Miami Bahamas ferry: schedule and prices

Miami to Bahamas ferry: Tickets, schedule, cost and prices

The Miami to Bahamas ferry is a popular service that connects Miami, Florida, with various destinations in the Bahamas (Bimini and Freeport). Balearia Caribbean is the only ferry company that operates this connection.

Check the schedule and prices here:

Schedule and Prices >>

These ferries are especially known for their speed and comfort, offering passengers a quick and enjoyable way to reach the tropical islands.

Key Information

General Info:

Schedule & Prices >>

1. Where to Buy Tickets: Tickets can be purchased online here on I Love Ferry or through the ferry operator's website, Balearia Caribbean, or at the terminal before departure. It is advisable to book in advance to ensure availability.
2. Schedule: Ferry schedules vary depending on the time of year; the ferry does not sail every day. Departures are in the morning at 9:00 AM, with 3 to 5 weekly sailings to Bimini (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus extra days in high season) and 3 to 4 weekly sailings to Freeport (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, plus some Sundays). The exact dates of your month are on the timetable of each route page.
3. Day Trip: Day trips to the Bahamas usually depart early in the morning and return in the evening, allowing a full day in the Bahamas without an overnight stay. Day trips to Bimini start from $199 per person on Wednesdays and from $246 the rest of the week; day trips to Freeport from $246. A round trip in Economy Premium starts from $306. All prices per person, taxes and port fees included.
4. Departure from Fort Lauderdale: Currently, there are no ferry departures from Miami to Bimini or Freeport (Bahamas). Balearia Caribbean operates the routes Fort Lauderdale - Bimini and Fort Lauderdale - Freeport from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale is a 30-minute drive from Miami Beach and about a 45-minute drive from downtown Miami.
5. Cost: A one-way ticket starts from $225 per adult in Economy, and a round trip from $199 (Wednesday day trip to Bimini) or $246, varying by date, season and booking class. Taxes and port fees are included in these prices and shown before you pay. Promo fares include only a personal item (a small carry-on) for the ferry; unrestricted and Economy Premium fares also include a checked bag. If you want to add larger luggage, you can add it for $60 round trip. Other extras are not included in the ferry ticket price: Bimini Beach Club day pass, breakfast, dinner, or cocktails on board are also not included.
6. Time: The travel time to the nearest point in the Bahamas, like Bimini, is approximately 2 to 3 hours depending on conditions and sea state. Generally, the direct ferry from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini takes 2 hours. The direct ferry from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport takes 3 hours.
7. Duration: To calculate the total travel time from Miami to Bimini, you need to consider: the travel time from Miami to Fort Lauderdale by car - 1 hour with traffic, the time in advance you need to be at the Balearia Caribbean terminal - boarding opens 3 hours before departure and check-in closes 60 minutes before sailing, because US customs pre-clearance is done in Fort Lauderdale - the ferry ride from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini - 2 hours, and the time to get off the ship in Bimini - a few minutes, since you were already pre-cleared. Considering our departure time from Miami, it will take approximately 6 hours to reach Bimini from Miami. Using the same calculation, it will take 7 hours to reach Freeport from the time we leave Miami.
8. Best Ferry: Balearia Caribbean is the only ferry company in the United States that connects Florida to the Bahamas several days a week, so it is the best ferry company doing these crossings. Balearia Caribbean is frequently recommended for its reliability, comfort, and on-board amenities.
9. Distance: The distance from Miami to Bimini is approximately 50 miles. The distance from the port of Fort Lauderdale to Bimini is approximately 51 miles, and to the port of Freeport (Grand Bahama) is 85 miles.
10. Cheap Ferry: Balearia Caribbean often has the most competitive rates, especially if you book in advance or find special promotions. On this website, we publish all the offers and discounts from Balearia Caribbean so you always have the cheapest ferry to the Bahamas available.

People Also Ask about the Miami Bahamas ferry

11. How Long is the ferry from Miami to the Bahamas?: The ferry to Bimini typically takes approximately 2 hours and to Freeport it takes 3 hours from Fort Lauderdale (Florida). There are no ferries departing from Miami to the Bahamas.
12. What is the Cheapest Way to Go to the Bahamas from Florida?: The cheapest way is by ferry typically through promotional fares offered during off-peak seasons by services like Balearia Caribbean. Traveling by ferry is cheaper than by plane, seaplane or private jet.
13. What is the Best Ferry from Florida to the Bahamas?: There is only one ferry company that operates crossings between Florida and the Bahamas, Balearia Caribbean. Therefore, Balearia Caribbean is the best ferry service to go from the US to the Bahamas. Balearia Caribbean is highly recommended for the quality and reliability of its service, the friendliness of its crew, and for meeting scheduled times 96% of the time.
14. How Much is the Ferry to the Bahamas?: Day trips start from $199 per adult (Wednesdays, Bimini) and $246 on other days and to Freeport; one-way tickets from $225 and round trips in Economy Premium from $306. Taxes and port fees are included in these prices.

