Bahamas Cruise from MiamiBahamas Day Trip from Miami by Ferry
A Bahamas day trip from Miami is possible without a cruise ship, and this listing is one way to do it. US2U Tours sells the fast ferry from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to Bimini or Grand Bahama, chosen at booking, for $299 per person over 15 hours. There is no ferry from Miami itself, so the departure is Fort Lauderdale and pickup is included from two listed options. Check-in closes at 7:30 AM, the ferry leaves about 9 AM and the day ends back in Florida about 8 PM. This page covers what the price buys, what you pay on the day and who should book a different trip. For the wider picture of ships and routes, see The guide to Bahamas cruises from Miami.
About This Tour
US2U Tours sells the same-day fast ferry from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas. At booking you choose Bimini, about 2 hours each way with about 5.5 hours ashore, or Grand Bahama, about 3 hours each way with about 4 hours ashore including Crystal Beach and the swimming pigs. The listing shows about 5.5 hours on Bimini while its own itinerary shows 6, so treat the hours ashore as approximate.
This is a transport ticket, not an escorted tour. There is no guide on land, only a service desk on the ferry with tips. Optional activities and beach day passes are bought on the ferry. Pickup is included with two pickup options, and passport details for every guest are required at booking.
$299 per person. Reserve now and pay later is available and free cancellation runs to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
15 hours in total, with check-in closing at 7:30 AM and the return to Port Everglades at about 8 PM.
2021 Eller Dr, Port Everglades, Florida, with two pickup options shown on the availability page and drop-off at the same dock.
A fast ferry with a seat, air conditioning, restrooms and a snack bar. The crossing carries foot passengers only. Group size is not stated.
Included are round-trip ferry transport, free time on the island and optional activities as listed. Not included are beach day passes and optional activities, which must be bought on the ferry, and food and drinks, sold on the snack bar.
Cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. There is no refund for missing or false passport data.
Check Dates and Availability
Sailings depend on the ferry schedule and sell out in peak weeks, so check your date early. Passport details for every guest are needed when you book.
Quick answer Ferry day trip in short
This Bahamas day trip from Miami costs $299 per person, runs 15 hours and crosses by fast ferry from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, not from Miami.
Key takeaways
- Check-in closes at 7:30 AM sharp, the ferry leaves about 9 AM and returns to Florida about 8 PM, so it is a long day.
- The ticket covers the ferry and hotel pickup only. Beach day passes and activities are bought on the ferry and food comes from the snack bar.
- You need a passport and US re-entry authorization for every guest, with details given at booking and no refund for errors.
- Want a version with Miami Beach hotel transfers built in? Compare the ferry with Miami Beach hotel transfers or see the full ferry guide.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $299 is a transport ticket with a few extras. Everything else on the island is your own cost, so budget for the day before you book.
What Is in the Ticket
Round-trip ferry transport from Port Everglades to Bimini or Grand Bahama, chosen at booking, with a seat, air conditioning, restrooms and a snack bar on board. Hotel pickup is included from two listed options. Free time on the island and optional activities such as water sports or a beach club are named in the listing, but the activities and beach day passes themselves are paid separately on the ferry. A service desk on the ferry gives tips on what to do ashore.
The listing also sells optional activities as part of the day, so a swim, a beach club or water sports are possible but each costs extra on board.
What You May Pay on the Day
Beach day passes and optional activities must be bought on the ferry. Food and drinks are not included and the snack bar sells both. None of the record sources price these onboard items, so treat them as unplanned costs.
Radio Beach on Bimini is a public beach, so a traveler who sticks to it can keep spending low. On Grand Bahama the listing names Crystal Beach and the swimming pigs, and says optional activities and beach day passes are bought on the ferry.
Documents and Taxes
You go through US Customs and Immigration on return, so every guest needs a valid passport or passport card and US re-entry authorization such as ESTA. US, EU, UK and Swiss citizens need no Bahamian visa, others should check the Bahamian immigration website before booking. Passport details for every guest go in at booking and a missing or false entry means no refund.
The Bahamas departure tax for cruise passengers leaving by sea is $23 ($25 from a private destination), and commercial carriers usually include it in the fare.
Line by Line
The table splits the verified inclusions from the extras, based on the operator's own listing.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry crossing | Round trip Port Everglades to Bimini or Grand Bahama | Seat, air conditioning, restrooms and snack bar on board |
| Pickup | Hotel pickup from two listed options | Drop-off at the same dock |
| Island time | Free time ashore, about 4 to 6 hours | Length depends on the island and season |
| Beach day passes | Not included | Bought on the ferry |
| Food and drinks | Not included | Snack bar sells both |
| Guide | No guide | Service desk on the ferry gives tips |
A golf cart sits beside a white arched monument on a street in Alice Town, Bimini. Photo: Pietro, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing gives fixed ferry times and loose island hours. Here is how they run against the clock.
