Monday, April 1, 2024

15 Best Things to Do in Bimini on a Cruise Port Guide

what to do in bimini on a cruise

This premium beachfront complex has two lagoon pools, swim-up bars, DJs playing music, and plenty of beachfront property. There’s a charm to the pier because it’s so new to major cruise lines, and it hasn’t been developed or overrun by Caribbean staple shops like Diamonds International. Beneath Bimini's shimmering waters lies a world filled with fascinating creatures. Our immersive marine encounters give you the unique opportunity to meet a variety of underwater inhabitants in their natural habitat. It might not look like much, but I decided to go anyway, and I’m glad I did. While swimming above the “road,” it did really look like some sort of infrastructure from a past civilization.

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Man-made or natural, the large rectangular limestone slabs have inspired all kinds of theories. The structure is about half a mile long and is 18 feet below the water. With a population of only about 2,000 full time residents, Bimini Bahamas is an exotic destination not yet overrun by tourism and commercialism.

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Conch is plentiful in Bimini, and you will see piles of shells in the water especially near the Conch Shack, where you can try Conch Salad, a local specialty. The salad is like ceviche only made with conch, peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, and citrus juices. Behind each stand along the water, you can see fenced in areas where the conch is stored until it is harvested. At one of the stops, Max pointed out a rough-looking raft which turned out to be one Cuban refugees escaped on. There are so many to choose from, but Joe’s Conch Shack stands out. Saunders is incredibly talented and built the entire home from the ground up using materials found around the island and that washed ashore.

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I tend to explore on my own, but in this case, my experience would have been totally different. This is a sleepy island and many of the businesses open at a more leisurely pace. Max planned our itinerary and made sure that someone met us at each stop. Having a local Biminite really made a difference in getting to meet so many interesting people with such great stories.

Virgin voyagers are in for a treat during their call in Bimini. Richard Branson has developed a private beach club in partnership with Resorts World Bimini for guests of the cruise line. Anything involving the Bahamian sun, sand, and surf is recommended for a day in Bimini. This includes snorkeling or diving, kayak rentals, standup paddleboarding, swimming with stingrays, a dolphin-watching cruise, fishing, or simply lying on a beach. In addition to its endemic marine life, including shark-diving opportunities, Bimini is home to the wreckage of the SS Sapona. This partially submerged concrete shipwreck lies a few miles off South Bimini and includes a storied history as a ship once intended for WWI troop transport.

Bimini is known for its white sand beaches, crystal clear water, and marine life. Prices are cheaper, there are fewer passengers because children are in school, and the weather isn't as sweltering as it is in the summer. Plus, wave season -- when cruise lines offer some of the best deals you'll see all year -- runs from January through March, so you could snag a last-minute bargain. You can order it prepared in a variety of ways, the most popular being fried conch fritters or ceviche.

Carnival Conquest takes the looooooooong way to Bimini - South Florida Sun Sentinel

Carnival Conquest takes the looooooooong way to Bimini.

Posted: Sun, 19 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Bike rentals are also available at Resorts World where you can rent a bike by the hour, half-day or full-day. Bahamian Creole and English are spoken on the island, so there is not usually any difficulty conversing with locals or with vendors. The currency used is the Bahamian dollar but U.S. currency is accepted and also given as change. ATMs around the resort have high service fees, so avoid them if you can. Credit cards are accepted at a few businesses like Bimini Undersea, Resorts World Bimini and Edith’s Pizza. Explorer Juan Ponce de León once heard rumors of a magical spring on Bimini that restored youth to the elderly who bathed in or drank the spring’s waters.

From its early days as a haven for pirates to its current status as an up-and-coming paradise, Bimini is sure to amaze you with its beauty and culture. The water around the islands is very shallow at feet in most places. To the west, between Miami and Bimini the Gulf Stream flows northward through water 6,000 feet deep, and this brings a variety of fish to the area. The Resorts World Hilton resort is a minute walk from the cruise ship.

what to do in bimini on a cruise

No matter what Brown has in store for you that day it’s going to be a treat. There’s not a cove or hidden spot that Bimini Brown Charters isn’t an expert about. If you want to really get to know the island, there’s no question that getting help from a local expert is the way to go about doing it. Saunders convinced his fellow Bahamians to donate and collect different materials from the island. The materials were assembled as the Dolphin House Museum — a gallery of the actual island, so to speak.

what to do in bimini on a cruise

Finish your day with a meal at Three Daughters restaurant and enjoy their specialties, either the cracked lobster or cracked conch. I asked Max where he goes to eat, and he said this was his favorite. Filled mostly with locals and the occasional tourist, the food here was fantastic. The interior is nothing fancy, but you can eat on the screened porch for an excellent view. These are the places and people I met during my tour with Bimini Island Tours.

Resorts World Bimini Cruise Port Debuts With First Docked Vessel - Cruise Industry News

Resorts World Bimini Cruise Port Debuts With First Docked Vessel.

Posted: Wed, 30 Jun 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The cays that these dive sites are part of are generally called the Bimini Cays. December through March will give you the best views and visibility, though. On North Bimini, all the way at the bottom, Alice Town and Radio Beach are major tourist destinations. If you’re dreaming of a tropical vacation, make sure that Bimini, Bahamas is on your cruise itinerary. The Bahamas is a sovereign country, and as such, all travelers from outside of the country must be able to prove their identity and nationality with a valid passport. This document will be necessary for both entry and exit from Bimini.

Except for Carnival Corporation’s Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, Bimini has the clearest and cleanest waters of any place where cruise ships stop in the region. Since the waters of the Bahamas are so warm, the Bimini Biological Field Station has a shark lab set up. If you want to explore on your own, you can rent a golf cart or set out with food (and plenty of water to stay hydrated) and explore the island. Aside from cruise ships, high-speed ferry service from Balearia Caribbean also makes stops there, running routes from Fort Lauderdale to North Bimini Island.

Many claims have come about that it’s a manmade structure that was later submerged. If that’s the case, no one knows whether it would be a road, wall, or pier. Whatever the case, it’s a sight you’ll be sure to remember forever. The Tuna Alley is a reef system off North Cat Cay that’s easy to find and accessible by boat. A snorkeler’s paradise, it’s full of “new” reef growth and tropic fish. All in all, Bimini offers a great selection of services and products at reasonable prices that make it a great place to visit without breaking the bank.

Just a point to note, since it’s a small island and everything needs to be imported, products will likely be more costly than you will find in the U.S.. The Resorts Worlds tram operates on a 30 minute rotating schedule and will take you from the ship, but the service operates between Resorts World properties only. There is taxi service on the island, but there are no ridesharing services or apps.

Keep in mind the museum is also the artist’s home, so it’s more of residence than an exhibit. Still, everywhere you turn in the Dolphin House you will find something unique, built by hand, and made from recycled materials. There are 3 levels of the building to explore with a roof top terrace that overlooks the beautiful water.

Shark fishing is actually illegal in the Bahamas and these creatures thrive in the crystal clear waters. This is the perfect destination for those wanting a relaxing beach day. Use our list for the best sandy beaches in Bimini, or you can just rent a golf cart and drive around the small island to find them yourself.

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