Fast Ocean Ferry Crossings Directly From Fort Lauderdale
Escape to the closest Caribbean paradise aboard the official Bimini Day Cruise departing directly from South Florida. Positioned just fifty nautical miles off the coast, traveling on a 1 day cruise from fort lauderdale across the deep-blue Gulf Stream allows passengers to step ashore on North Bimini in roughly two hours without the expense or delays of regional airports.
- High-speed ocean passenger ferry featuring spacious indoor seating, sundecks, and full snack bars.
- Over six full daytime hours ashore to explore beaches, marinas, historical sites, and beach clubs.
- Complimentary open-air tram transportation running continually between the dock and island hubs.
- Same-day evening return crossing arriving back in Fort Lauderdale before nightfall.
Whether you are comparing options against a one day cruise to bahamas or planning a scenic ocean getaway aboard the discovery cruise line, our daily schedule delivers an effortless escape. Trade city streets for the powder-soft sandbanks of Radio Beach, dive historic shipwrecks, and savor freshly cracked conch salads before cruising smoothly home the very same day.
Fast Island Transit Routes
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Exploring North Bimini Beaches Landmarks And Marine Life
Step into a historic island haven celebrated for sapphire waters, Hemingway lore, and world-renowned snorkeling adventures.
While taking a day cruise to bahamas provides a refreshing break, Bimini holds a unique geographic allure as the westernmost district of the Bahamas. Disembarking at Fisherman’s Village pier places you in immediate contact with open-air golf cart rentals, local bakeries serving warm coconut bread, and turquoise shallows stretching endlessly toward the horizon.
- Snorkel the half-submerged concrete hull of the historic SS Sapona shipwreck teeming with marine life.
- Interact with friendly southern stingrays in waist-deep water along the quiet sandbars of Honeymoon Harbor.
- Unwind across the soft coral sands of Radio Beach, Blister Beach, and Spook Hill Beach in Alice Town.
- Visit iconic island conch shacks like Stuart’s and Joe’s for authentic fresh citrus conch and lobster salads.
For travelers planning an extended getaway instead of a single-day turn, booking our partner Bahamas Cruise And Stay packages allows you to check into luxury villas at Resorts World Bimini or the legendary Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina for several days of world-class offshore sportfishing and reef diving.
Navigating the seven-mile stretch of North Bimini is exceptionally easy by rented electric golf cart, letting you explore every hidden beach cove and historical landmark before the afternoon return boarding call.
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Resorts World Bimini And The Beach Club At 360
Day-cruise visitors seeking upscale resort amenities can step straight from the passenger ferry onto the complimentary open-air tram connecting directly to the sprawling complex of Resorts World Bimini.
- The Beach Club at 360: Oceanfront day club featuring private cabana rentals, daybeds, live DJ sets, and hammock lounges.
- Ground Floor & Rooftop Pools: Lagoon swimming pools with direct poolside cocktail service overlooking the ocean.
- Resorts World Casino: 10,000-square-foot live table gaming hall with panoramic floor-to-ceiling marina windows.
- Fisherman’s Village Marina: Picturesque boardwalk shopping with boutique apparel stores, ice cream parlors, and waterside dining.
Day passes to the Beach Club can be pre-purchased during ferry booking or acquired at the hospitality desk upon arrival, giving you full access to freshwater swimming pools, private ocean loungers, and beachside food service.
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Bimini Ferry Sailing Timetables And Technical Data
Here are the verified operational parameters, customs checkpoints, crossing times, and harbor coordinates for booking day ferry transit with Discovery Island Cruises.
- Embarkation Seaport: Port Everglades Cruise Terminal 1, Fort Lauderdale, FL (CBP Code 5203).
- Arrival Seaport: Resorts World Bimini Cruise Pier, North Bimini, Bahamas.
- Terminal Check-In Hours: 6:00 AM – 7:45 AM EST (Mandatory gate manifest cutoff).
- Morning Departure / Arrival: 9:00 AM castoff from Fort Lauderdale; 11:00 AM docking in Bimini.
- Evening Return / Arrival: 6:00 PM castoff from Bimini pier; 8:00 PM arrival back at Port Everglades.
- Travel Documentation: Valid Passport Book strongly recommended; unexpired government Real ID and birth certificate accepted for U.S. citizens.
Synchronized ocean crossings and strict manifest tracking ensure fast processing through Bahamian border controls upon arrival and rapid U.S. Customs clearance upon evening return.
Port Verification Details
2-Hour Crossing
Port Code 5203
Resorts World Pier
Same-Day Return
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Embarkation Port Navigation And Fort Lauderdale Parking
Departing for Bimini begins at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy direct interstate access and secure multi-level garage parking.
To reach our embarkation gate for your cruise from fort lauderdale to bahamas, follow Interstate 595 East past the US-1 overpass directly into Port Everglades via the Eller Drive security checkpoint. Travelers arriving from Fort Lauderdale Beach or north Broward can enter smoothly via the 17th Street Causeway and Eisenhower Boulevard.
- Present valid government photo identification for all adult passengers at the port security gate.
- Follow digital port signage directing you straight to passenger check-in at Cruise Terminal 1.
- Park within covered multi-level garages at Port Everglades Parking 5203 with elevator access.
- Terminal check-in desks open promptly at 6:00 AM with gate cutoff strictly enforced at 7:45 AM.
Covered garage parking inside Port Everglades is charged at standard daily rates ($20 to $25 per calendar day), offering 24-hour video security surveillance, regular patrols, designated ADA bays, and direct covered walkways linking to ticketing gates.
If you are driving down from Central Florida or the Gulf Coast the evening prior to departure, booking a partner discovery sun cruise port hotel along the 17th Street Causeway provides convenient park-and-cruise packages with complimentary morning shuttles straight to ship check-in.
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Discover Island Cruises Travel Directory
Explore our complete network of fast ferry sailings, weekend party getaways, and multi-night island resort packages connecting South Florida to the Bahamas:
- Bimini Day Cruise: High-speed two-hour ocean crossings direct to North Bimini and Resorts World.
- One Day Bahamas Cruise: Same-day fast ocean crossings to Freeport with zero hotel expenses required.
- 2-Night Bahamas Party Cruise: Weekend staterooms, live DJ lounges, and late-night casino gaming.
- Discovery Cruise Itinerary: Daily sailing hours, boarding cutoffs, and terminal timetables.
- Grand Bahama Attractions: Lucayan National Park caves, Gold Rock Beach, and Port Lucaya.
- Crystal Beach Pig Swims: Guided animal interactions along Grand Bahama’s western coast.
- Cruise and Stay Packages: Multi-night hotel vacations paired with fast ferry crossings.
Every voyage booked through Discovery Island Cruises includes verified passenger manifest tracking, direct customer assistance, and reliable on-time island arrivals.
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