Bahamas Cruise from Miami2 Days in Miami
2 days in Miami is enough for one full Miami day plus a day in the Bahamas, if you plan around the ferry schedule. This page lays out three shapes for the same 48 hours: a Miami day followed by the 9:00 AM Bahamas ferry day, a weekend built around a cruise from PortMiami, and a one-night loop to Bimini. It gives a day-by-step plan, the ticket prices that come from official and bookable sources, and the tours that fit each slot. For a longer version, the three-day plan lives on its own page. Hotel prices are not covered here. See all Bahamas cruises from Miami for the ship side of the picture.
A lifeguard tower stands on South Beach at sunrise. Photo: Matt Kieffer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quick answer The short version
Two days in Miami works best as one Miami day plus one Bahamas ferry day: the ferry leaves Port Everglades at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and returns the same evening, with check-in between 6:00 and 8:00 AM. The second good shape is a weekend wrapped around a cruise, since embarkation runs about 11:00 to 15:30 and disembarkation clears the ship between 07:00 and 10:00. A third option is one night on Bimini, out on one sailing day and back on the next, with a passport for everyone.
Key takeaways
- Skip the logistics and book the Bahamas Day Trip by Ferry to Bimini or Grand Bahama at $299 for a 15-hour day.
- Start Day 1 on the water with the Miami Biscayne Bay Millionaire Homes Cruise at $20 for 1.5 hours from Bayside Marketplace.
- Coming or going by ship? The Miami Private Transfer to the Cruise Port is from $70 one way and covers airport, hotels and PortMiami.
- Want the Bahamas by cruise ship instead of ferry? Compare Miami Bahamas cruise routes by line and length on the homepage.
2 Days in Miami at a Glance
Two days in Miami splits three ways, and the ferry calendar decides which one you get. The table compares all three.
The Three Shapes of a 2-Day Trip
All three plans use the same building blocks. Day 1 in Miami is cheap and easy: the free Metromover, the free Miami Beach trolley, Bayside Marketplace and a bay cruise. Day 2 is either the Bahamas ferry from Fort Lauderdale or a cruise day at PortMiami. The ferry runs only on some days of the week, so your dates pick the plan before you do.
Every figure below comes from the port, reseller schedule pages and the bookable tours linked through this site.
| Plan | Day 1 | Day 2 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami day + ferry day | South Beach, Art Deco, Bayfront Park, the $20 bay cruise | Check in 6:00-8:00 AM at Port Everglades Terminal 21, 9:00 AM sailing, Bimini or Freeport, back about 6:00 PM | No cruise booked, ferry fits your dates |
| Pre- or post-cruise weekend | One Miami day: Bayside, the bay cruise, South Beach 4 miles from the port | Embarkation about 11:00-15:30, or disembarkation 07:00-10:00 and a flight | You hold a Miami Bahamas cruise ticket |
| One night on Bimini | Miami sights, afternoon drive to Fort Lauderdale or morning ferry | Ferry out on Wednesday, Friday or Sunday, overnight, return on the next sailing day | Passport holders who want more than 6 hours ashore |
How to Choose Between Them
Three checks settle it. First, the ferry days: the Bimini ferry sails Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 9:00 AM from Port Everglades Terminal 21, so check your dates against those days first. Second, cruise times: if you sail, Day 2 belongs to the ship, since typical embarkation runs about 11:00 to 15:30.
Third, documents: every ferry passenger to the Bahamas needs a valid passport, and the Bahamas Immigration Department says passports must be valid at least six months. If none of the ferry days line up, you fold both days into Miami itself, with the free sights covered in depth on the free day trips page.
Port and transit figures: Everglades National Park
2 Days in Miami, Step by Step
A 2 day Miami itinerary that puts the city first and the Bahamas second. Adjust the order if your ferry or sailing day lands on Day 1.
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Day 1, morning
South Beach and the Art Deco district
Start at South Pointe Park at 1 Washington Avenue, free, open sunrise to sunset, with a 450-foot pier open 7:30 AM to 6 PM beside Government Cut where cruise ships pass. Walk north on Ocean Drive. The Art Deco Welcome Center at 1001 Ocean Drive opens daily 9 AM to 5 PM, and walking the district yourself costs nothing. If you want the guided version, the official two-hour Art Deco walking tour covers about 1.5 miles at $50 adult, $40 senior and free for ages 12 and under.
