What to do at Bimini?

[Pennstatedj]

Cruising on equinox in July. One of the ports is Bimini. Anyone know a ship excursion or private excursion to a beach that was good?  Thanks in advance

[ymncruise]

We like the beach, so we took the free shuttle to the beach. 

[kathynorth]

You can take the free shuttle to the free beach. If you want a quieter beach day consider taking a taxi to Radio Beach.

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

We will be in Bimini in September on Equinox. We are not beach people. Any recommendations for us for a few hours there? Thanks. 
sheila

[retired dude]

10 minutes ago, Bellaggio Cruisers said:

We will be in Bimini in September on Equinox. We are not beach people. Any recommendations for us for a few hours there? Thanks. 
sheila

bimini is like watching paint dry....great fishing and that is about it....many of the shops that the shuttle take you to are closed, that  should give you an idea.....

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

42 minutes ago, Pennstatedj said:

Cruising on equinox in July. One of the ports is Bimini. Anyone know a ship excursion or private excursion to a beach that was good?  Thanks in advance

We're considering doing the Resorts World beach day that gets you access to the beach club used by the Virgin ships that stop there.  It looks like a more upbeat resort vibe than a quiet beach if that's what you're into. Luckily, you'll be the only ship docked in Bimini so it won't be crowded.

[Georgia_Peaches]

I read there is a casino and I saw a Youtube video that showed it as the last stop on the free shuttle.  We are also on Equinox in July and have never been to Bimini.  In fact, until this itinerary, I had never heard of Bimini.  As the crow flies, it looks to be about 50 miles off the coast of Miami...not sure if those are nautical miles or not, I'm just parroting DH's intel.  At any rate, we will likely get off the boat and have a look see and then get back on board.  But I will be monitoring this thread with interest.

[mcatmcat]

17 minutes ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

We're considering doing the Resorts World beach day that gets you access to the beach club used by the Virgin ships that stop there.  It looks like a more upbeat resort vibe than a quiet beach if that's what you're into. Luckily, you'll be the only ship docked in Bimini so it won't be crowded.

 

I really like this thread, first time going to Bimini so I don't really know what to expect. I thought the beach club was included like cococay with royal lol. I guess I have to do some reacher lol 

[Mark_K]

9 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

I read there is a casino and I saw a Youtube video that showed it as the last stop on the free shuttle.  We are also on Equinox in July and have never been to Bimini.  In fact, until this itinerary, I had never heard of Bimini.  As the crow flies, it looks to be about 50 miles off the coast of Miami...not sure if those are nautical miles or not, I'm just parroting DH's intel.  At any rate, we will likely get off the boat and have a look see and then get back on board.  But I will be monitoring this thread with interest.

Being only 50 or so miles from Florida, Bimini was a very important place during prohibition.  Since then not so much.  Although, boats all over the world have Bimini tops on them, that’s probably its real claim to fame.

 

[jelayne]

We got off the ship intending to take the free shuttle to rent a golf cart.  We took the shuttle past the beach & resort to the golf cart rental and realized there wasn’t much of anything to see.  The shops were about 80% closed or vacant.

We took the shuttle back to the ship.  We were off the ship about 1 hr.  

[JerseyGirlatHeart]

Rent a golf cart…so much fun exploring the entire island.

[newtocruiseinblue]

Bimini is only about 7 miles long and not that wide. I heard mixed reviews on the resorts excursion so we decided to try adventuring on our own and had a fun adventure. Hard to get lost or miss the ship on a 7-mile island.

 

I watched several YouTube videos to get the lay of the land and found this helpful.

 

Things I learned about Bimini:

- It was a favorite spot of Earnest Hemingway and the place where The Old Man and the Sea is based on.

- It's known for conch. You can find the most beautiful conch shells on the lesser traveled area of the beach. They are everywhere on the island.

- The food to try on the island is conch.

- The prices for souvenirs, in the bars and stores will be more expensive than other places, such as Jamaica and Grand Cayman, so do your souvenir shopping elsewhere.

- The cost to rent a golf cart was $100 that day but it can fluctuate. My husband talked the guy down to $80 as we would only need it until 2 pm.

- if you drive the golf cart to almost the end of an island, you will see a cemetery on your right. Go down on the beach beyond the cemetery and you will see a small ship wreck (see pictures). 
 

I really liked the beaches of Bimini as I found sea glass and it had more of the feel of some better islands than most of the Bahamas.

 

Happy cruising!

Edited May 18, 2023 by newtocruiseinblue

[Pennstatedj]

Thank you for all the suggestions. 

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

Do they still offer the shuttle bus?

Where can you rent the golf cart?

