Miami Beach Hotel Pickup Included

Roundtrip Balearia ferry tickets to Bimini with hotel transfers from Miami Beach included.

Overview

This day trip turns a Miami Beach hotel stay into a Bahamas excursion without any planning on your part. Admiral Tours Miami collects you from your hotel along Collins Avenue or a central Downtown Miami spot, drives you to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, and puts you on a Baleària high-speed ferry to Bimini, the closest Bahamian island to the US mainland. The crossing takes 2 hours each way.

Once you land, the time on Bimini is yours. The tour builds in roughly 6 hours of free time, extending to 7 hours during July and August thanks to longer daylight. Golf carts are available for rent on the island, and you can buy a water sports pass on the ferry for optional extras such as shipwreck snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing, or access to the Hilton resort pool. Food and drinks are not part of the package, so budget for lunch on the island.

The whole outing runs about 15 hours door to door, so it suits travellers who want a long, full day rather than a quick outing. It works well for people who like independent exploring, since there is no guided program on Bimini. Anyone who prefers structure or dislikes queues should read the fine print first: the return involves US Customs and Immigration, and one reviewer described long waits at the border. A valid passport is mandatory, along with US re-entry authorization, and some nationalities need an entry visa for the Bahamas, so check the Bahamian immigration website before booking.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupA driver collects you from your hotel along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach or from a central Downtown Miami location. The vehicle is air-conditioned.
2. Drive to Port EvergladesThe transfer to the Fort Lauderdale port takes about 30 minutes.
3. Ferry to BiminiBoard the Baleària high-speed ferry for a 2-hour crossing to Bimini Island. Optional water sports passes can be purchased onboard.
4. Free time on BiminiEnjoy approximately 6 hours on the island, or 7 hours in July and August. Beach time, golf cart rental, local restaurants, and water sports are at your own cost.
5. Return ferryBoard the ferry back to Florida in the late afternoon. Expect US Customs and Immigration processing on arrival.
6. Hotel drop-offYour driver meets you at the port and returns you to your Miami Beach hotel.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape the day, from paperwork to how you spend the island hours.

• Passport is required. You are leaving and re-entering the United States, so a valid passport and US re-entry authorization are mandatory. Some nationalities also need an entry visa for the Bahamas; check the Bahamian immigration website before booking. Bring ID for children as well.
• Rent a golf cart. One reviewer said you see little on Bimini without hiring a golf cart, and another described the rental as cheap. Reserve time for this if you want to explore beyond the beach.
• Long day, plan for it. The tour runs about 15 hours, and one reviewer counted far more time in transit and lines than on the island. Bring motion sickness prevention for the ferry, a change of clothes, personal medication, and a credit card. One traveller described the return crossing as rough, though not the operator's fault.
• Bring your own food budget. Food and drinks are not included, nor are tips. Plan for lunch on Bimini.
• Independent exploring. There is no guided program on the island; the 6 hours are free time. Optional extras such as snorkeling, jet skiing, and parasailing are sold as a water sports pass onboard.
• Border waits happen. One reviewer mentioned unnecessary waiting and screening at the border, including ESTA checks on the return to Miami. Build patience into your expectations for the return leg.

Common issues. The honest trade-off is transit time: one reviewer estimated only about 5 hours actually on the island out of a much longer day, with the rest spent driving and in lines. Another reviewer reported late hotel transfers in both directions, including a long wait after the ferry docked. A few travellers found boarding information unclear and felt the day would benefit from better on-island guidance and upfront details on schedules and extra costs. One reviewer also encountered rude ferry and port staff, and another felt booking the ferry independently with rideshares would have been cheaper and faster home. Weather, Coast Guard, or Immigration delays are outside the operator's control, and infants under 6 months old cannot join the tour.

Before The Ferry