The ferry to the Bahamas leaves from Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale (Florida) and reaches Bimini in about 2 hours and Freeport (Grand Bahama) in about 3 hours, with Balearia Caribbean, the only ferry company between the United States and the Bahamas. No flight, no cruise cabin: a fast catamaran that sails in the morning and, if you want, brings you back the same evening. Day trips from $199, one-way tickets from $225. This page gathers everything about the ferry from Florida to the Bahamas; the schedules and live prices are on each route page.
Both routes start at Port Everglades, Terminal 21, ten minutes from Fort Lauderdale airport and 45 minutes from downtown Miami. Choose Bimini for the shortest crossing and the classic day trip, or Freeport for Grand Bahama Island, Port Lucaya and a longer stay.
| Route | Crossing | Sailing days | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale → Bimini | 2 – 2:30 hours | Wed · Fri · Sat · Sun (+ high season) | $199 Wednesdays · $246 other days |
| Bimini → Fort Lauderdale | 2 – 2:30 hours | Wed · Fri · Sat · Sun (+ high season) | $199 Wednesdays · $246 other days |
| Fort Lauderdale → Freeport | 3 – 3:30 hours | Tue · Thu · Sat (+ some Sundays) | $246 |
| Freeport → Fort Lauderdale | 3 – 3:30 hours | Tue · Thu · Sat (+ some Sundays) | $246 |
"From" prices are per adult, one way, Economy fare, taxes and port fees included. The exact days of your month are on the timetable of each route page. There is no ferry from Florida to Nassau, Eleuthera, Abaco or Exuma.
All sailings leave Fort Lauderdale at 9:00 AM. The Bimini ferry docks in Alice Town at about 11:00 AM and sails back at 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM depending on the season; the Freeport ferry docks in Freeport Harbour at about 12:00 PM and sails back at 6:30 PM (5:30 PM on some dates). Either way you are back at Port Everglades between 8:00 PM and 9:30 PM.
| Direction | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale → Bimini | 9:00 AM | 11:00 AM |
| Bimini → Fort Lauderdale | 6:00 / 7:00 PM | 8:00 / 9:00 PM |
| Fort Lauderdale → Freeport | 9:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| Freeport → Fort Lauderdale | 6:30 PM (5:30 PM some dates) | 9:30 PM (8:30 PM) |
Ferry tickets to the Bahamas are sold per person, one way or round trip, in Economy or Economy Premium. The cheapest fares are the Wednesday day trips to Bimini from $199; on any other day, and on the Freeport route, a day trip starts at $246. A one-way ticket starts at $225 and a round trip in Economy Premium at $306. Children from 3 to 12 pay a reduced fare and infants from 0 to 2 travel free. The final price is confirmed with live availability on the route page before you pay: no hidden fees.
| Ticket | Bimini | Freeport |
|---|---|---|
| Day trip (same-day return) | from $199 (Wednesdays) · $246 | from $246 |
| One way, Economy | from $225 | from $225 |
| Round trip, Economy Premium | from $306 | from $306 |
See the current ferry deals >>
Not from Miami itself. Every Miami to Bahamas ferry search ends at the same dock: Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, 30 miles north of downtown Miami. From Miami you can drive or take a rideshare up I-95 (about 45 minutes outside rush hour), or ride the Brightline train from MiamiCentral to Fort Lauderdale station and take a 15-minute taxi to Terminal 21. If you fly into Miami International Airport, Port Everglades is 35 minutes away, so a morning arrival still makes the 9:00 AM ferry the next day. For most visitors this is the real boat from Miami to the Bahamas: a scheduled fast ferry, not a private charter, with fixed fares and a return the same day if you want it.
If you are looking for a one-day cruise to the Bahamas, the ferry is the simplest version of it: no cabin, no formal nights, no gratuities, and you spend the day on the island instead of on the ship. Sail at 9:00 AM, land in Bimini at 11:00 AM (or Freeport at noon), swim, eat conch, ride a golf cart along the beach, and sail back in the evening. The day trip to the Bahamas from Miami fits in a single day: leave Miami at 5:30 AM, be on a Bahamian beach before lunch and back in Miami around 10:00 PM. The catamaran has reclining seats, a cafeteria, a bar and an open deck to watch the Gulf Stream.
Bimini is the closest Bahamian island to Florida (50 miles), seven miles long, with white-sand beaches, the Resorts World marina, bonefishing flats and a laid-back Alice Town where everyone moves by golf cart. It is the best pick for a day trip or a weekend and has the cheapest fares. Freeport, Grand Bahama, is bigger and three hours away: Port Lucaya Marketplace, Taino Beach, Lucayan National Park and more hotel choice, better for two or more nights. Both routes use the same ship and the same terminal, so you can even combine them on different dates.
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 >>
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 >>No. The only scheduled ferry between the US and the Bahamas leaves from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, 45 minutes by car from Miami or a Brightline train ride plus a short taxi. See ferry to the Bahamas from Miami.
About 2 hours to Bimini and about 3 hours to Freeport, Grand Bahama. Add up to 30 minutes in rough seas and 1 to 1.5 hours for US immigration when you return to Port Everglades.
Day trips to Bimini start at $199 on Wednesdays and $246 on other days; a Freeport day trip starts at $246. One-way tickets start at $225 and round trips in Economy Premium at $306, taxes and port fees included. Search your dates on the route page to see the exact fare.
Yes. Drive to Port Everglades for the 9:00 AM ferry, spend six to seven hours in Bimini or Freeport and sail back in the evening; you are back at the port between 8:00 PM and 9:30 PM and in Miami about an hour later.
No. Nassau (New Providence) is 180 miles from Florida and is only reached by plane or cruise ship. The ferry serves Bimini and Freeport (Grand Bahama).
Yes, every passenger, including children and day-trippers, needs a valid passport (US citizens can use a passport card). Birth certificates, photocopies and enhanced driver's licenses are not accepted.
No, it is a passenger-only ferry. Park at the Midport Garage next to Terminal 21 in Fort Lauderdale; in the Bahamas you move by golf cart, taxi or rental car.
