Two Islands, Hotel Pickup

A US2U day trip from Miami aboard the Balearia ferry, bound for Bimini or Grand Bahama depending on the sailing date.

Overview

This is a same-day ferry run from Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades out to the Bahamas and back. Which island you sail to depends on your travel date: some dates go to Bimini, others to Grand Bahama. Bimini is the shorter crossing, about two hours each way, which leaves roughly 5.5 hours on the island. Grand Bahama takes about three hours each way and gives you about four hours ashore.

The crossing itself is on a fast ferry with air-conditioned seating, restrooms and a snack bar, and there is a service desk on board where crew can suggest things to do once you land. On Bimini, the vibe is laid back with quiet beaches; on Grand Bahama you can reach Crystal Beach, where you can meet and swim with the swimming pigs. Once ashore, everything is free time. Optional extras such as parasailing, snorkeling and beach club day passes are available but paid for separately, and the listing notes that beach day passes must be purchased on the ferry.

The day runs long. Departure from Florida is around 9 AM with check-in closing well before that in the early morning, and the ferry is back in Florida around 8 PM. Reviewers repeatedly call it a big day but a worthwhile one, with the clear blue water and beach time drawing the most praise.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check-in at Port EvergladesMeet at 2021 Eller Dr, Port Everglades, one of two pickup location options. Check-in closes sharp, well before the morning departure.
2. Ferry to the BahamasDeparture from Florida is around 9 AM. The crossing is about 2 hours to Bimini or about 3 hours to Grand Bahama, depending on the sailing date, on a fast ferry with a snack bar, restrooms and air-conditioned seating.
3. Island free timeAbout 5.5 hours on Bimini or about 4 hours on Grand Bahama. The time is yours: beaches, swimming, sightseeing, or optional paid extras such as snorkeling, parasailing and beach club passes, which must be bought on the ferry.
4. Return ferryDeparture from Bimini is around 6 PM and from Grand Bahama around 5 PM, and both can shift with the season. Arrival back in Florida is around 8 PM.
5. Drop-offThe ferry returns to 2021 Eller Dr, Port Everglades, with two drop-off location options there.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in the listing and in traveller reviews, and they shape how the day goes.

• Bring your documents. A valid passport or passport card is required, plus USA re-entry authorization such as an ESTA. You clear US Customs and Immigration on the way back, so carry the passport with you on the island. Travellers from the USA, EU, UK and Switzerland do not need a visa; others should check with Bahamian immigration before booking.
• Plan for a long day. With an early morning check-in and return around 8 PM, this is a full day door to door. One reviewer describes it as intense and notes the check-in process itself can take about two hours before departure. Build recovery time into the next morning.
• Decide your island day early. Everything ashore is free time, so have a rough plan before you land. Reviewers often mention exploring by golf cart, and one notes the trip includes access to the Bimini Resort World hotel with its pools and beach. Beach day passes must be purchased on the ferry, not on land.
• Bring your own food. The ferry has a snack bar, but one reviewer wished the food were better, and another recommends bringing a meal. Optional water sports and activities on the island cost extra and are not in the ticket price.
• Expect schedule wobble. Return departure times can vary with the season, and the operator is not responsible for delays caused by weather, the Coast Guard or Immigration Services. Several reviewers said unclear timing and long waits cut into their beach time, so confirm the return time when you board.
• Pack for water and sun. Plan for swimming and time outdoors, and bring what you need for a day at the beach.

Common issues. The recurring complaints are about communication and timing: several reviewers reported unclear pickup and return times, long waits to re-board, and delays that ate into their hours ashore. One reviewer mentioned a departure that left hours later than the listing stated, and another noted the meeting point did not match the map. One reviewer reported a ceiling leak near their seat and a strong diesel smell on the deck, and another felt the reseller adds no value over booking the ferry directly. Infants under 6 months old are not permitted on this tour, and there is no refund if passport data provided at booking is missing or false. Weather, Coast Guard and Immigration Services delays are outside the operator's control.

Before The Ferry