Bimini, Bahamas Cruise Port Guide: Beaches, Tips & Top Things to Do

By Melissa Newman

Published October 2024 | Updated June 2026

Exploring Bimini: Beaches, Free Tram, Golf Carts, and More

The Bimini cruise port is teeny tiny compared to the other two popular ports of call in the Bahamas, Nassau and Freeport. Bimini comprises two main islands, North and South Bimini, with a total area of about 9 square miles, housing just 2,000 residents. It’s a very narrow and skinny island.

In contrast, Nassau spans approximately 80 square miles and Freeport covers around 530 square miles. Bimini is surprisingly close to the United States, only 55 nautical miles offshore from Miami. Because of its very small size, there aren’t many options in Bimini for cruisers. Virgin Voyages is the main cruise line to call here, but Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and Margaritaville at Sea do as well. Cruisers most commonly use their time at this port of call as a beach day.

Bimini Cruise Port to the City Center

One advantage of Bimini’s small size is the ease of getting around, with everything situated close together. The Bimini cruise port is just over 2 miles from the main city center, known as Alice Town. This downtown area of North Bimini is the main hub of activity, featuring local shops, restaurants, bars, and cultural sites. Alice Town is where you can experience much of the island’s charm and local flavor.

There are several transportation options for those who prefer not to walk. While Uber is unavailable in Bimini, local taxis offer a convenient alternative with regulated fares. A typical taxi ride to the city center costs around $10 USD. A local tram is also available (more on that below), providing a hassle-free option for travelers.

Related: Watch all my Bimini video content

Bimini Tram & Port Map

A Malaysian company called Resorts World pretty much has a Bimini monopoly, as the island is so small and the company operates the only major hotel, a co-branded Hilton location on the Resorts World complex. While this makes for limited options in Bimini, it does provide cruisers with the benefit of an efficient and free tram service.

Resorts World runs a tram service that operates every 30 minutes, making select stops around the island. With clearly marked pick-up locations, these trams transport passengers between various Resorts World properties from the cruise pier. Although they only stop at Resorts World locations, anyone can use them to access the island’s casinos, beaches, and dining options.

Bimini Golf Cart Rentals

Because of Bimini’s small size, some cruisers are tempted to rent a golf cart, which is a popular option at another similar cruise port, Grand Turk. While that’s a great option in Grand Turk, with numerous options and competing vendors, I do not recommend it in Bimini, at least without doing some homework first.

There are very limited vendor choices in Bimini, and I’ve heard almost nothing but universal complaints about old and poorly maintained golf carts with regular breakdowns. Some cruisers have reported some success using this company by making an advance reservation, so that may be an option worth exploring. I’ve personally never used this company, though, so I can’t vouch for them. In Bimini, golf carts typically cost around $90 per day for a four-seater and $120 per day for a six-seater.

Things to Do at the Bimini Cruise Port

The Bimini cruise port area is pretty sparse (basically, a pier), but fortunately, there are options to explore that aren’t far away. The island is small enough that cruisers could conceivably explore downtown and have time to enjoy the beach, all on the same day.

Explore Alice Town

Downtown Bimini is known as “Alice Town,” and many cruisers spend their day here exploring this area, which is just over two miles from the cruise port. Alice Town is also famous in literary circles: Ernest Hemingway spent considerable time fishing out of Bimini in the 1930s and 1940s, and the island’s waters and local character left a strong impression. He is said to have drawn inspiration for his work here, and the connection is reflected in several of the island’s cultural landmarks and local lore. The Bimini Museum in Alice Town covers this history alongside the island’s broader story.

One of the most remarkable stops in Alice Town is the Dolphin House Museum, a hand-built structure covered entirely in mosaics and found materials, constructed over more than 20 years by local resident Ashley Saunders. It is a genuine folk art landmark and unlike anything else in the Bahamas. The mosaics incorporate shells, tiles, coins, sea glass, and other objects collected over decades, and Saunders’s knowledge of Bimini history is on full display inside. It is not to be missed if you are walking through town.

Alice Town is also the best place on the island to find local food. Conch is the signature Bahamian dish, and you can find conch salad and conch fritters at the small restaurants and food stands in the downtown area. If you want an authentic taste of the Bahamas that goes beyond a resort buffet, eating something with conch in Alice Town is the move.

Beach Day

Radio Beach in Bimini is a popular public beach known for its soft white sand, clear turquoise waters, and relaxed atmosphere. Located about 2.5 miles from the cruise port (roughly a 10-minute ride), it is one of the most easily accessible beach options for cruise passengers. The water is calm and clear, typical of the western Bahamas, and the beach has a genuinely unhurried, local vibe rather than the organized resort-beach feel of some more commercial ports.

