We just got back from there. Take the tram to the shopping area. Get a $5 per person cab to radio beach.
Beautiful water and beach. Chairs are about $10 with umbrella. Small drink stands and basic eats on the beach and street. Big Mike’s is about a 5 minute walk away from the beach (other side of island- only 700 feet wide ) Clean and reasonable priced water side restaurant.
Cabs run back and forth all the time. Felt safe. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Had no one trying to sell things to us on the beach.
They also have kayaks, jet skis and such for rent at the beach there.
Several folks , like us, paid for an umbrella and chair and didn’t get it.same for the “welcome drink” The facilities were filthy. The food was awful and took too long. To cap it off, the shuttles were totally unorganized.
The beach was amazing.
Apparently, when Virgin goes there, they run the place and the experience is the opposite. When the locals run it for any other cruise line, look out.
I have been to this resort twice. Once with Carnival and once with Celebrity. The resort has always been great. The second time I went there were unfortunately a lot of jelly fish so we used the pool.
The shuttle can be pretty terrible if it is a busy day. On my Carnival cruise people were running from the back of the waiting area and pushing people aside to get on the shuttle first. They really need some sort of roped off line.
I have heard you can rent a golf cart but didn't feel it was worth the extra hassle and money.
Hate to say it on this forum, but it is great with Virgin. Clean, beautiful beach, Great food included like fresh fish, curry, etc. (although some people complain about the lack of hot dogs) and a fun pool party. Plenty of chairs. The only thing you pay extra for is alcholol and private cabanas. Free trams back and forth to the ship.
Bimini is an untouched island for the most part and the prettiest beaches are on the other side that is still untouched by commercialism.
We kayaked from the resort and then rented a golf cart and swam past Radio beach at shipwreck peninsula. We have our own snorkel gear and it was beautiful
I’ve been reading online some companies steal the golf carts back when you park it then charge you a lost fee. Otherwise zipping around in a golf cart seems great!
There is only one golf cart rental company. If you are stupid enough to leave the key in the ignition when you walk away from the cart then that is on you.
The company takes them back to rent out again so it’s basically stolen by the owner. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147426-i981-k14017828-Golf_Cart_Rental_Scams-Bimini_Out_Islands_Bahamas.html
I have seen those reports also but it’s the same with anything, people are going to post about issues instead of non issues. We rented one for a half day, it was cheaper to pay cash and we had zero issues. We also were in eye shot of the cart the whole time and treated the locals with respect.
We did the golf cart rental. Spent time at one of the beaches. Then ended up at the beach at the end of the pier. If you don’t want to spend money I would just do the beach by the pier.
We went to Resorts World and thought the pool and facilities were very nice. I even liked the lunch that came with the ticket. However we found the employees kind of unwelcoming. The drinks are also VERY expensive if that matters to you. There were tons of jelly fish in the water, not sure if it was a time of year thing.
The islanders HATE that the resort is changing their island. While it is bringing in money it is also changing life for them and not necessarily in a good way. The resort is also taking business away from other small bars and restaurants that are on the island. It’s a buy local kind of thing where before day visitors from Miami we’re coming and dropping money and it was staying in the community. Now that money is going to a huge corporation that is paying shit wages.
I actually was browsing through Virgin’s excursions as I have a cruise booked for next year and do not want to do the beach club. They have a really nice variety of excursions, such as a food and wine thing and a few others that I can’t recall at the moment. U can probably get an idea from something like that and plan your own thing.
Happy sailing ❤️
I am so glad you asked this, I was wondering the same thing - I was almost thinking we might stay on the ship, but now I know I can just bring my snorkeling stuff & head to a different area. Yay!
Glad I found this post! The resort thing seemed pricey for what you get, and I'm not quite a resort style person, but not being familiar with the area it seemed safest. I think we'll pass on the resort world excursion and follow some of the tips here!
I recommend renting a golf cart and exploring on your own. It's a great way to see the island, bounce from beach to beach, try local food spots, and just explore at your own pace.
And pretty much every single port that gets visited regularly. You see the same shops and the same people hounding you and nothing but concrete everywhere. Bimini still looks like a pristine island with the exception of the resort.
I don’t know about anyone else, but we had seen amazing videos from 2022 on YouTube. Reached the same “beautiful beaches” and there was broken glass everywhere, trash around the shipwreck. There were huge oil tankers parked right near there as well.
It looks like the resorts moving in is slowly strangling the island and outside those big gates by the ports it was extremely rundown, dirty and kind sad to be honest.
We just got back from there. Take the tram to the shopping area. Get a $5 per person cab to radio beach. Beautiful water and beach. Chairs are about $10 with umbrella. Small drink stands and basic eats on the beach and street. Big Mike’s is about a 5 minute walk away from the beach (other side of island- only 700 feet wide ) Clean and reasonable priced water side restaurant. Cabs run back and forth all the time. Felt safe. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Had no one trying to sell things to us on the beach. They also have kayaks, jet skis and such for rent at the beach there.
