Last updated: 1 August 2026
TL;DR — Cheapest Way to Ferry to the Bahamas
- Cheapest route: Fort Lauderdale → Bimini with Baleària Caribbean, about 2 hours on the catamaran Jaume II.
- Lowest fares: from roughly $199 round-trip per person, taxes included. Grand Bahama (Freeport) starts near $219 round-trip.
- Only three sailings a week: Bimini runs Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (Freeport twice weekly). There is no daily service — your "cheap date" has to be one of those days.
- Cheapest day: Wednesday. Friday is the busiest and dearest sailing of the week.
- Real extras: taxes are already inside the headline fare, but budget for terminal parking ($15–30/day), onboard food, and getting around Bimini.
- Watch out for: third-party "promo code" lists — many are outdated or fabricated. Book on the operator's official site.
Bahamas Ferry — Key Facts at a Glance
| Operator (Florida–Bahamas) | Baleària Caribbean — the only scheduled passenger ferry from the U.S. |
| Vessel | HSC Jaume II (high-speed Incat catamaran, ~650 passengers) |
| Cheapest route | Fort Lauderdale → Bimini (~2 hrs, 50 miles) |
| Other route | Fort Lauderdale → Freeport / Grand Bahama (~3 hrs) |
| Departure terminal | Port Everglades Terminal 21, 2021 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale |
| Bimini sailing days | Wednesday, Friday, Sunday (extra departures in peak summer) |
| Freeport sailing days | Roughly twice weekly — typically Wednesday and Sunday |
| Lowest fare 2026 | Bimini from ~$199 round-trip incl. taxes; Freeport from ~$219 |
| Cheapest day | Wednesday |
| Most expensive | Friday sailings and U.S. holiday weeks |
| Children's fare | Reduced for under-12; infants under 2 free on lap |
| Passport required? | Yes — valid U.S. passport book for all ferry passengers |
Looking for the cheapest ferry to Bahamas? This guide breaks down what fares actually look like in 2026, which days save real money, and the booking habits that quietly add hundreds to a family trip if you ignore them.
Cheapest Bahamas Ferry Prices (2026)
Sails Wed / Fri / Sun
Wednesday = cheapest day
Roughly twice weekly
Typically Wed & Sun
Best Days for Cheap Bahamas Ferry Tickets
This is where most "cheap Bahamas ferry" advice falls apart. There is no daily ferry from Florida to the Bahamas. Baleària Caribbean runs Bimini on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and Grand Bahama roughly twice a week. Any guide telling you to "travel Tuesday or Thursday to save money" is describing sailings that don't exist.
| Day | Bimini | Freeport / Grand Bahama | What to expect on price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | ✔ Sails | ✔ Usually sails | Cheapest and quietest — the day to target |
| Friday | ✔ Sails | — | Busiest Bimini sailing; highest fares, books out first |
| Sunday | ✔ Sails | ✔ Usually sails | Middle ground — quieter than Friday |
| Mon / Tue / Thu / Sat | No scheduled sailing | Extra departures are only added in peak summer | |
Schedules shift seasonally and Baleària adds sailings in peak summer. Reconfirm your exact date on the operator's site — especially if you're planning around a Wednesday.
💡 Pro Tip: The Wednesday Day Trip
The cheapest realistic way to set foot in the Bahamas is a Wednesday day trip to Bimini: the ferry leaves Port Everglades at 9:00 AM, lands at Alice Town around 11:00 AM, and the return leaves Bimini at 6:00 PM — about seven hours ashore with no hotel night to pay for. Full breakdown in our Bahamas ferry day trip guide.
Where to Actually Find Discounts (Without Falling for Fake Codes)
Real Bahamas ferry savings come from a small handful of legitimate channels. Skip the dodgy "promo code" aggregators and go straight to the source:
| Channel | What You Get | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| Balearia Club | Member-only fares + points on every booking | Free signup at baleariacaribbean.com |
| Balearia email list | Flash sales, holiday-week promos, advance previews | Subscribe via the operator footer |
| Black Friday / Cyber Monday | Biggest annual sale window | Check the operator site late November |
| End-of-season sales | Discounted late-Sep / Oct / early-Nov dates | Watch for September announcements |
| Group bookings (10+) | Group rate request through Balearia | Contact Balearia Caribbean directly |
7 Strategies That Actually Lower Your Bahamas Ferry Bill
- Take the Wednesday sailing: Of the three weekly Bimini departures, Wednesday is consistently the quietest and cheapest — especially in late spring and early fall. Swapping a Friday booking for a Wednesday one is the single biggest saving available on this route.
- Book 3-6 weeks out: Last-minute Bahamas ferry deals are rare; planning ahead almost always beats waiting.
- Join Balearia Club: The loyalty program is free and unlocks member fares plus points - sign up before the booking screen.
- Subscribe to Balearia's email list: Real sales (Cyber Monday, end-of-season) usually hit subscribers first.
- Travel off-peak: May, late September and most of October avoid spring break, summer peak and U.S. holiday weeks.
- Day-trip instead of overnight: Same-day return removes a hotel night entirely - the single biggest saving for a quick Bimini visit.
- Skip premium seating: Standard seats are comfortable for a 2-hour crossing; the upgrade typically saves $50-60 per person round-trip.
