Bimini Islands Cruise Port Guide: Beaches, Snorkeling & Getting Around

Quick Take

Port Type

Beach & Resort Port

Best For

Beach time, snorkel trips to the SS Sapona wreck, and easy family days built around the resort

Avoid If

You want a walkable historic town, heavy sightseeing or a busy shopping strip

Walkability

Limited. The resort area is walkable and tram-served, but Alice Town is 2 to 2.5 miles south and needs a taxi or golf cart.

Budget Fit

Good if you stick to the free tram and beaches. Excursions and resort food cost more.

Good For Short Calls?

Yes for a resort beach visit. A snorkel trip needs most of a half day once you count transit.

Port Overview

Ships call at the Resorts World Bimini Cruise Pier on North Bimini, about 50 miles east of Miami. The pier opened in July 2021 and takes the largest ships, so passengers walk straight off onto the pier with no tendering. The port welcomed its one-millionth passenger in November 2023.

Bimini is small and quiet compared with Nassau. Most cruisers spend their day in the resort complex, which has the Hilton, a casino, Fisherman's Village and beach areas served by a free tram. Alice Town, the island's main settlement, is 2 to 2.5 miles south and is best reached by taxi or golf cart. A resort beach visit fits a short call, while Alice Town or a snorkel trip needs most of the day.

Go ashore for easy beach time, a relaxed lunch or a snorkel trip to the SS Sapona wreck. Skip it if you expect big-city sightseeing, a long walkable historic core or a busy shopping strip. Check your daily schedule for your ship's all-aboard time before booking anything long.

Is It Safe?

The U.S. State Department rates The Bahamas Level 2, which means exercise increased caution, mainly because of crime. Most cruise visitors on Bimini have uneventful days, but petty theft and opportunistic crime happen, so treat the basics seriously.

Stay mostly in the resort area and on the tram route, especially after dark. Use licensed taxis and agree the fare before you get in. Do not leave phones, bags or wallets unattended on the beach or on a boat.

Keep your ship's all-aboard time in mind and build in a buffer. If you are heading to Alice Town or a remote beach, tell someone on your ship where you are going and when you expect to be back.

Accessibility & Walkability

The pier is flat and the resort area is generally easy to get around, and the free tram helps with distance within the complex. Sand, gravel paths and uneven ground make some beach areas hard going with a wheelchair or mobility aid.

Alice Town roads can be uneven, so a taxi or golf cart is usually easier than walking. Ask the operator about access before booking a boat trip or a rental cart, since boarding and seating vary.

Outside the Terminal

You step off onto the pier and into the Resorts World Bimini complex. The free tram is usually nearby, and the resort area is set up for visitors rather than locals.

This is not a town you walk into. For a traditional island feel, you need to leave the resort by taxi or golf cart, so decide early whether you are staying in the resort or heading out.

Beaches Near the Port

Local Food & Drink

Most cruisers eat in the resort area, at Fisherman's Village and the hotel restaurants. These are the easiest options if you have a short call, and they are priced for visitors, so expect resort-level prices. Check current hours before you go, since they can change.

If you head to Alice Town, look for small local spots serving Bahamian staples such as conch dishes and fried fritters. Bring cash for these places, and go earlier in the day if you are on a tight schedule.

Shopping

Shopping on Bimini is limited. Expect a few resort shops and small souvenir stands in Alice Town rather than a real retail strip.

If you want local crafts or a bottle of something to take home, buy them at the resort or in Alice Town and keep them in a bag you can carry. This is not a port where shopping should drive your plan.

Money & Currency

Currency

Bahamian dollar (BSD); U.S. dollars are widely accepted and circulate at par with the Bahamian dollar.

USD Accepted?

Yes

Card Payments

Cards are widely accepted in the resort venues. Cash is better for shared taxis, small local vendors and tips.

ATMs

Limited outside the resort. Carry enough cash for taxis and small purchases before you leave the resort.

Tipping

Around 15 to 20 percent at restaurants unless service is included. Round up taxi fares, and tip guides and boat crews as you would in other Caribbean ports.

Notes

Carry small USD bills, since change can be hard to get in Alice Town.

Weather & Best Time

Best months

November to April, when the Caribbean dry season and cruise season overlap

Avoid

August to October, which fall in hurricane season

Temperature

Roughly 75 to 85°F (24 to 29°C) during the cruise season

Notes

Afternoon showers can happen at any time of year, so keep a light rain layer in your bag. Check the forecast before booking a boat trip.