Local vendors rent chairs and umbrellas on the beach, so you can set up without bringing much from the ship. The water is shallow and gentle near shore, making it good for swimming. Other beaches, all accessible via the Resorts World tram, include Paradise Beach and Bimini Beach.

Bimini Beach Club

The Bimini Beach Club, also known as The Beach Club at Bimini, is located on the western shore of North Bimini, within the Resorts World Bimini complex. It provides beachfront access and a range of amenities for visitors and is included as a stop on the free tram route. Resort day passes start at $40, but there’s a big caveat here.

When a Virgin Voyages ship is docked at Bimini, Virgin cruisers benefit from exclusive use of the Bimini Beach Club, a perk that I enjoyed when sailing Scarlet Lady on my visit there. It’s included in the cruise fare at no additional cost for Virgin guests, and I found this club to be stellar, with fantastic beach access, including complimentary use of loungers and umbrellas, and a great pool area with a DJ and a fun, upbeat beach club vibe.

The downside is that the Bimini Beach Club is off-limits if you’re on a non-Virgin cruise ship calling to Bimini on the same day a Virgin vessel is docked there. You can check out the Bimini cruise ship schedule linked below to see which ships will be in port on the day of your planned visit.

Scuba and Snorkeling

Cruise lines offer various scuba and snorkeling experiences, but cruisers who prefer to book their own independent excursions may want to consider scuba and snorkeling with Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center, which comes highly rated and is located just about two miles from the cruise pier. Bimini’s waters are known for good visibility and healthy marine life, and it sits on the edge of the Gulf Stream, which brings clear, warm water and an unusually diverse range of species closer to shore than most Bahamian stops.

Cruise Line Excursions

Given that it’s in the Bahamas, water activities dominate the excursion list in Bimini. Top options through the cruise line include:

• Sapona Shipwreck Snorkel Tour: The Sapona is a World War I-era concrete cargo ship that sank during a hurricane in 1929 and came to rest in shallow water off Bimini. During Prohibition, it was reportedly used as a supply vessel for rum runners. Today, the upper hull breaks the surface and the wreck is a designated snorkel site with abundant coral and fish. It is one of the more unusual and historically interesting snorkel spots in the entire Caribbean.
• Bimini Biological Field Station (Shark Lab): One of the longest-running shark research facilities in the world, the Bimini Biological Field Station has been conducting research on shark behavior and biology since 1990. Scientists come here specifically because of the shallow, accessible waters and resident shark populations. Cruise excursions to the Shark Lab typically include educational presentations and supervised encounters. It is a genuinely substantive scientific institution, not a tourist show.
• Bimini Undersea Snorkel and Dive
• Kayaking and jet skiing (various operators)

What to Bring to Bimini

I recommend bringing a few things with you to enhance the experience. Bimini beaches are great for snorkeling, and when visiting a beach location, I always bring my own set. My favorite is this one from Amazon; it’s affordable yet high quality and has traveled with me worldwide. It’s also much more hygienic, as you’re not putting something in your mouth that’s been used by many other random people.

I also recommend an inflatable float. Many recommend not bringing floats on cruises since they’re forbidden from cruise ship pools, but I disagree because these really enhance the beach day experience. This is my favorite because it’s so compact and versatile. Finally, a lockable beach bag provides easy access to your phone while keeping valuables secure.

Language and Currency

English is the official language of the Bahamas, so communication is easy. While the Bahamian dollar is the official currency, US dollars are widely accepted in Bimini. Vendors may reject damaged bills and provide change in local currency. Credit cards are commonly accepted.

I highly recommend using a travel-focused credit card, like this one, instead of a debit card when shopping. Credit cards offer better fraud protection, plus perks like travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and rewards points.

Bimini Cruise Port Ship Schedule

The Bimini, Bahamas cruise ship schedule can be found at the Resorts World website.

Climate and What to Wear

Bimini enjoys a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round. The average temperature ranges from 75°F (24°C) in the winter to 88°F (31°C) in the summer. Light, breathable clothing is recommended, along with comfortable walking shoes, swimwear, and sun protection such as hats and sunscreen. Related: Shop my favorite cruise styles and outfits.

Time Zone

Keeping track of time zones can get complicated when cruising, especially for itineraries with multiple time zone changes on one sailing. Your captain will make announcements during the cruise to update you, but it’s good to be aware ahead of time, especially for excursions with scheduled start times. Most cruise lines operate on “ship time” set to the time of their departing port, so it’s generally good practice to keep your phone or watch set to ship time. The Bahamas operates on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Bimini, Bahamas Cruise Port FAQ

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