For the most current information and to ensure the best travel experience, check our search engine:

Schedule and Prices >>

Miami to Bahamas ferry Travel Documentation: United States Citizens

1. General Documentation and Visa Requirements Information:
   • According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, all U.S. citizens, both adults and minors, who wish to travel to the Bahamas must be in possession of a valid Passport Book or Passport Card as of April 23, 2018.
   • Birth certificates, photo IDs, and naturalization documents (naturalization certificate) are not accepted. Enhanced driver's licenses are not valid documents for ferry travel.
   • Only PASSPORTS will be accepted for international travel. This also applies to same-day round-trip excursions to Bimini and Freeport and to stays of more than one night in the Bahamas.
2. U.S. Citizens, Same-day Travel or Stay of at Least 1 Night:
   • All passengers are required to carry and present a valid U.S. passport book or passport card.
   • Euro border cards, Sentry, Nexus, or Global Entry cards are not accepted.
   • You can find all updated information on international travel regulations by visiting the travel section of the U.S. State Department's homepage: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html.
   • Ensure that your passport expiration date is at least 6 months beyond the return date of your trip.
3. Important Note:
   • Balearia Caribbean LTD and/or I Love Ferry are not responsible for the denial of boarding if passengers fail to present the required documentation to the authorities at the time of boarding.

Miami to Bahamas ferry Travel Documentation: United States Residents

1. General Documentation and Visa Requirements Information:
   • According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, all U.S. citizens, both adults and minors, who wish to travel to the Bahamas must be in possession of a valid Passport Book or Passport Card as of April 23, 2018.
   • Birth certificates, photo IDs, and naturalization documents (naturalization certificate) are not accepted. Enhanced driver's licenses are not valid documents for ferry travel.
   • Only PASSPORTS will be accepted for international travel. This also applies to same-day round-trip excursions to Bimini and Freeport and to stays of more than one night in the Bahamas.
2. U.S. Residents, Same-day Travel:
   • U.S. residents must travel with a valid ARC (Green Card).
   • Carry and present at boarding their valid and current citizenship passport.
   • If your ARC card is expired, you must bring the original renewal document along with the expired ARC card.
3. U.S. Residents, Stay of at Least 1 Night in the Bahamas:
   • Bring a valid ARC (Green Card) and the passport from your country of birth.
4. Important Note:
   • Balearia Caribbean LTD and/or I Love Ferry are not responsible for the denial of boarding if passengers fail to present the required documentation to the authorities at the time of boarding.

Fares and sailing days below are the current Balearia Caribbean fares sold on I Love Ferry, an authorised ticket agent; the live price for your date is shown in the search results before you pay.

Miami to Bahamas ferry: the short answer

There is no ferry that departs from the city of Miami. The only scheduled passenger ferry between the United States and the Bahamas is the Balearia Caribbean fast ferry, which sails from Port Everglades, Terminal 21, in Fort Lauderdale, 30 miles north of downtown Miami (about 45 minutes by car). From there it reaches Bimini in about 2 hours and Freeport, Grand Bahama, in about 3 hours. So "Miami to Bahamas ferry" in practice means: drive or ride 45 minutes to Fort Lauderdale, then sail. Day trips start at $199 per person and one-way tickets at $225, taxes and port fees included.

How to get from Miami to the Bahamas ferry

Miami to Bahamas ferry price

Tickets are per person, one way or round trip, in Economy or Economy Premium. Taxes and port fees are included in the prices below and shown before you pay: no hidden fees.

Children from 3 to 12 pay a reduced fare; infants from 0 to 2 travel free. The cheapest day is Wednesday on the Bimini route. See the current ferry deals.

Boat ride from Miami to the Bahamas: ferry, private boat or plane?

If you are looking for a boat ride from Miami to the Bahamas, the ferry is the only scheduled option: fixed fares, a 600-passenger catamaran with reclining seats, cafeteria, bar and open deck, and customs pre-clearance done for you. A private boat or yacht charter from Miami can reach Bimini in 2–3 hours, but you clear Bahamas customs yourself, pay a cruising permit, and the cost is per boat, not per person. Flying from Miami or Fort Lauderdale to Bimini or Freeport is possible on small planes and seaplanes, with strict baggage weight limits. For most travellers the ferry is the cheapest and simplest way, and the only one that allows a same-day round trip with no overnight stay.

Which Bahamas islands can you reach by ferry from Florida?

• Bimini (North Bimini, Alice Town): 2 hours. Beaches, Resorts World Bimini, golf carts, bonefishing. The classic day trip. See the Bimini ferry guide.
• Freeport, Grand Bahama (Freeport Harbour): 3 hours. Port Lucaya Marketplace, Taino Beach, Lucayan National Park. Better for two or more nights.
• Nassau, Eleuthera, Abaco, Exuma: no ferry from Florida; only by plane or cruise ship.

Planning a longer stay? The same ferry works for any number of nights: see Ferry + Hotel packages. For every route, price and day-trip option in one page, see ferry to the Bahamas and Bahamas day trip.

The ferry company

Balearia Caribbean

Balearia Caribbean is the ferry company based in Fort Lauderdale (FL) that connects Port Everglades with Bimini and with Freeport (Grand Bahama). It is the US branch of the Spanish operator Baleària and the only ferry line between Florida and the Bahamas. I Love Ferry is an authorised ticket agent: same fares, real-time availability and support before you travel.

About Balearia Caribbean >>

The ship

Jaume II

A 35-knot fast catamaran built by Incat for Baleària, with room for 600 passengers in Economy and Economy Premium, a cafeteria, kids' play area, ADA access and an open stern deck. It runs every Bimini and Freeport sailing.

More about the Jaume II ferry >>

Ferry ports

Fort Lauderdale Bimini Freeport

Miami to Bahamas ferry FAQ