Morning and Crossing
Check-in at 2021 Eller Dr closes at 7:30 AM sharp, and reviewers report long waits to board. The ferry leaves Florida at about 9 AM. The crossing to Bimini takes about 2 hours with arrival about 11 AM, or about 3 hours to Grand Bahama.
On board you have a seat, air conditioning, restrooms and a snack bar, and the service desk hands out tips for the island.
Ashore
The itinerary shows about 6 hours on Bimini, with free time for sightseeing and swimming, or about 4 hours on Grand Bahama with Crystal Beach and the swimming pigs named in the listing. Beach day passes and water sports are bought on the ferry before you step off. On Bimini the terminal sits beside Resorts World, with Alice Town and Radio Beach beyond it.
The listing does not say how the Grand Bahama dock connects to Crystal Beach, so ask at the service desk on the ferry.
Evening Return
The ferry leaves Bimini at about 6 PM, which may vary by season, and reaches Florida at about 8 PM with two drop-off locations listed. Several reviewers report a later return, one at 8:15 PM instead of 6 PM, so leave slack in any evening plan. The provider advises a midweek date to avoid long waits at the border.
Day Trip from South Florida to the Bahamas
A ferry day from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini, from the terminal to the beach and back. Third-party video by Bahamianista. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing is blunt about exclusions. Check each one before paying, because the 24-hour cancellation window is the only way back.
Hard Exclusions
Infants under 6 months are not permitted, babies under 1 year are listed as not suitable, and the trip is not suitable for pregnant women. No fitness or swimming requirement is stated. Passport details for every guest must be given at booking, and there is no refund for missing or false data.
The provider is not responsible for delays caused by weather, the Coast Guard or Immigration Services.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
If the 15-hour day or the 7:30 AM check-in does not fit, other operators sell ferry day trips to Bimini. The Bimini ferry with Miami Beach hotel transfers collects you along Collins Avenue or Downtown Miami for the same $299. The Bimini day trip by ferry from Fort Lauderdale with Gray Line runs 18 hours at $270 with Economy or Business Class seats.
If you are already on a cruise, in-port options like the Nassau electric trolley culture tour take 2.5 hours instead of a whole day. For longer Florida planning, see the free day trips from Miami or the homepage section on what to do in Nassau on a cruise day.
Small cays and pale shoals lie in blue water south of the Bimini Islands. Photo: LBM1948, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Could You See It Without This Cruise?
The honest alternative depends on where you are. If you are on a cruise to the Bahamas, you are already ashore for free. If you are in Florida, you need the ferry.
If Your Ship Calls at Bimini or Nassau
Cruise passengers reach Bimini's dock at Resorts World with no tender. A taxi to Alice Town or Radio Beach runs about $5 per person and roughly 15 minutes, against a walk of about 45 minutes, and Radio Beach itself is free. A Resorts World Bimini tram runs every 10 to 15 minutes to Fisherman's Village, the marina and the casino, and the Bimini Beach day pass for non-hotel guests is $40.
In Nassau, Junkanoo Beach is free and about a 10-minute walk from the port, the water taxi to Paradise Island costs about $7 to $10 per person, and the jitney bus is about $1.25 to $1.50 a ride.
What the Shore Cannot Give You
A free beach day gives you sand and water but not the crossing. Beach day passes and optional activities are bought on the ferry. There is no free way across the water either, the ferry is the crossing and the $299 includes round-trip transport plus pickup, which no land alternative replaces.
When the Free Option Is Enough
If you want sun and a swim, a public beach beats a paid pass. If you want the pigs, a resort pool or a boat trip, pay for it, either through this listing or on your own in port. For days in Florida itself, the free Metromover in Downtown Miami and Bayfront Park, free entry 365 days a year, cost nothing, and the free day trips from Miami lists more.
The homepage section on what to do in Nassau on a cruise day covers the in-port version, and the comparison table of Bahamas cruises from Miami shows the ship routes.
Port and transit figures: Port Everglades
Ferry Day Trip Itinerary
Clock times come from the listing. Island hours are approximate and vary by season.
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Check-in
Port Everglades, 2021 Eller Dr
Check-in closes at 7:30 AM sharp. Passport details for every guest were given at booking. Reviewers report long waits, so arrive early.
