Bimini Islands (Bahamas)

Bimini Islands are located approx 210 km (140 mi) west-northwest of Nassau (New Providence Island) and approx 80 km (53 mi) east of Miami Florida (USA). This makes Biminis the closest to the mainland USA Bahamian vacation travel destination. Bimini Islands have a population of around 2000.

The photo shows the luxurious Hilton Bimini Island Resort.

Since August 2019, BALEARIA Caribbean offers a fast-ferry service from Fort Lauderdale (Florida USA) to Bimini Island (crossing time ~2 hours). The catamaran ship has passenger capacity 650, max speed 38 knots (70 kph / 44 mph) and offers 5 weekly crossings with departures on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Since 2011, BALEARIA Caribbean also provides daily crossings from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport (Grand Bahama Island).

Virgin Voyages' private island resort "Bimini Beach Club" (Bahamas)

The Virgin Voyages' liner Scarlet Lady (scheduled for inauguration in April 2020) will be the first cruise ship to stop at "Bimini Beach Club" (Virgin Group's private island resort in Bimini Bahamas). The exclusive destination allows Virgin's Sailors (passengers) to enjoy world-class entertainment from a rotating cast of DJs led by Mark Ronson.

Virgin's Bimini Beach Club offers premium food with locally sourced ingredients and traditional Bahamian favorites like banana leaf-wrapped queen snapper, conch and mango salad, Bahamian rum cake. The complex has 6 bars, outdoor lounge areas with hammock groves, beach loungers, watersport activities, (optional/at extra cost) private poolside and beach-side cabanas for rent.

RockStar Suite passengers benefit from complimentary food service, exclusive bar, and outdoor terrace lounge, VIP beach cabanas. The 7-mile (11-km) long island offers extraordinary activities like boating, snorkeling, wreck diving. The partially sunk wreck of SS Sapona (concrete-hulled steamship that ran aground in 1926) is located just a few miles off island's southern coast.

Virgin's private resort is located on North Bimini Island and at a short bus transfer from the docking pier. It was built via a partnership with Resorts World Bimini. This is a 750-acres (3 km2 / 1,2 mi2) beachfront resort-casino-marina-hotel complex operated by Genting Group (Malaysia-based multinational corporation).

North Bimini is approx 68 km (42 mi) east of Florida USA (Miami). Resort's estimated building cost is USD 220 million. Virgin's Bimini Beach Club overlooks the sea and features a large lagoon-style swimming pool. The "resort experience" also features morning open-air exercises (yoga and meditation), afternoon DJ poolside parties, night beach bonfires and live musical performances.