Bahamas Cruise from MiamiBimini Day Trip from Miami: Ferry With Miami Beach Hotel Transfers
A Bimini day trip from Miami sounds simple until you look at a map. There is no ferry from Miami itself. The Baleària ferry leaves Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, and this listing by Admiral Tours Miami adds what most travellers actually want: hotel pickup along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach or in Downtown Miami, a 30-minute drive to the port, the 2-hour crossing, and the drive back to your hotel after the ferry returns. The price is $299 per person for a 15-hour day with about 6 hours of free time on Bimini. This page breaks down what that covers and what it does not. For the wider picture, see Bahamas cruises from Miami.
About This Tour
Admiral Tours Miami collects you at your hotel on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach or at a central Downtown Miami location and drives you about 30 minutes to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. There you board the high-speed Baleària ferry, which crosses to Bimini in about 2 hours. You get about 6 hours of free time on the island, or 7 hours in July and August because of daylight, before the late afternoon ferry back and the transfer to your hotel.
The day is unguided on the island. The driver handles the transfer only. Food, drinks and tips are not in the price, and the optional water sports pass for shipwreck snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing or the Hilton resort pool is bought on the ferry.
$299 per person, sold on GetYourGuide. Reserve now and pay later is available.
15 hours door to door, with about 6 hours of free time on Bimini, or 7 hours in July and August.
Hotel pickup along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach or a central Downtown Miami location. The ferry itself leaves from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, not from Miami.
The high-speed Baleària ferry, about a 2-hour crossing. Group size is not stated by the listing. The driver speaks English, Spanish and Arabic.
Included: round-trip hotel transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, the ferry, landing and facility fees and the free time on Bimini. Extra: food and drinks, tips, and the optional water sports pass bought on the ferry.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times are not published on the listing, so open the availability calendar to see departure times and confirm the pickup point for your date.
Quick answer Price, duration and what to know
This Bimini day trip from Miami costs $299 per person, runs 15 hours door to door and includes hotel pickup in Miami Beach or Downtown Miami, the 2-hour Baleària ferry from Port Everglades and about 6 hours of free time on the island.
Key takeaways
- The ferry leaves from Fort Lauderdale, not Miami. This listing is the transfer that bridges that gap. See how the ferry works in general on the Miami to Bahamas ferry page.
- Food, drinks, tips and the water sports pass are extra, and you must carry a valid passport with US re-entry authorization. Read what the price actually covers.
- Reviewers mention late pickups and border screening, so read what the day is really like before booking.
- If you are already staying in Fort Lauderdale, the Gray Line ferry day trip from Fort Lauderdale costs less.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $299 covers the transport chain and the island fees, and nothing you eat, drink or rent once you step off the ferry.
What Is in the $299
The listing states four inclusions: hotel pickup and drop-off in Miami Beach, an air-conditioned vehicle for the 30-minute drive to Port Everglades, the landing and facility fees on Bimini, and about 6 hours of free time on the island. The ferry ticket itself is part of the package, so you do not buy it separately. Reserve now and pay later is available, and free cancellation runs to 24 hours before departure.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Miami Beach or Downtown Miami
- Air-conditioned vehicle to Port Everglades and back
- Baleària ferry, 2 hours each way
- Landing and facility fees
- About 6 hours of free time on Bimini, 7 hours in July and August
What You Pay on the Day
Food and drinks are not included at any point of the day, and tips are not included. The optional water sports pass covering shipwreck snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing or the Hilton resort pool is bought on the ferry. A credit card is on the packing list.
A golf cart is the practical way to cover North Bimini, since the ferry terminal sits beside Resorts World and Alice Town is a walk of about 45 minutes along the island. Golf cart rentals have been reported at $89.99 to $115 a day for 4-seaters and $120 to $150 for 6-seaters, which is a real extra to budget. Motion sickness prevention, a change of clothes, personal medication and passports or ID cards for everyone, children included, are on the packing list.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel transfers | Yes | Pickup along Collins Avenue or central Downtown Miami, drop-off at your hotel |
| Port drive | Yes | About 30 minutes to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale |
| Baleària ferry | Yes | About 2 hours each way |
| Landing and facility fees | Yes | Listed as included in the price |
| Food and drinks | No | Bring money for the whole day |
| Tips | No | Not included |
| Water sports pass | No | Bought on the ferry |
How This Listing Compares With Other Day Trips
This listing is the one that brings the Miami Beach hotel transfer with it. The US2U Tours and Gray Line listings below sell the ferry from Fort Lauderdale on their own terms, so check each one's pickup and inclusions. One reviewer noted only about 5 of 17 hours felt like island time once transfers and border screening were counted.
If you want to compare whole-day options side by side, the comparison table on the homepage lists the ferry day trips together.
| Option | Price | What it adds or drops |
|---|---|---|
| This listing, with transfers | $299 | Hotel pickup in Miami Beach or Downtown Miami, landing and facility fees included |
| US2U Tours ferry day trip from Port Everglades | $299 | Ferry from Port Everglades, Bimini or Grand Bahama chosen at booking |
| Gray Line from Fort Lauderdale | $270 | 18 hours, Economy or Business Class, hotel pickup and drop-off included |
| Optional water sports pass | Price not stated | Bought on the ferry for shipwreck snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing or the Hilton resort pool |
Hotels line Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, where the hotel pickups for the ferry begin. Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
This is a long transport day built around the ferry clock, not a guided excursion.
