Best Day Cruise to Bahamas options from Florida

Imagine yourself, strung out on the white sandy beaches of a paradisiacal getaway, your family is playing in the glittering turquoise waters after a day cruise to Bahamas filled with adventures you will remember for a lifetime. The sun is setting slowly behind you and lighting the sky with streaks of orange and pink across the horizon. You have a sundowner in your hand and the smiles on the kids’ faces light up your world. Can it get better than a day cruise to Bahamas from Miami and the magical landscapes of the Exumas?

The Exuma Cays are a region in the Bahamas consisting of more than half of the Bahamas islands. There are 365 islands, cays, and sand bars in the Exumas — one for every day of the year! These islands, which are well within reach of south Florida for a memorable one day cruise to Bahamas, are known for being wild and secluded in comparison to the northern half of the Bahamian islands. Here, you can expect untamed, picturesque scenery which can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. Even astronauts have said (on multiple occasions) that the view from space of the Exuma Cays in the Bahamas is the most beautiful sight on the planet. That says a lot!

But where will you and the family go this year on your one day cruise to the Bahamas? That is the question. There are plenty of possibilities because of its proximity to Miami and Fort Lauderdale, where dozens of tours leave every morning for the exotic Caribbean islands. In this well-prepared guide, we will advise you on some of your options as it relates to your Bahamas one day cruise itinerary so that you can make the most informed decision for your family’s interest.

Here are your one day cruise to Bahamas options:

Between thrilling underwater marine life and stunning white sand beaches, you have plenty to choose from for your Bahamas cruise from Miami. Here is more information on what we consider to be your best options:

Cruises from Florida to Bahamas via Balearia Ferry

Cruises from Florida to Bahamas by way of ferry are by far-and-away the most popular choice of transportation for a day trip to Bahamas. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular day cruise to Bahamas options by ferry.

One day Bahamas cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama

One of the most popular ferry options is from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama. Grand Bahama is about 84 miles from Florida, so fairly near if calculating the distance.

There are two options for cruising to Grand Bahama. You can either take the ferry directly to Grand Bahama — which is the most timely but most expensive, or you can layover in Bimini before coming to Grand Bahama.

If stopping in Bimini in-between, your day cruise to Bahamas will leave Fort Lauderdale’s ferry port around 9AM and dock in Grand Bahama’s city of Freeport around 1:30PM. Though, this trip is often delayed due to the nature of it. The layover in Bimini takes about an hour to drop off all the passengers day-tripping to Bimini. Likewise for the return trip which leaves Freeport for Bimini at 5PM.

Alternatively, sailing right to Freeport, you will leave at 9AM and arrive before noon. The return ferry leaves freeport at 6:30PM and generally returns to Florida around 9:30PM.

The ferry company suggests you arrive in the ferry terminal two-three hours early for check-in and security queues which is especially important to remember upon returning to the United States.

What can you do in Grand Bahama on your day cruise to Bahamas?

• Lucayan National Park
• Gold Rock Beach
• Lucaya Beach
• Garden of the Groves
• Taino Beach
• Xanadu Beach
• Peterson Cay National Park
• Port Lucaya Marina
• Fortune Beach

Bahamas cruise from Miami to Bimini

Another popular day cruise to Bahamas known as being the quickest getaway to the islands is to Bimini — the closest in proximity to Florida. It is approximately only 51 miles from the Balearia ferry port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida making it one of the most appealing options for an exotic escape.

Leaving at 9AM, your day cruise to Bahamas takes roughly two hours to arrive to Bimini and, without any delays, you should be there before noon. The ferry back returns at 6:30PM which means, if all goes as planned, you will be back in the States before 9PM.

The ferry company suggests you arrive in the ferry terminal two-three hours early for check-in and security queues which is especially important to remember upon returning to the United States.

Bimini one day Bahamas cruise attractions

• Ocean Cay — MSC Marine Reserve
• South Bimini
• Dolphin House Museum
• Bimini, Bahamas Casino Resort
• Bimini Biological Field Station
• Luna Beach Club
• Lighthouse Bay Beach
• Cat Cays
• Shark Mound
• S.S. Sapona Shipwreck

Bahamas one day cruise via plane

Flights to Bahamas are becoming increasingly popular with tourists who want a little more convenient and easy way to spend their vacation. You can easily see the Exuma pigs in the Bahamas at Pig Island by way of private Bahamas Air Charter and reach the Bahamas swimming pigs before anyone else! Florida to swimming pigs trips will take under three hours round trip — sometimes even less than that depending on the weather.

Where does the Bahamas air charter go?

The plane can take you on a number of Exuma day trips. Generally, the plane will arrive at Staniel Cay where you can board an included private water taxi that can zip you around to a multitude of nearby islands that have dozens of attractions for tourists. Staniel Cay day trips are perfect for all kinds of travelers and families. A day cruise to Bahamas’ Staniel Cay is one of the best places you can take your family this year simply for the number of things there are to do.

Why is a Miami to Bahamas day trip better via plane?

Bahamas day trips by plane are better for a plethora of reasons. First, if it wasn’t obvious, a day cruise to Bahamas by plane is a big time-saver over the traditional ferry to the Bahamas. Suppose you only have one day to spend in the Bahamas; you don’t want to spend six hours in security queues with 200 other ferry-goers and aboard crowded ferries. It is much better to keep your party limited and travel where you want to go faster.

That is another reason we prefer the plane; you can build your own custom itinerary. Let’s say you want to see more than just the swimming pigs. Lucky for you, you can see the pigs as well as swim with sharks, re-enact James Bond, and even have a drink where Sean Connery used to blow off some steam after a long day. Your options are truly endless. Not to mention you get a killer view from atop the Exuma Cays. We are sure you will never see something quite as breath-taking as the view from the sky over the turquoise waters and green islands of the Exuma Cays.

Day cruise to Bahamas from Miami Itinerary with Bahamas Air Tours:

Here is what a trip to the Bahamas would look like for your family on the Miami to Bahamas Day Trip from Bahamas Air Tours. You would start by making your way to Staniel Cay where you would immediately be shuffled onto a private water taxi and taken on a ten-minute boat ride to Big Major Cay. After swimming with pigs, you’d probably also swim with sharks at Compass Cay. After that, the choice is up to you. You could check out the Pipe Creek Sand Bar, play James Bond at Thunderball Grotto, take a break from the heat at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, snorkel over a sunken cartel plane near Harvey Cay, track down rare iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay, or play with the turtles at Farmer’s Cay.

Book your swimming with pigs tours to Pig Beach today!

It is time to go swimming with pigs Bahamas style! Book your one day cruise to the Bahamas and get ready for the time of your life. You don’t know the adventure which awaits in the beautiful Bahamas! Speak to the team at Bahamas Air Tours for all your Bahamas Vacation plans or Miami to Bahamas Day Tours!

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