf cart rental corporations on the island. Costs vary from round $90 per day for a four-seater to $120 per day for a six-seater.
Bimini eating places close to the cruise port
Bahamian delicacies is a various mixture of Caribbean (beneficiant use of spices) and southern-style American meals (cornbread and peas), with taste influences from Creole and South American delicacies.
Seafood and fresh-caught fish function prominently in Bahamian dishes, and you will possible discover conch in all varieties on just about each native menu — conch fritters, conch salad, cracked conch and conch ceviche. Moreover, pigeon peas and rice is a traditional facet dish that always contains pork, pigeon peas, celery, rice, tomatoes and thyme. Goat curry, spiny lobster and cassava cake are different native dishes to style.
Do not miss an opportunity to pattern Bahamas’ iconic breads like johnnycakes and Bimini bread. Cooked in a skillet, johnnycakes are like Southern American cornbread made from milk, butter, flour and sugar. Bimini bread is a delicate, barely candy white bread that’s finest eaten heat. It is usually served with tea or espresso.
No matter you eat, you may need to wash all of it down with a chilly Kalik, Bahamas’ common lager-style beer.
You will discover a wide variety of meals vehicles and rustic roadside meals shacks in Bimini. Moreover, resort eating is an choice in the event you go the seaside membership day move route.
In case you’re sampling native eating by yourself, take a look at Stuart’s Conch Salad Stand. On King’s Freeway (Bimini’s essential street), Stuart’s has been an area fixture serving made-to-order conch salad for greater than 20 years.
Nate’s Bimini Bread is not removed from the cruise port pier — make a left if you get to Kayak Seaside and it is about 300 ft on the appropriate facet of the street. Carrying on his late mom’s legacy that started within the Nineteen Seventies, Nate Hanna shares his household’s Bimini bread (and a great deal of different deliciousness) with patrons.
Located inside Bimini Huge Sport Membership Resort and Marina, Bimini Seafood Firm and Conch Bar options an in depth collection of conch dishes and a wide range of recent seafood platters. Amongst them are calamari, spiny lobster, shrimp, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi and pink snapper.
Bimini cruise port purchasing
Subsequent to Kayak Seaside, Fisherman’s Village and Marina is an open-air purchasing heart with retailers, a restaurant and bar, reside music and public restrooms. At Residence Reef Store and The Reef at Bimini, you should buy garments, handmade soaps and candles, and Bimini-branded souvenirs. Splash shares resortwear, jewellery and equipment. Eating choices right here embrace Amicci’s for pizza and gelato, and the Therapeutic Gap Rum Bar.
For domestically made souvenirs, head to Bimini Craft Heart, positioned within the coronary heart of Alice City. Peruse greater than a dozen cubicles chock-full of handmade crafts, T-shirts, wooden carvings, straw hats and different gadgets. Public restrooms are on-site, and a meals truck promoting Bahamian specialties usually parks right here.
Backside line
Bimini gives cruise passengers a laid-back, no-frills Caribbean escape, however that does not imply your day on the island will likely be boring.
A handful of resorts lure passengers with seaside and pool entry, cocktails, meals and leisure. Public seashores supply an opportunity to sunbathe on a budget. Excursions present a fuss-free method to take pleasure in snorkeling, scuba diving or kayaking in Bimini’s clear waters.
Sure, Bimini lacks the plentiful duty-free retailers and strings of eating places you would possibly count on at a cruise port (at the very least for now), however its less-developed panorama is all a part of its allure.
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