Bahama Mama ferry
Former name: Alhucemas
Bahama Mama ferry current position
The current location of Bahama Mama ferry is in West Mediterranean (coordinates 39.78501 N / 1.80966 E) cruising at speed of 18.7 kn (35 km/h | 22 mph) en route to Ibiza. The AIS position was last reported 4 minutes ago.
Current PositionSpecifications of Bahama Mama ferry
Year of build | 2009 / Age: 16 |
Flag state | Malta |
Builder | Barreras Shipyard (Vigo, Spain) |
Class | cruiseferry (Ro-Pax ship) |
Ferry route / homeports | Barcelona-Ibiza, Denia-Ibiza-Palma de Mallorca |
Speed | 23 kn / 43 km/h / 26 mph |
Length (LOA) | 154 m / 505 ft |
Beam (width) | 24 m / 79 ft |
Gross Tonnage | 20238 gt |
Passengers | 1000 |
Cars | 126 |
Beds | 206 |
Cabins | 48 |
Last Refurbishment | 2020 |
Former names | Alhucemas |
Owner | Balearia Group |
Operator | BALEARIA FERRIES |
Bahama Mama ferry Review
Review of Bahama Mama ferry
MV Bahama Mama is a Ro-Ro passenger ferry owned and operated by the Spanish company BALEARIA. The ship has a maximum capacity of 1,000 passengers and 126 cars. Launched in 2010 under the name Alhucemas, the vessel currently operates on the Spain–Balearic Islands ferry route Barcelona–Ibiza Island (Port San Antonio, crossing time 8 hours 45 minutes), alternating with the weekend service Denia–Ibiza–Palma de Mallorca.
Cabins
As a cruise ferry, Bahama Mama has a total of 48 air-conditioned cabins, all with en-suite bathrooms. Bed linens, towels, and toiletries are provided. The ship also offers VIP rooms (available for private meetings and parties) and wheelchair-accessible cabins adapted for disabled passengers. Most staterooms are 4-berth (quads); six are double cabins (with twin beds), two have king-size beds, two are suites, and two are twin cabins for disabled passengers.
The Reserved Seating Lounge (Neptune Lounge) features reclining Pullman seats (comfortable, fully reclining leather armchairs). Reserved seats are available for pre-booking and include complimentary beverages (tea, coffee, soft drinks). The Lobby Bar Lounge is furnished with sofas and chairs in a communal area.
All passengers must vacate their staterooms 30 minutes prior to homeport arrival.
Shipboard dining and entertainment options
Facilities onboard Bahama Mama include:
- Accommodation options – cabins, Sirena Lounge (economy seating), Neptune Lounge (reserved leather recliners), and Lobby Bar seating. All lounges feature large TVs.
- Dining venues – À la Carte Restaurant (formal dining, gourmet meals, fine wines), Self-Service Restaurant (casual dining with a full menu including kids’, vegetarian, and traditional dishes), Bar-Cafeteria (pastries, cakes, snacks, sandwiches), Outdoor Bar (grill, cocktails, beers, sundeck barbecues), and a chocolate and ice cream parlor. Purchasing meals in advance provides a 10% discount.
- Entertainment – supervised children’s programs, live stand-up comedy and magic shows, DJ parties and performances by guest artists (on the Sun Deck), 3D Cinema, and Casino (slot machines).
- Family services – high chairs, cots, safety rails for bunk beds, baby changing rooms, kids’ menus, toys, drawing kits, board games, and a ball pool play area. Entertainment programs for children (movies, crafts) are available during peak season.
- Accessibility – adapted cabins and toilets, disabled lounge seats, anchorage points for wheelchairs, and elevators connecting all decks.
- Spa & Beauty Salon – offering massages and beauty treatments.
- Aft on the top deck is the Solarium (sunbathing area) with a heated plunge pool, shaded seating (deckchairs), and an open-air bar (grilled food, hot/cold drinks). Forward is a helipad used for emergencies.
- Quiet Room – adjacent to the Lobby, furnished with tables and chairs.
- Gift & Travel Necessities Shop – duty-free store with souvenirs, alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, drinks, snacks, sweets, toiletries, electronics, toys, books, newspapers, and gourmet local products.
- Luggage lockers – located in the passenger lounge and accessible throughout the voyage.
Pet Cages – At booking, the type of pet cage must be specified. Two cage sizes are offered: small (max height 50–75 cm for pets under 30 kg) and large (max height 70–90 cm for pets over 30 kg). Passengers may also use their own pet carriers. In all cases, cage pricing is fixed (EUR 3–10 per trip), depending on the route. Valid pet health cards are required. Pets must remain in cages/carriers during the voyage. During embarkation/disembarkation, dogs must be leashed and muzzled. Pet owners disembark last.
Entreolas by Balearia Magazine is a complimentary onboard publication featuring travel, lifestyle, culture, sports, fashion, music, cuisine, and company news. Wi-Fi and Internet are available for an extra fee. Mobile phone chargers and iPad rentals are also offered.
All Balearia ships are equipped with CCTV surveillance. Smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas.
Onboard shopping includes discounted pricing for Balearia Club members. Club member perks include:
- 10% discounts in shops, bars, and restaurants
- Priority boarding at select departure ports
- With standard chair booking, club members receive Superior Lounge access vouchers (reclining leather chairs, subject to availability)
- Access to exclusive discounts from over 50 partner brands and services (travel insurance, land tours, hotels, restaurants, shops, transport providers)
Car decks
Vehicles must have proper documentation and valid insurance. Bringing the car’s technical data sheet helps during boarding checks. Vehicle model, length, and height must be specified when booking. Car ferry passengers must arrive at the port at least 90 minutes before departure.
