Bimini sits about 50 nautical miles east of Miami — close enough that on the right morning, you can have breakfast on Biscayne Bay and lunch in the Bahamas. It's the most asked-about trip we run, and the questions are always the same three: how long, how rough, and what about customs. Here are the real answers.
How long does the crossing take?
On the yachts we run to Bimini, plan on 2 to 2.5 hours each way, depending on the vessel and the day's conditions. Add the pre-departure brief and customs on arrival, and a Bimini day charter is a full day: lines off around 7–8 AM, back at the dock before dark.
Is the crossing rough?
It can be — and this is the part most websites won't tell you straight. Between Miami and Bimini runs the Gulf Stream, a north-flowing river in the ocean. When the wind blows from the north against that current, the Stream stacks up short, steep seas, and no sensible captain crosses for pleasure. When the wind is light or southerly, the same water can be almost flat. This is why we treat the crossing as weather-windowed: we watch the forecast all week, confirm the go/no-go a day or two out, and reschedule rather than force a marginal day. An early departure matters too — mornings are calmer, and it puts the whole day in daylight.
What about customs and passports?
Every guest needs a valid passport — including children. Entry into the Bahamas happens at Bimini: the captain presents the vessel's documents and your passports, Bahamian entry fees are paid, and the crew handles the process while you're steps from the beach. On a Global Yachts Network charter, the paperwork is prepared before departure so the clearance is a formality, not a queue. Coming home, U.S. clearance is handled on return — also arranged in advance.
What does the day actually look like?
A typical run: early boarding and briefing in Miami; the crossing with coffee as the water turns from green to Gulf Stream blue to Bahamas turquoise; customs at Bimini; then the good part — swimming over white sand, lunch ashore or aboard, an hour of doing absolutely nothing — and the afternoon crossing home with the sun behind you.
Which boats can do it?
Not every vessel in a Miami fleet should cross open water. We quote Bimini runs on yachts with the range, seakeeping, and crew experience for it — see the fleet, and ask us which are cleared for the crossing. For more time in the islands, the same planning extends into multi-day Exuma itineraries.
When's the best time?
November through May offers the most settled windows. Summer works with flexibility — calm mornings are common — while peak hurricane season needs the most planning slack.
One conversation sets the whole day up: speak to a specialist and tell us your dates. If the window's right, Bimini is closer than you think.