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Day 1, midday
Lummus Park beach time, then the free trolley north
The beach at Lummus Park is free, with metered street parking nearby at about $1 to $4 an hour. Metrobus Route 120 reaches Lummus Park near 11th Street and Collins for the regular $2.25 fare. The Miami Beach citywide trolley is free and runs 8 AM to 11 PM seven days a week on four loops, about every 20 minutes, so ride it toward South Beach, Middle Beach or North Beach without spending a cent.
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Day 1, afternoon
Downtown: Bayfront Park and Bayside Marketplace
Ride or drive to downtown Miami. Bayfront Park at 301 Biscayne Boulevard covers 32 acres, opens 7 AM to 11 PM and is free 365 days a year. The Bayfront Park Metromover station is the closest stop, and the Metromover itself is free, running 5:30 AM to 10 PM on three loops. Bayside Marketplace at 401 Biscayne Blvd sits next door, open until 10 PM Monday to Thursday and 11 PM Friday and Saturday.
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Day 1, late afternoon
The Biscayne Bay cruise
From the Bayside Marketplace dock, the Miami Biscayne Bay Millionaire Homes Cruise costs $20, lasts 1.5 hours and passes Star Island, the Venetian Islands and the PortMiami cruise ships with a live bilingual guide. It is the cheapest paid ticket in this plan and the easiest way to see the bay. Eat at Bayside afterward, then sleep early: the ferry day starts before dawn.
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Day 2, 6:00-8:00 AM
Check-in at Port Everglades Terminal 21
The Baleària ferry to the Bahamas leaves from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, not from Miami, and there is no ferry from Miami itself. The terminal address is 2021 Eller Dr, Fort Lauderdale. Check-in opens at 6:00 AM for the 9:00 AM departure and the terminal doors close at 8:00 AM, and the operator suggests arriving between 6:15 and 6:45 AM. Book the Bimini Ferry with Miami Beach Hotel Transfers at $299, which includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Miami Beach and the drive to the port.
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Day 2, 9:00 AM
The 9:00 AM sailing to Bimini
The fast ferry Jaume II is 81 metres long, makes 35 knots and carries 655 passengers. The crossing to Bimini takes about 2 hours over roughly 50 miles, arriving 11:00 AM. Each adult gets one free carry-on up to 26.5 lb, and extra bags are checked at the counter. Bring your passport for every traveller including children. Another option is the Bahamas Day Trip by Ferry to Bimini or Grand Bahama at $299, which covers the round-trip ferry from Port Everglades and free time on the island, with pickup included.
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Day 2, late morning
Bimini ashore
The ferry docks on North Bimini. Radio Beach is a white sand beach on the west coast, part of three continuous beaches in the Alice Town area. Golf cart rentals run about $89.99 to $115 a day for 4-seaters if you want wheels. The Dolphin House Museum in Alice Town opens Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM, reported at $20 cash only. Non-hotel guests at Resorts World Bimini need a day pass at $40 for Bimini Beach, open 11 AM to 6 PM and reached by a complimentary tram.
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Day 2, evening
The return sailing
Return sailings leave Bimini at 7:00 PM in summer and 6:00 PM from mid-September, so you have roughly 6 to 7 hours ashore on the same-day version. US citizens returning by sea can use a passport book or passport card, and CBP's free Mobile Passport Control app works at Port Everglades Seaport.
One Night on Bimini Instead
With sailings on only some days of the week, the same-day return squeezes Bimini into about 6 or 7 hours. An overnight flips that.
How the One-Night Logic Works
The ferry sails Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 9:00 AM and returns the same evening, so a same-day trip gives about 7 hours ashore at best. Stay the night and you return on the next sailing day. Multi-day round trips are priced differently from the day trips, so check the fare when you book.
Book 2 to 3 weeks ahead, because with sailings on only some days of the week a sold-out date can delay travel by days. The full mechanics of the crossing sit on the ferry from Miami to Bahamas page.
What to Do With the Extra Hours
Base yourself around Alice Town, the island's main tourism hub, where most hotels, restaurants and attractions sit. Radio Beach and its two neighbouring beaches run along the west coast. Rent a golf cart, about $89.99 to $115 a day for a 4-seater, and cover the whole 11-kilometre length of North Bimini, which is only about 200 metres wide.
