One of the stops on our recent cruise was Bimini in The Bahamas. It consists of three islands located about 50 miles east of Miami. North Island has the main town, Alice Town, and this is where the ship’s tenders drop off passengers. Bimini is known as the Bahamas’ big game fishing capital. There is also a casino at the Hilton resort. If you prefer discovering the culture or natural beauty of a destination, unfortunately there are not a lot of options in Bimini. Bimini is a very laid back, rustic island, with few activities, and one large resort.
What to do in Bimini
We took the opportunity to explore the island on our own, the local way, in a gas-powered golf cart (there are not many cars on Bimini). The main road is about 2 miles long, so it did not take long to drive up and down the island a couple of times. If you enjoy lounging on the beach we recommend buying a day pass at the resort as the public beaches are isolated with no sun loungers or other amenities.
We enjoyed a lunch of conch salad and cracked conch at a local conch shack along Bimini’s main road. There are two popular conch shacks along the road, however only one was open on the day we visited. Remember that you are on “island time” and bring cash (US dollars are widely accepted). The food is very fresh and delicious. If you have not tried conch in the Caribbean, be sure to put it on your to-do list!
Bring your patience
Please note that the port in Bimini is very shallow so even our small cruise ship could not dock and went ashore via the ship’s tenders. The tender boat trip is a slow ride of approximately 45 minutes one-way. So, if you are not scheduled for a tour we recommend waiting to go ashore. Once the people on the tours have departed you will have more space to spread out. Also, you may want to take a book to read on the tender.
Are you ready to explore the small enchanting islands of the Caribbean? Be sure to contact us so we can guide you to an amazing experience!