Baleària Caribbean's Jaume II from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport in about 3 hours — beaches, Lucayan caves and a real island, not just a day trip.
| Island size | 96 miles long, 4th largest in the Bahamas |
|---|---|
| Main settlements | Freeport, Lucaya, West End, Eight Mile Rock, McLean's Town |
| Crossing time | ~3 hours (Fort Lauderdale ferry) or 8+ hours (Nassau mail boat) |
| Fare from | $235 (Baleària lead-in fare, 2026) |
| Ferry vessel | HSC Jaume II — Incat catamaran, 654 passengers, ~37 knots |
| Ferry days | About 2×/week — days vary; check the Baleària booking calendar |
| Currency | Bahamian dollar (1:1 with USD — USD widely accepted) |
| Hurricane season | 1 June – 30 November (peak Aug–Sep) |
Real talk from families who've done both Bimini and Grand Bahama
Bimini is the easy Bahamas ferry: shorter crossing, walkable, fine for a day. Grand Bahama asks more of you — a longer sailing, and you genuinely need wheels once you land — and gives more back. It is a full-sized island, 96 miles end to end, with Gold Rock Beach and the Lucayan cave system at one end and the quiet West End settlement at the other, plus Port Lucaya for dining and dive charters in between. If you have three nights rather than one day, it is the better of the two.
Fast modern ferry or authentic mail boat adventure
Baleària Caribbean — HSC Jaume II
From
$235
Operator lead-in (portals: $151–578)
M/V Mailboat Fiesta (cargo + passengers)
Budget option
~$50
One-way (approx, cash at dock)
The Freeport ferry terminal sits in an industrial port area — roughly 6 miles from downtown Freeport and 8 miles from the Lucaya hotels and beaches, with Gold Rock Beach and the East End considerably further. There is no rental counter at the dock, so arrange transport before you sail.
Five places worth the longer ferry ride from Florida
The standout. A long undeveloped beach inside Lucayan National Park with a low-tide sandbar that draws photographers. Time your visit around low tide for the famous ripple-pattern sand — and around the park's Saturday/Sunday-only opening, since the boardwalk through the park is the normal way in. Bring water and snacks; there are no facilities at the beach itself.
Shopping, dining and live music around Count Basie Square. The marina is the launch point for most fishing charters and dolphin/snorkel tours. Lucaya is also where most of the island's open hotels cluster — about 6 miles from the ferry terminal.
40-acre park (founded 1982) over one of the longest charted underwater cave systems on Earth — Ben's Cave and Burial Mound Cave are the two openings you can walk to. Boardwalk trails cross mangrove and pine forest before opening onto Gold Rock Beach. Critical: the park opens Saturday and Sunday only, 9am–4pm. Bahamas National Trust day passes (VAT incl.): $15 per adult (15–59), $10 seniors 60+, $8 kids 6–14, BNT members free. Allow 2–3 hours minimum.
The Gulf Stream runs just offshore — half-day mahi and wahoo charters depart Port Lucaya and Old Bahama Bay. UNEXSO at Lucaya is one of the longest-running dive operations in the Caribbean and runs reef, wreck and shark dives. Tiger Beach, the shallow shark site pictured here, lies off the island's West End and is a boat charter, not a shore dive.
The far western tip of the island is a quiet contrast to Lucaya — small marina, low-rise resorts, easy west-facing sunsets. About 28 miles from the ferry terminal; a half-day rental car trip.
12-acre botanical garden in Freeport with waterfalls, a labyrinth, a small chapel and resident flamingos. Easy half-day stop with kids, and the on-site Garden Café does breakfast and lunch overlooking the falls. Entry runs about $15 per adult — confirm the current rate before you go.
Learn from our mistakes so you don't have to!
Most ferry visitors stay in Lucaya — the dining, beach and dive hub. Compare live rates across Booking.com, Expedia and Hotels.com below.
Six properties confirmed open and bookable for 2026. Nightly figures are seasonal lead-in rates, not quotes — Grand Bahama rates swing hard between summer and the December–April high season.
The Grand Lucayan complex — long the island's flagship resort — is being redeveloped, and most of it is not operating. Concord Wilshire acquired it under a 2025 agreement and announced a partnership with MSC in April 2026; the plan is an $827M rebuild into cruise-linked resorts, a mega-yacht marina and a casino, with demolition and construction phased through 2026. Only the all-inclusive Lighthouse Pointe wing is still taking guests. Ignore listings that sell you the full "Grand Lucayan Beach & Golf Resort" experience — the pools, golf and grounds of the wider complex are not part of a 2026 stay.
Lucaya Beach · ~8 mi from ferry
From ~$180 / night (all-inclusive)
The only all-inclusive on this side of the island and the only part of the Grand Lucayan complex still operating — 89 rooms with ocean, marina or island views, meals, drinks and non-motorised watersports included. Expect construction activity on the surrounding grounds during the redevelopment; confirm which facilities are open for your dates.
Check AvailabilityPort Lucaya · Marina-side · ~8 mi from ferry
From ~$140 / night
Waterfront hotel right next to Port Lucaya Marketplace, with three outdoor pools and two restaurants. Excellent for couples and divers — UNEXSO and the marina are a 5-minute walk. No private beach, but Lucaya Beach is one block away. Rooms are renovated unevenly; ask for a refurbished one.
Check AvailabilityFortuna Beach, south shore · All-inclusive · ~10 mi from ferry
From ~$130 / night (all-inclusive)
276 rooms across 26 acres on a quiet stretch of the south shore, each with a balcony or terrace. Family-friendly, four restaurants, kids' club. Further from the ferry than the Lucaya hotels — budget for a taxi transfer.
Check AvailabilityWest End · Marina · ~28 mi from ferry
From ~$180 / night
73 beachfront suites and a full-service marina on a 228-acre site at the island's western tip. Best for fishing or boating travellers — far from Lucaya, so plan on a rental car. Some resort services run limited; check what's open for your dates.
Check AvailabilityFreeport / International Bazaar · ~6 mi from ferry
From ~$110 / night
Simple, well-located budget option in central Freeport. Pool, on-site restaurant, walking distance to a few local restaurants. Closest "real" budget option to the ferry terminal.
Check AvailabilityWilliams Town · Beachfront timeshare · ~8 mi from ferry
From ~$130 / night
Condo-style suites with full kitchens on a quiet beach on the island's south side, plus a small marina and an on-site spa. Good for families wanting space and self-catering; the poolside Seagrape Grille handles breakfast and dinner.
Check AvailabilityDisclosure: BahamasHopping earns a commission when you book through these links. Stay22's auto-affiliate handles the tracking — your price is identical to booking direct. Learn more.
Check which days the Jaume II sails for your travel window — then lock in a Lucaya hotel for the night.
Popular bookable Grand Bahama experiences — free cancellation up to 2 days before:
The questions we get asked most often
"Plan at least 3 nights to make the ferry time worth it. Because the Jaume II only sails about twice a week, pick your hotel dates around the two sailings that actually appear in Baleària's calendar — not the other way round. Book your rental car the same day you book the ferry; Lucaya supply gets thin around school holidays. And make sure your stay covers a Saturday or Sunday — Lucayan National Park only opens those two days, and the boardwalk plus Gold Rock Beach is the part of the island you'll remember."
Last updated: 20 August 2026 · Ferry schedule and fares checked against Baleària Caribbean; hotel operating status re-verified property by property (Grand Lucayan redevelopment per Tribune242 / Travel Weekly reporting); Lucayan National Park fees per Bahamas National Trust, effective 1 July 2026.