Cheap Bahamas Ferry: Real Cost Breakdown
Here's what a budget Bahamas ferry trip actually costs per person:
Per-person, Wednesday Fort Lauderdale–Bimini round-trip with same-day return. All figures are typical 2026 ranges and will vary by date and demand.
| Item | Budget Trip | Standard Trip | Premium Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry ticket (round-trip, taxes incl.) | ~$199 (Wednesday base) | ~$235 | ~$320 (peak Friday) |
| Premium seat upgrade | $0 | $0 | ~$60 |
| Parking at terminal (1 day) | $15-20 | $20 | $30 (valet) |
| Onboard food & drinks | $10 (bring your own) | ~$40 | ~$60 |
| Getting around Bimini | $0 (walk Alice Town) | ~$25 (taxi/shuttle) | ~$80 (golf cart, full day) |
| TOTAL (per person) | ~$225-230 | ~$320 | ~$550 |
Correction note (August 2026): earlier versions of this page quoted unverifiable promo codes, listed Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday sailings that do not exist on this route, and added roughly $70 of port taxes on top of a fare that already includes them. The table above reflects verified 2026 sailing days and tax-inclusive fares.
💡 Money-Saving Hack: Pack Your Own Food
Ferry food is expensive ($12 sandwiches, $6 drinks). Bring a small cooler with snacks and drinks - it's allowed! Also bring reef-safe sunscreen ($30+ in Bimini vs. $8 from home).
Where to Stay: Pre-Ferry & On-Island Hotels
Most cheap-ferry trips to the Bahamas involve at least one overnight - either in Fort Lauderdale before an early-morning departure, or on Bimini if you want more than a few hours on the island. Use the map below to compare hotel prices across multiple booking sites in real time. Bookings made through these links support BahamasHopping at no extra cost to you.
Bimini — Cheapest Bahamas Island for Overnight Stays
Fort Lauderdale — Pre-Ferry Hotels Near Port Everglades
Balearia Caribbean departs from Port Everglades, often before 9 AM. A pre-ferry overnight near the port removes traffic stress and lets you arrive at the terminal relaxed.
Disclosure: BahamasHopping earns a commission when you book through these links. This doesn't affect the price you pay. Learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Wednesday day trip from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini on Baleària Caribbean. Fares start around $199 round-trip with taxes included. Skip the premium seat, bring your own food, walk Alice Town instead of renting a golf cart, and use the cheaper terminal parking. Realistic per-person total for a budget day trip in 2026: around $225-230 all-in.
Wednesday. The Fort Lauderdale–Bimini ferry only sails three days a week — Wednesday, Friday and Sunday — and Wednesday is consistently the quietest and cheapest of the three. Friday is the busiest and usually the most expensive. There is no Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday sailing on this route outside of extra departures added in peak summer.
Fort Lauderdale to Bimini starts at roughly $199 round-trip per person with taxes included. Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama (Freeport) starts nearer $219 round-trip. One-way economy fares to Bimini can start around $93 plus taxes. These are floor prices — ferry aggregators currently show the same Bimini crossing between roughly $180 and $235 depending on the date, so always price your specific travel day.
Real sales exist - especially around Black Friday, Cyber Monday and end-of-season - but blanket public discount codes like "35% off everything" are rarely issued by Balearia Caribbean. Most "promo code" lists you find on travel blogs are recycled or fabricated. The reliable path is the free Balearia Club loyalty program plus signing up for the operator's email list.
For Bimini and Freeport from South Florida, the ferry is usually cheaper once checked-bag fees and airport transport are factored in. For Nassau, flying is normally the only practical option - there's no direct passenger ferry from the U.S. to Nassau, only inter-island ferries from Nassau to other Bahamas islands.
Late spring (May), early fall (September) and most of October tend to have the lowest demand and the lowest fares. Within any given week, the Wednesday sailing beats Friday and Sunday. Avoid spring break, July 4th week, Thanksgiving and the Christmas/New Year period if budget is the priority.
Yes - Balearia Caribbean offers reduced fares for children (typically under 12) and infants under 2 travel free on a parent's lap. Every passenger, including infants, must still have a valid U.S. passport. Check the operator's site for the current child-fare percentage at the time of booking.
Yes. U.S. citizens need a valid U.S. passport book for sea travel between Florida and the Bahamas in 2026. A passport card is not accepted for re-entry by air, so passport books are the safe choice. Children also need their own passports.
Yes - Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the statistical peak in August and September. Storms are forecast days in advance, so impacted sailings are typically rescheduled or refunded. Travel insurance with trip-interruption cover is a smart add-on for any Bahamas trip in this window.
Ready to Book Your Cheap Bahamas Ferry?
Compare current Balearia Caribbean fares directly — or pair the ferry with a hotel below.
Check Balearia Fares & Sales Find a Hotel Last-Minute DealsRelated Guides
- Complete Ferry to Bahamas Guide
- Bahamas Ferry Day Trip Guide
- Miami to Bahamas Ferry
- Last-Minute Ferry Deals
- What to Pack for the Ferry
Things to Do When You Arrive
- Things to Do in Bimini - 25 activities on the closest island
- Things to Do in Freeport - Caves, dolphins & Gold Rock Beach
- Things to Do in Nassau - Atlantis, beaches & history
- Things to Do in Exuma - Swimming pigs & nurse sharks