Cross to South Bimini by water taxi from the Government Dock in Alice Town for a few dollars. Resorts World Bimini, opened in 2013 on a 750-acre property, has 307 hotel rooms, six restaurants, a casino and the largest marina in the Bahamas, and non-guests pay a $40 day pass for Bimini Beach.
Documents for the Overnight
A valid passport is required for every ferry passenger to the Bahamas, including children and infants. The Bahamas Immigration Department requires a passport valid at least six months and does not accept passport cards for entry, and you must hold a return ticket or other means of leaving the country. The return ferry ticket covers that, but carry proof.
Bahamas entry needs no visa for US citizens with a valid passport, and every traveller must file a C17 customs declaration, which can be filed free through the Exempt app before arrival.
2 Days in Miami: The Perfect Itinerary
A two-day Miami plan covering South Beach, the Art Deco streets and downtown. Third-party video by Town Travel Tips. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
2 Days Around a Cruise from PortMiami
If the Bahamas comes by ship instead of ferry, one day belongs to Miami and the other to embarkation or disembarkation at PortMiami.
The Day Before: Miami Near the Port
PortMiami sits on Dodge Island in Biscayne Bay, reached from I-395 and the MacArthur Causeway through the toll-free Port of Miami Tunnel, and South Beach is about 4 miles and roughly 15 minutes away. Build the pre-cruise day around downtown: Bayside Marketplace on the bay shore, Bayfront Park and the $20 Biscayne Bay Millionaire Homes Cruise from the Bayside dock, 1.5 hours past Star Island and the cruise ships. The Coral Way Trolley gives free service between the port area and downtown, and the free Metromover covers downtown until 10 PM.
Sleep close to the port or on South Beach so the morning drive stays short.
Embarkation Day at PortMiami
Typical embarkation runs about 11:00 to 15:30, so a morning in the city is possible if your check-in slot is late. Terminals map to lines: Terminal A is Royal Caribbean, Terminal AA is MSC, Terminal B is Norwegian, Terminal C is Celebrity, Terminals D, E and F are Carnival, Terminal V is Virgin Voyages and Terminal J serves Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Azamara, Windstar and Silversea. The port address is 1015 North America Way.
Parking costs $25 per day for long-term at Garages C, D, F, G and Lot E, and $35 per day at the MSC Garage AA and the Norwegian Garage B. Drop luggage before parking the car. Porters are tipped about $2 to $5 per checked bag. If you would rather not drive, the Miami Private Transfer to the Cruise Port starts at $70 one way between airport, hotel and port with luggage help.
Disembarkation Day and the Flight Home
Typical disembarkation clears passengers off the ship between 07:00 and 10:00, so book flights with padding. Miami International Airport sits 7.1 miles from the port and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International 25.7 miles, and the airport run takes about 25 minutes off-peak but 50 minutes or more around 8 AM or 5 PM. A rideshare from Miami airport to the port costs roughly $25 to $45 and a cruise-line transfer roughly $20 to $35 per person each way.
The port has no storage lockers, so keep bags with you or with the line. The busiest months are January to March plus the two weeks around Christmas, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the busiest embarkation days.
Cafe tables sit under awnings along Ocean Drive in South Beach. Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What 2 Days Cost in Tickets
The table lists the bookable fares and fees that appear in this plan, from ferry day trips to transit. No sums are calculated, because your mix depends on which plan you run.
Ticket and Fee Table
Figures come from PortMiami and Miami-Dade Transit rate tables, the Resorts World Bimini day-pass listing and the bookable tours linked above. Transit fares are per ride or per pass as noted.
