Cruises from Jacksonville to Bimini

A cruise from Florida can take you to a small Bahamian island surrounded by water so clear that it has the nickname “Bimini Blues.” The Bimini Islands, sometimes also called the “Biminis,” are a line of islands located in the northwesterly Bahamas, West Indies, roughly 50 miles east of the Florida coast. Bimini is made up of two islands: the main island, North Bimini, which is where all the activity is, and the adjoining South Bimini, which is mostly agricultural. Little cayes to the south, such as Cat Cay, have excellent gamefishing grounds. Hemingway, who first visited Bimini in 1935, spent several years sport fishing or big game fishing there. “Swim, eat, drink, works, read, talk, read, fish, fish, swim, drink, sleep,” as a character in Ernest Hemingway’s novel “Islands in the Stream” describes Bimini.

North Bimini is home to various yacht harbors and tourist beaches, as well as the principal settlements of Alice Town, Bailey Town, and Paradise Point. Resorts World Bimini Cruise Port in North Bimini is a new cruise port that has just been upgraded to accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships. From the pier, a tram will take you to various locations throughout the island.

Bimini is the genuine island in the stream, located on a sheer underwater cliff that drops hundreds of feet into the azure abyss. The Gulf Stream washes past Bimini, nourishing and warming the island’s coral reefs and serving as a watery corridor for everything from marlin to manta rays to dolphins to sea turtles. Bimini is the Out Islands’ favorite diving and fishing frontier outpost due to its unusual location and rogue history. Shipwrecks, shark dives, swim-through caverns and tunnels, and brilliant coral heads resting on the ocean floor are also available in Bimini. Divers visit Bimini to examine the intriguing limestone formations thought to be the lost continent of Atlantis. Snorkeling is a great way to see angelfish, moray eels, sea turtles, and other unique marine species.

Aside from fishing, diving, and kayaking, Bimini provides both the calm respite of uninhabited beaches and the noisy fellowship of sportsmen congregating at marinas after a successful day on the sea in the blazing heat. A stroll through Alice Town, Bimini’s major village, will reveal a quaint collection of modest stores, family-owned restaurants and pubs, one bank, and plenty of interesting discussion. Menus at local eateries such as the Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill and The Anchorage are heavy on fresh seafood and Bahamian specialties like cracked conch to keep you filled up for more Bimini adventures. Golf cart and bike rentals are also available.

It’s no surprise that the stunning islands of the Bahamas are a favorite choice for cruises in search of warm weather and relaxation. The calm of the Bahamas is always within reach due to its proximity to Florida. The Bahamas[…]