All Balearia ships accommodate bikes. Bicycles, mopeds, and motorbikes (up to 125cc) travel free of charge but must be declared at booking. Oversized vehicles (over 3 m / 10 ft high) must be booked via the Call Center (902 160 180).
Car deck safety procedures include:
- Disabled passengers or those requiring assistance should visit the Information Desk.
- Apply the handbrake and place the vehicle in park or first gear. Turn off the ignition, alarm, electronics, and headlights. Gas cylinders must be shut off. Lock the vehicle.
- Bring only essential hand baggage and valuables.
- Note the location of your vehicle and garage deck number/stairwell before leaving.
- Access to car decks during the voyage is prohibited.
- Smoking is not permitted on vehicle decks, in cabins, or in lounges.
- Wait for onboard announcements before returning to your vehicle.
- Do not start the engine until instructed, to prevent air pollution.
Balearia ferry deals
Balearia Club members enjoy discounted prices onboard:
- 10% off in shops, bars, and restaurants
- Priority boarding at select ports
- Superior Lounge access with standard seat bookings (subject to availability)
- Exclusive promotions through over 50 partner brands (resorts, hotels, tours, restaurants, stores, buses, insurance, etc.)
(Ferry + Train) – Balearia has a partnership with Renfe Operadora (Spain’s national railway). Routes include Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille, Barcelona, and Madrid. When booking a Balearia ferry online, customers can generate a Renfe promo code valid for 48 hours.
(Ferry + Hotel) – Select routes offer ferry-hotel packages starting at around EUR 65.
(Day Tour) – Deals are available when booking roundtrip tickets within 24 hours. No changes or cancellations are allowed. Children under 13 get a 50% discount; babies travel free. Day tour prices range between EUR 10–60 depending on the itinerary. Shuttle bus service is included.
Balearia (fleet, founded in 1998, headquartered in Denia, Spain) is a Spanish ferry company operating passenger services in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean (Bahamas).
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Bahama Mama ferry Wiki
In 2011, the "Balearia Caribbean" cruiseferry brand was introduced, offering regularly scheduled passenger ferry service between the USA (Florida) and The Bahamas, with roundtrip voyages from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) to Freeport (approximate distance 137 km / 85 mi). In March 2015, the high-speed catamaran ferry Pinar del Rio (IMO 9043952, built in 1992, capacity 460 passengers) was replaced by the larger MS Bahama Mama (formerly named Alhucemas).
The vessel is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI number 248218000) and registered in Valletta.
The ship's Florida-Bahamas ferry service officially began on February 26, 2015. Departures from Florida were scheduled daily at 8 a.m., with returns to Fort Lauderdale at 11 a.m. Departures from Freeport, Bahamas were at 7 p.m., arriving back at 10 p.m. Balearia Caribbean's roundtrip ferry fares were USD 210 for economy class and USD 250 for first class. Overnight ferry-hotel packages combined the roundtrip voyages with hotel stays on Grand Bahama Island.
Bahama Mama's Caribbean service ended in 2017 when she was replaced by the fast ferry Jaume I (IMO 9081693, built in 1994). The new Balearia Bahamas Express service launched with 1-day cruise fares starting at USD 73 per person (roundtrip ticket, excluding taxes). Balearia also offered Bahamas Island ferry vacation packages that included all-inclusive resort stays (Island Seas Resort, Grand Lucayan Resort, Memories Resort), along with a variety of tours and excursions.
Balearia's Florida-Bahamas business grew by approximately 34% in 2014 compared to 2013, increasing from 91,000 to 121,000 passengers. During her Caribbean deployment, Bahama Mama completed 300 scheduled voyages annually, carrying over 200,000 passengers per year.
In late October 2018, Balearia contracted Caterpillar Marine to install MAK dual-fuel engines on three vessels (Abel Matutes, Bahama Mama, Martin I Soler). Engine conversions, performed by Caterpillar dealer Finanzauto, were scheduled for early 2019. As part of the project, the ship's two diesel engines (model 9M43C, total output 18 MW) were replaced with two MaK 9M46DF dual-fuel engines (diesel-LNG, 8.7 MW each), paired with gearboxes and controllable pitch propellers. Caterpillar provided dual-fuel conversion kits and all engine modules, including ignition systems, ventilation, exhaust gas systems, GVU ventilation, valves, and housings.
In November 2018, BALEARIA launched a EUR 443 million (USD 520 million) drydock reconstruction project to retrofit and convert nine ferries to operate on LNG (liquefied natural gas). The project was partially funded (20%) by the CEF (Connecting Europe Facility).
All drydock works (conducted at Gibraltar's Gibdock and West Sea’s Viana Shipyard) included modifying the diesel engines to MAN dual-fuel systems and installing LNG tanks. Each ship is now equipped with dual-fuel (LNG-diesel) MAN marine engines (model 9L-51-60-DF). The Wartsila-manufactured LNG tanks (one or two per vessel) can store up to 425 m³ of LNG, enabling autonomous operation for up to 1800 km (1100 mi). Onboard gas piping systems were supplied by Cryospain (Madrid-based). The engineering design was handled by Cotenaval (Valencia-based).
The fleet-wide retrofitting project resulted in fuel savings, with expected annual emissions reductions per vessel of over 9113 tons of CO₂ and over 871 tons of NOx, along with zero SOx emissions and no soot particles. Each ferry’s annual CO₂ reduction is equivalent to the emissions produced by approximately 6,000 cars.