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bahamas ferry day trip, Economy | Varies by sailing day, check at booking | Same-day round trip to Bimini, taxes included |
| Bahamas ferry day trip, Economy Premium | Varies by sailing day, check at booking | Adds reclining seat, USB charger, one free drink and snack, priority disembarkation |
| Ferry day trip via US2U Tours | $299 | Bahamas Day Trip by Ferry to Bimini or Grand Bahama, 15 hours |
| Ferry day trip with hotel transfers | $299 | Bimini Ferry with Miami Beach Hotel Transfers, pickup on Collins Avenue or Downtown |
| Ferry day trip via Gray Line | $270 | Bimini Day Trip by Ferry from Fort Lauderdale, free cancellation to 2 days before |
| Resorts World Bimini day pass | $40 | For non-hotel guests, Bimini Beach open 11 AM to 6 PM |
| Biscayne Bay sightseeing cruise | $20 | Bayride tour from Bayside Marketplace, 1.5 hours |
| Private cruise port transfer | $70 | One-way between MIA, hotels and PortMiami |
| Metrobus or Metrorail ride | $2.25 | $1.10 on the discounted fare |
| Miami-Dade Transit 1-Day Pass | $5.65 | Valid from first use until 2:00 AM the next day |
| Metromover | Free | 5:30 AM to 10 PM, 21 stations on three loops |
| Miami Beach trolley | Free | 8 AM to 11 PM daily, about every 20 minutes |
| PortMiami long-term parking | $25 per day | Garages C, D, F, G and Lot E |
| PortMiami parking, MSC and Norwegian garages | $35 per day | Garage AA and Garage B |
| Extra ferry bag | Must be checked at the counter | One free carry-on of 26.5 lb per adult |
Tips for 2 Days in Miami
Do
- Do check the ferry calendar first, because sailings run only Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and a sold-out date can delay travel by days.
- Do book the ferry 2 to 3 weeks ahead, since sailings on only some days of the week fill up.
- Do carry a valid passport for every traveller, including infants, because the ferry requires it for all passengers.
- Do use the free transit, because the Metromover and the Miami Beach trolley together cover downtown and South Beach at no cost.
- Do arrive at Port Everglades between 6:15 and 6:45 AM, because check-in opens at 6:00 and the terminal doors close at 8:00.
Don't
- Don't look for a ferry from Miami itself, because the Baleària service leaves from Port Everglades Terminal 21 in Fort Lauderdale only.
- Don't plan Day 2 around the ferry if your dates miss Wednesday, Friday or Sunday.
- Don't rely on a passport card for Bahamas entry, because the Bahamas Immigration Department does not accept them, even though the US accepts a passport card for sea return.
- Don't leave a cruise-day flight too tight, because disembarkation can run to 10:00 and the airport run takes 50 minutes or more at peak times.
2 Days in Miami: Questions
Is it worth going to Miami for 2 days?
Yes, if one of the days carries a purpose. One Miami day covers South Beach, the Art Deco district and downtown on mostly free transit, and the second day can be a Bahamas ferry day sailing at 9:00 AM from Port Everglades. Without the ferry or a cruise, two days still work, but add the free sights from free day trips from Miami to fill them.
What should I do in Miami for 2 days?
Day 1: South Pointe Park, Ocean Drive, Lummus Park, then Bayfront Park, Bayside Marketplace and a bay cruise at $20. Day 2: the 9:00 AM ferry to Bimini, about 2 hours each way, with roughly 6 hours ashore. The full step list is in the itinerary above.
Can you do a Bahamas day trip from Miami in 2 days?
Yes. The Baleària ferry leaves Port Everglades Terminal 21 at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, takes about 2 hours to Bimini and returns at 7:00 PM in summer or 6:00 PM from mid-September. Bookable day trips run from $270 to $299, and the details sit on the ferry from Miami to the Bahamas page.
What documents do I need for the ferry to Bimini?
A valid passport for every passenger including children and infants. The Bahamas requires it to be valid at least six months, does not accept passport cards for entry, and requires a return ticket, which the ferry booking covers. Every traveller also files a C17 customs declaration, free through the Exempt app.
How do 2 days in Miami work around a cruise?
Embarkation typically runs about 11:00 to 15:30, so spend the day before at Bayside and on the bay cruise, then park at the port for $25 to $35 per day or take a private transfer from $70. On return, disembarkation clears the ship between 07:00 and 10:00, and Miami International Airport is 7.1 miles away with a 25-minute off-peak run. Compare ships on Bahamas cruises from Miami.
What are the top things to see in Miami in 2 days?
Five that fit the plan: South Pointe Park with its 450-foot pier, the Art Deco district on Ocean Drive, free Bayfront Park, Bayside Marketplace with the $20 bay cruise, and Bimini across the water. A third day extends the city plan on the three-day trip from Miami page.