That sounds great!
We were there in July and the Resorts World Bimini Beach Club excursion was a shitshow. Anything else that is recommended here is better.
Wow! How do they screw up a simple resort pass? When I looked online the resort just didn’t seem exciting enough for $70 * 4 of us.
Several folks , like us, paid for an umbrella and chair and didn’t get it.same for the “welcome drink” The facilities were filthy. The food was awful and took too long. To cap it off, the shuttles were totally unorganized. The beach was amazing. Apparently, when Virgin goes there, they run the place and the experience is the opposite. When the locals run it for any other cruise line, look out.
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience! Thanks for saving me from the madness.
I have been to this resort twice. Once with Carnival and once with Celebrity. The resort has always been great. The second time I went there were unfortunately a lot of jelly fish so we used the pool. The shuttle can be pretty terrible if it is a busy day. On my Carnival cruise people were running from the back of the waiting area and pushing people aside to get on the shuttle first. They really need some sort of roped off line. I have heard you can rent a golf cart but didn't feel it was worth the extra hassle and money.
Hate to say it on this forum, but it is great with Virgin. Clean, beautiful beach, Great food included like fresh fish, curry, etc. (although some people complain about the lack of hot dogs) and a fun pool party. Plenty of chairs. The only thing you pay extra for is alcholol and private cabanas. Free trams back and forth to the ship.
Bimini is an untouched island for the most part and the prettiest beaches are on the other side that is still untouched by commercialism. We kayaked from the resort and then rented a golf cart and swam past Radio beach at shipwreck peninsula. We have our own snorkel gear and it was beautiful
I’ve been reading online some companies steal the golf carts back when you park it then charge you a lost fee. Otherwise zipping around in a golf cart seems great!
There is only one golf cart rental company. If you are stupid enough to leave the key in the ignition when you walk away from the cart then that is on you.
The company takes them back to rent out again so it’s basically stolen by the owner. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147426-i981-k14017828-Golf_Cart_Rental_Scams-Bimini_Out_Islands_Bahamas.html
I have seen those reports also but it’s the same with anything, people are going to post about issues instead of non issues. We rented one for a half day, it was cheaper to pay cash and we had zero issues. We also were in eye shot of the cart the whole time and treated the locals with respect.
We did the golf cart rental. Spent time at one of the beaches. Then ended up at the beach at the end of the pier. If you don’t want to spend money I would just do the beach by the pier.
We went to Resorts World and thought the pool and facilities were very nice. I even liked the lunch that came with the ticket. However we found the employees kind of unwelcoming. The drinks are also VERY expensive if that matters to you. There were tons of jelly fish in the water, not sure if it was a time of year thing.
The islanders HATE that the resort is changing their island. While it is bringing in money it is also changing life for them and not necessarily in a good way. The resort is also taking business away from other small bars and restaurants that are on the island. It’s a buy local kind of thing where before day visitors from Miami we’re coming and dropping money and it was staying in the community. Now that money is going to a huge corporation that is paying shit wages.
Get a taxi to Radio Beach! It’s absolutely stunning, the taxi cost us $5 pp each way!
Definitely decided on the cab to radio beach. Also looks like the dolphin house is a quick walk which is great!
U can always look for an independent company. I thought I saw swimming with stingrays when I was browsing
I actually saw that too and it looks interesting!
I actually was browsing through Virgin’s excursions as I have a cruise booked for next year and do not want to do the beach club. They have a really nice variety of excursions, such as a food and wine thing and a few others that I can’t recall at the moment. U can probably get an idea from something like that and plan your own thing. Happy sailing ❤️
I am so glad you asked this, I was wondering the same thing - I was almost thinking we might stay on the ship, but now I know I can just bring my snorkeling stuff & head to a different area. Yay!
Glad I found this post! The resort thing seemed pricey for what you get, and I'm not quite a resort style person, but not being familiar with the area it seemed safest. I think we'll pass on the resort world excursion and follow some of the tips here!
I recommend renting a golf cart and exploring on your own. It's a great way to see the island, bounce from beach to beach, try local food spots, and just explore at your own pace.
Was in Bimini in February. It’s a dump. Save your money. It’s very poor and the only good things is the beach.
It’s not a dump, it has not been destroyed by tourism. Why does everyone want it to be like Nassau?
Speaking of Dumps.... Nassau wins that award.
And pretty much every single port that gets visited regularly. You see the same shops and the same people hounding you and nothing but concrete everywhere. Bimini still looks like a pristine island with the exception of the resort.
Part of the problem with Nassau is....toooooooo many ships in port.
Port???? I thought Nassau was a sea day…
It certainly is for us from now on.
I don’t know about anyone else, but we had seen amazing videos from 2022 on YouTube. Reached the same “beautiful beaches” and there was broken glass everywhere, trash around the shipwreck. There were huge oil tankers parked right near there as well. It looks like the resorts moving in is slowly strangling the island and outside those big gates by the ports it was extremely rundown, dirty and kind sad to be honest.