The Pickup and the Drive
The driver collects you at your Collins Avenue hotel or a central Downtown Miami point. The ride to Port Everglades takes about 30 minutes, but the ferry terminal has a hard window: check-in opens at 6:00 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. sailing and the terminal doors close at 8:00 a.m. That means an early wake-up for a long day.
Reviewers report late hotel pickups, so build a buffer and be ready before the stated window.
- Early morning pickup at your Miami Beach or Downtown hotel
- About 30 minutes by road to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale
The Crossing and the Island
The Baleària catamaran crosses in about 2 hours, arriving in Bimini. You then have about 6 hours of free time, or 7 hours in July and August because of daylight. There is no guide on the island.
The ferry docks beside the Resorts World complex on North Bimini, and reviewers report a golf cart as the way to reach Alice Town, Radio Beach and the restaurants. The Dolphin House Museum in Alice Town is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., reported at $20 cash only.
- About 2 hours on the water each way
- About 6 hours free on Bimini, 7 in July and August
- No guide, so plan your own beach, food and golf cart
The Return
The return ferry leaves Bimini in the late afternoon, listed at 6:00 p.m. on day-trip sailings by the ferry operator's resellers, and 7:00 p.m. in summer. After clearing US Customs and Immigration at Port Everglades, your driver takes you back to your hotel. The listing gives 15 hours for the whole day.
It does not fit inside a cruise ship's port day, since Nassau port calls on the Miami itineraries run about 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is a full independent day, not a shore excursion.
| Phase | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in | 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. | Terminal opens at 6:00 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. sailing and closes at 8:00 a.m. |
| Crossing | About 2 hours | Port Everglades to Bimini on the Baleària ferry |
| Ashore | About 6 hours | Free time, 7 hours in July and August |
| Return ferry | Late afternoon | Back to Port Everglades, US Customs and Immigration |
| Transfer | After the ferry returns | Driver returns you to your Miami Beach hotel |
Miami to Bimini Ferry Review
A traveller's review of the ferry day from the Miami area to Bimini and what the island day looks like. Third-party video by Never Really Home. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing states several hard limits, and the 15-hour shape of the day rules out more people than any posted rule.
Stated Restrictions
Pregnant women are told this trip is not suitable. Infants under 6 months are not permitted. The tour is wheelchair accessible with foldable wheelchairs only.
You must hold a valid passport and US re-entry authorization because you clear US Customs and Immigration, and citizens of some countries may need a Bahamian entry visa, so check the Bahamian immigration website before booking. Children need a passport or ID card too.
- Not suitable for pregnant women
- Infants under 6 months not permitted
- Foldable wheelchairs only
- Passport plus US re-entry authorization required, visa for some nationalities
Practical Limits of the Day
Fifteen hours with an early pickup is a lot for young children and for anyone who struggles with long days. Motion sickness prevention is on the packing list. The provider is not responsible for delays caused by weather, the Coast Guard or Immigration Services Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure.
- A 15-hour day with an early start and a late return
- Open water crossing, so bring motion sickness prevention
- Weather, Coast Guard and immigration delays are outside the provider's control
If This One Does Not Fit
If the Miami pickup is not worth it to you, the US2U Tours ferry day trip from Port Everglades costs the same $299 and lets you choose Bimini or Grand Bahama at booking. If you are based in Fort Lauderdale, the Gray Line Bimini day trip runs $270 and includes hotel pickup and drop-off. If a whole day at sea is too much, look at what to do in Nassau on a cruise day instead, since a Bahamas cruise from Miami puts you ashore in the morning with the ship as your hotel.
North Bimini and its sandbars seen from a plane above the Atlantic. Photo: Oscar Flowers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Could You See It Without This Cruise?
Once you are on Bimini, the day can be done by taxi, golf cart or on foot.
The Ferry Alone
The ferry crossing is run by Baleària from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. This listing packages it with the Miami Beach hotel transfer, the landing and facility fees and a driver, so you do not arrange the Miami to Fort Lauderdale leg yourself.
What a Day on Bimini Costs Without Any Tour
Once ashore, the island is easy on its own. A taxi from the pier to Alice Town or Radio Beach runs about $5 per person and about 15 minutes, versus a walk of about 45 minutes. The Resorts World tram runs every 10 to 15 minutes to Fisherman's Village, the marina and the casino, and Bimini Beach at the resort needs a $40 day pass for non-hotel guests.