Thanks for the good information. 
sheila

[Georgia_Peaches]

According to a YouTube video I watched on Bimini, ‘golf cart rentals’ is a stop on the free shuttle ride. Five stops in all. 

[MamyL00]

I appreciate the info. I will be on Reflection in January and Bimini is on the itinerary. Has anyone just wandered/walked around and visited random beaches? Are any of the beaches closed to the public? Thanks.

[csoud68]

just got back from Bimini. the water there is stunning.  i highly recommend the resorts world day pass to the bimini beach club. i have been cruising for 20 years and that was one  impressive place.

 

the tram picks you up at the end of the pier and takes you right to the front of the place. there are a ton of beach front chairs and umbrellas and also tons of chairs around 2 pools.  my wife likes the pool and i like the beach. we started at the beach for a couple hours and then went to the pool. i suggest you be one of the first off the ship to get your pick of the chairs.  we were in the first tram over. 

 

also starting at 11 am you can absolutely walk down to the left and go to the vip area and order a sit down lunch and have a clear view of the ocean while you eat. the burger and fries there was $18. 

 

if i could go back tomorrow id do it the exact same way. just go there and spend as long as possible.

 

i can post some pics if you need to see it for yourself. i took quite a few and they are very good.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 22, 2023 by csoud68

[cbfb]

On 5/22/2023 at 2:07 PM, csoud68 said:

just got back from Bimini. the water there is stunning.  i highly recommend the resorts world day pass to the bimini beach club. i have been cruising for 20 years and that was one  impressive place.

 

the tram picks you up at the end of the pier and takes you right to the front of the place. there are a ton of beach front chairs and umbrellas and also tons of chairs around 2 pools.  my wife likes the pool and i like the beach. we started at the beach for a couple hours and then went to the pool. i suggest you be one of the first off the ship to get your pick of the chairs.  we were in the first tram over. 

 

also starting at 11 am you can absolutely walk down to the left and go to the vip area and order a sit down lunch and have a clear view of the ocean while you eat. the burger and fries there was $18. 

 

if i could go back tomorrow id do it the exact same way. just go there and spend as long as possible.

 

i can post some pics if you need to see it for yourself. i took quite a few and they are very good.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for this info. We just booked this for our next cruise. Sounds like we made a good decision! 

[NaplesKnitter]

Does anyone know can you walk the beach  from Paradise Beach to resorts world ?

[notsurewhatmynameshouldbe]

Does anyone know if Kayak Beach, Radio Beach or the free beach next to Resort World has bathrooms?

[Gambler458]

On 5/22/2023 at 2:07 PM, csoud68 said:

just got back from Bimini. the water there is stunning.  i highly recommend the resorts world day pass to the bimini beach club. i have been cruising for 20 years and that was one  impressive place.

 

the tram picks you up at the end of the pier and takes you right to the front of the place. there are a ton of beach front chairs and umbrellas and also tons of chairs around 2 pools.  my wife likes the pool and i like the beach. we started at the beach for a couple hours and then went to the pool. i suggest you be one of the first off the ship to get your pick of the chairs.  we were in the first tram over. 

 

also starting at 11 am you can absolutely walk down to the left and go to the vip area and order a sit down lunch and have a clear view of the ocean while you eat. the burger and fries there was $18. 

 

if i could go back tomorrow id do it the exact same way. just go there and spend as long as possible.

 

i can post some pics if you need to see it for yourself. i took quite a few and they are very good.

 

If we book the world resorts excursion, can we eat lunch at the beach club or do we have to eat at the resort restaurant?  Can we go straight to the beach club or we have to stop in the hotel first?  I'm going in July.  Thanks

 

 

 

[csoud68]

If we book the world resorts excursion, can we eat lunch at the beach club or do we have to eat at the resort restaurant?  Can we go straight to the beach club or we have to stop in the hotel first?  I'm going in July.  Thanks

 

You most definitely can eat right at the beach club..its 150 feet to the left of the pool as u face the acean..

 

Go at 11 sharp and u will have the pick of seats..I'll try and post a few pics..

 

 

 

[csoud68]

[csoud68]

[SeaPA]

On 5/26/2023 at 11:52 AM, notsurewhatmynameshouldbe said:

Does anyone know if Kayak Beach, Radio Beach or the free beach next to Resort World has bathrooms?

 

We rented a cart & ended up at Radio Beach.  There is a public bathroom that was well-maintained and clean, a handful of little beachside bar/grills selling drinks and food, and some lawn chairs/umbrellas available to rent for the day (we just sat on the sand, so I don't know what the cost is to rent the chairs/umbrellas).