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Departure
Ferry leaves Florida
The fast ferry departs at about 9 AM with your chosen island fixed at booking. On board there is a seat, air conditioning, restrooms and a snack bar.
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Crossing
2 to 3 hours at sea
About 2 hours to Bimini or about 3 hours to Grand Bahama. The onboard service desk hands out tips on beaches, passes and activities.
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Ashore
Free time on the island
Bimini gives about 5.5 hours by the listing, 6 on the itinerary, Grand Bahama about 4 hours with Crystal Beach and the swimming pigs. Beach day passes and water sports are bought on the ferry before landing.
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Return crossing
Back to the ferry
The ferry leaves Bimini at about 6 PM, which may vary by season. Some reviewers report later departures, so build slack into the evening.
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Arrival
Back in Florida
The ferry reaches Port Everglades at about 8 PM with two drop-off locations listed, ending a 15-hour day.
Pros and Cons
A straight read of the listing and what buyers report.
What we genuinely like
- One ticket covers the round-trip ferry, a seat with air conditioning and hotel pickup from two options
- Choice of Bimini or Grand Bahama at booking, so a 2-hour or a 3-hour crossing
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve now, pay later
- 4.5 rating from 454 verified bookings on GetYourGuide
The honest downsides
- 15 hours with a 7:30 AM check-in is a hard start for families with small children
- Food, drinks, beach day passes and activities are all extra on the day
- Reviewers report long waits to board and one return at 8:15 PM instead of the listed 6 PM
- No refund for passport data errors and the provider is not responsible for weather, Coast Guard or Immigration delays
- Not suitable for babies under 1 year, infants under 6 months or pregnant women
Who it's NOT for: Not for travelers who cannot commit 15 hours, families with infants under 1 year, pregnant women, or anyone without a valid passport ready at booking.
Ferry Day Trip Questions
Does the Bahamas day trip by ferry leave from Miami?
No. It sails from Port Everglades at 2021 Eller Dr in Fort Lauderdale because there is no ferry from Miami itself. Pickup is included from two options, and the ferry from Miami to the Bahamas guide explains the routes in full.
How long is the ferry to Bimini and Grand Bahama?
About 2 hours each way to Bimini and about 3 hours each way to Grand Bahama, with check-in closing at 7:30 AM and the ferry leaving about 9 AM. The full day runs 15 hours on this Bahamas day trip.
What documents do I need for the ferry?
Every guest needs a valid passport or passport card plus US re-entry authorization such as ESTA, and passport details go in at booking with no refund for errors. The entry rules sit in the passport and documents section.
Is food included on the ferry day trip?
No. The snack bar on the ferry sells food and drinks, and lunch ashore is your own cost. The price breakdown lists exactly what the $299 covers.
How does this compare with other Bimini day trips?
At $299 it matches the ferry with Miami Beach hotel transfers, while the Gray Line Bimini day trip from Fort Lauderdale costs $270 over 18 hours with Economy or Business Class seats. The Bahamas cruises from Miami sets out all listings side by side.
Can I go instead on a multi-day Bahamas cruise from Miami?
Yes, and for many travelers a ship is the better fit, with 3 to 5-night itineraries calling at Nassau, Bimini and private islands. Fares are per person and change daily, so start with the cruise from Miami to the Bahamas guide.
What happens if the ferry is delayed or the weather turns?
Free cancellation runs to 24 hours before departure, but after that the provider is not responsible for delays caused by weather, the Coast Guard or Immigration Services, and reviewers report returns leaving later than listed. Book a midweek date to reduce border waits and keep the evening open.
What Travelers Said
Simply amazing! The water is so bright, we spent all day inside the blue sea
Great trip, definitely recommend , more time on the island would make more enjoyable,, even if it means leaving earlier, especially in summer months
Overall, it was a good day! The trip includes access to Bimini Resort World which is a beautiful hotel with stunning pools and beach. The ferry and communication around pick-up times were very poor so I didn’t utilise my time on the beach well at all e.g. the GYG information stated that the ferry was departing at 6pm when actually it didn’t depart until 8.15pm. It’s a very long day but if you’re likely never to have the chance to do the Bahamas again, do it!
That was a very intense trip. You have to be at the port early in the morning. The check-in process takes a long time — about two hours in total before departure. Then it’s another two hours of travel. But it’s worth it! The island is small, safe, and beautiful. The color of the water is stunning! We took a taxi to Radio Beach — it’s a public beach, and we also wanted to see how people live there. The conditions aren’t the best, but the residents were incredibly warm and helpful. The return trip was exhausting, but it was worth it!
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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