Radio Beach itself is a public white sand beach in the Alice Town area. The water sports pass for shipwreck snorkeling and jet skiing is an extra bought on the ferry, and there is no guide anywhere on this trip.
| On-island item | Cost if you do it yourself |
|---|---|
| Taxi pier to Alice Town or Radio Beach | About $5 per person |
| Golf cart rental | Reported at $89.99 to $115 a day for 4-seaters |
| Resorts World Bimini Beach day pass | $40 for non-hotel guests |
| Dolphin House Museum | Reported at $20, cash only |
When the Free Option Is Enough
If your real goal is a beach day, ask if you need the Bahamas at all. Miami has the free Metromover with 21 stations on three loops, and Bayfront Park at 301 Biscayne Boulevard with free admission 365 days a year, open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The guide to free day trips from Miami covers those.
But a free day in Miami gives you no ferry ride, no second country in your passport and no Bimini sandbar water, and that crossing is the reason people book this listing. For another island in one day, the ferry also serves Freeport, and the Grand Bahama ferry day trip from Miami is the same style of day with a 3-hour crossing.
Port and transit figures: Port Everglades
The Day, Step by Step
The listing states durations but no clock times for the transfer, so the ferry's official check-in and sailing hours carry the schedule.
-
Pickup
Hotel collection in Miami Beach
The driver collects you along Collins Avenue or at a central Downtown Miami location. Reviewers report late pickups, so be waiting early.
-
Transfer
Drive to Port Everglades
About 30 minutes by air-conditioned vehicle to the ferry terminal in Fort Lauderdale. Check-in opens at 6:00 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. sailing and the terminal doors close at 8:00 a.m.
-
Check-in
Passport control and boarding
Check in at Terminal 21. Everyone, children included, needs a valid passport or ID card.
-
Crossing
Baleària ferry to Bimini
About 2 hours. Bring motion sickness prevention, the crossing can move.
-
Ashore
About 6 hours of free time
No guide. Golf cart to Alice Town and Radio Beach, swim, eat, or buy the water sports pass on the ferry for shipwreck snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing or the resort pool. In July and August you get 7 hours.
-
Return ferry
Late afternoon back to Florida
Board the return sailing, listed at 6:00 p.m. on day-trip departures and 7:00 p.m. in summer, then clear US Customs and Immigration at Port Everglades.
-
Drop-off
Back to your hotel
The driver waits at the port and returns you to your Miami Beach hotel, ending the 15-hour day.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of the listing, its reviews and the alternatives.
What we genuinely like
- Door to door from Miami Beach or Downtown Miami, which the ferry alone does not offer
- Landing and facility fees are in the $299, so no surprise port charges
- About 6 hours on Bimini, 7 in July and August
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve now, pay later
- Wheelchair accessible with foldable wheelchairs, and the driver speaks English, Spanish and Arabic
The honest downsides
- 15 hours for about 6 hours on the island, and one reviewer counted only about 5 of 17 hours as island time
- Food, drinks and tips are not included, and the water sports pass and a golf cart add real money
- Reviewers report late hotel pickups and long border screening
- An early start to make the 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. check-in window
- The provider is not responsible for weather, Coast Guard or immigration delays
Who it's NOT for: Not for pregnant women, not for infants under 6 months, and not for anyone who cannot face a 15-hour day for 6 hours of beach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ferry to Bimini leave from Miami?
No. The Baleària ferry sails from Port Everglades Terminal 21 in Fort Lauderdale, and no ferry leaves from Miami itself. This listing adds the Miami Beach transfer to bridge that gap, which the ferry from Miami to the Bahamas guide explains in full.
How much does this Bimini day trip from Miami cost?
The listing price is $299 per person, including hotel transfers, the ferry and landing and facility fees. Food, drinks, tips and the water sports pass are extra. Compare it with the other day trips in the Bahamas cruise from Miami.
How long do you spend on Bimini?
About 6 hours of free time, extended to 7 hours in July and August because of daylight. The whole day runs 15 hours including transfers and the 2-hour crossing each way. See what the day is really like.
What documents do I need?
A valid passport and US re-entry authorization, since you go through US Customs and Immigration, and citizens of some countries may need a Bahamian entry visa. Check the Bahamian immigration website before booking. More detail is in who this tour rules out.
Is the ferry ticket included in the $299?
Yes. The $299 covers the hotel transfers, the ferry and the landing and facility fees. Food, drinks, tips and the water sports pass are extra. See the breakdown in what the price actually covers.
What is there to do during the free time on Bimini?
Swim at Radio Beach, ride a golf cart to Alice Town, visit the Dolphin House Museum, or buy the water sports pass on the ferry for shipwreck snorkeling, jet skiing or parasailing. The on-island costs are laid out in could you see it without this cruise.
Can I do this trip from Fort Lauderdale instead?
Yes. If you are not staying in Miami Beach, the Gray Line Bimini ferry day trip from Fort Lauderdale costs $270, includes hotel pickup and drop-off and runs 18 hours.
What Travelers Said
I had the best time, the bus driver was really nice and it was a good trip. I went by myself as a solo female traveller and I felt safe the whole journey. 😊
Everything was well organised, from the bus pick up, to the ferry across and Bimini is another level of beautiful ! This is a must do trip
Perfect day, nice island and wonderful people 🙌🇧🇸 We traveled on Wednesday and the immigration back in Miami wasn’t so much time.
Overall very nice and well organised. It would be nicer to have less hours of music In the swimming pool area.
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