Want more information about going to the Bahamas? Choosing your crew is a very important part of the planning. . You might want to tuck it in lockers, but truly I’ve never heard of anyone even being asked about it. Going from Florida to the Bahamas by boat takes you through the open ocean. When making the crossing, there are three main things to consider: the speed of your boat (obviously include the wind speed if under sail), the Gulf Stream current that will be affecting your navigation, and the weather. How to prepare for a cruising trip to the Bahamas – Provisioning – What should you take with you – The best weather and strategies for the Gulf Stream crossing – Our experience of the Gulf Stream crossing – Arrival to Bimini – How to check in to the Bahamas. But people take small boats across the Gulf Stream all the time. From a variety of locations off of Florida's coast, you have the opportunity to start crossing the Gulf … Bimini, a chain of islands located in the westernmost district of the Bahamas, lies only 48 nautical miles east of Miami, Florida. We used him for import permits for two dogs just a couple of weeks ago and he was awesome. According to the Bahamian government website, visiting boaters must clear Bahamas Customs & Immigration at the nearest designated port of entry; fly the yellow quarantine flag and notify customs of your arrival. You’ll need a strong and stable boat to face the wind and the current. NOTE: This list assumes a US boat, US citizens, coming from the US and going directly to the Bahamas. A cruising permit is required for all foreign private, non-commercial, pleasure boats (and occupants) to sail in Bahamian waters. One thing that living on a boat is famous for: inability to plan. For our 3 day cruises call Toll Free 877-429-6714 for your tropical getaway. If you want to get the ferry schedule to Bahamas click in our booking engine. My husband and I have been cruising over 13 years and 12,000 miles, first on a Tayana 37 monohull and now on a 34' Gemini catamaran. With their crystal clear waters and fishing as the main attractions, this trip takes minimal preparation and travel time making it a very easy way to have a true Bahamas experience on your very own boat. The 3 hour cruise trip, to our tropical island, is the best cheapest way to get here. • Popular articles you may have missed All of a sudden, while I was looking off the boat, a huge swordfish jumped and flew out of the water not more than 50 feet from us. Just 50 nautical miles from Florida, the Bahamas has offered boaters an easy escape to paradise for years. preparing to cruise • overcoming problems. Thank you! Learn everything you need to know with Get Ready to Cruise the Bahamas. In the form of boat cards. Thanks so much for sharing the information. I would like to know if you have a specific checklist of food items that are NOT allowed into the Bahamas. You’ll need a strong and stable boat to face the wind and the current. None of the other reputable sources that I checked mentioned any restriction on foods brought in, as long as they are for your own consumption. Just call one of our agents and they will start your Day trip that will include a wounderfull swim with the pigs We have cruised the Bahamas for the past 2 1/2 months with our canine companion and your advice has been invaluable. Here’s how to make it more efficient. If you are a boat owner in the South Florida area, slipping away to a tropical playground full of fishing, diving and relaxation is a piece of cake thanks to the popular and nearby out island destination of Bimini, Bahamas. January 23, 2021 By Carolyn Shearlock/Rick Marcarelli, Looking for a simple, affordable, and comfortable cruising boat? Is there anything else you may be aware of? Eleuthera is known to have some of the most natural exploration sites of all the islands. According to the Bahamian government website, visiting boaters must clear Bahamas Customs & Immigration at the nearest designated port of entry; fly the yellow quarantine flag and notify customs of your arrival. Pages Businesses Automotive, Aircraft & Boat Automotive Store Marine Supply Store Highway Marine Videos Yamaha 210 FSH Bimini Bahamas crossing The only items I have confirmed is my passport, copy of cruising permit and itinerary/proof of return ticket. If you have a pet, be sure to take all their documents, too. In addition, calls to USA and Canada are included in your minutes. Visit buzzing local markets, relax on endless beaches, try your hand at water sports or snorkeling, marvel at waterfalls and wildlife in the jungle, or swim with dolphins. As a side note, when we entered the US from Canada we were told we did not require a decal because we were sailing a US-built boat. Once winter has passed, boats can anchor just about anywhere along the 45-mile western shore of Cat Island, sheltered from the prevailing easterlies. If your shipping company questions you, no, there are no ZIP codes or postal codes in the Bahamas. Some of the top spots are the Sapphire Blue Hole, … The conditions at sea can change rapidly and the Gulf Stream be a headache, especially if you’re aboard a smaller size boat. Filed Under: Cruising & Chartering Tagged With: Bahamas, Checklists & Downloads, Cruising the Bahamas, International Cruising. Book a hotel on the island and stay for a few days. How to prepare for a cruising trip to the Bahamas – Provisioning – What should you take with you – The best weather and strategies for the Gulf Stream crossing – Our experience of the Gulf Stream crossing – Arrival to Bimini – How to check in to the Bahamas. You can also Cruise To Stay™ one or more nights in the Bahamas, Getting to this fun Island of Freeport is Easy, having a fun or relaxing time is even easier. This fast-flowing current is part of the North Atlantic Gyre and flows northward from the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. 1) We usually inform our credit cards that we are going to a new state/country. I took this ferry service from Nassau to Spanish Wells a very small island deeply rooted in fishing and home to some of the best fishermen in the world it is located just off mainland Eleuthera which is one of the bigger islands in The Bahamas and also very easily accessed by small ferry boats once on Spanish Wells. Quick, get started today and you will be on your way to the tropical islands of your choice. One from our country of registration would be ok? Your email address will not be published. Returns to Fort Lauderdale at 10:00 PM. • Tips from Carolyn We are a Canadian couple on a Canadian registered sail boat returning to a Florida port. If you want to visit the Bahamas by boat and are leaving from Florida, Crossing the Gulf Stream is one of your most important things to consider. Check out all the special deals from our podcast sponsors! Get my self-paced online course, Get Ready to Cruise the Bahamas, for step-by-step details on 30 critical tasks. Planning to cruise the Bahamas? Yes, I couldn’t begin to keep a list up to date. Read on for info about where to go, what not to miss, and tips from other sailors. I have learned a lot just reading it. Every Bahamas guide book suggests you dress “neatly” for your clearing-in process. I’M PREPARING TO CRUISE — HOW DO I GET READY FOR THIS?? choose one of our exciting Grand Bahama resort packages. Along the way, we sold pretty much everything we owned (twice! Preparation Before The Trip For us, the preparation for the Bahamas trip begins 6 months to a year before the crossing. Thank you again Carolyn. call 954-969-0069 to start your vacation today, Let Bahamas Shuttle Boat take you to swim with the pigs in Freeport, Bahamas. Also book a great hotel room here in south Florida so you can relax and enjoy the area before your departure for the cruise, then when you get back from the cruise, Stay here for a few more days. The island really has it going on. Fuel, marinas, and resorts are plentiful in the closer islands. From BoatUS Magazine, America's Most-Trusted Boating Magazine. They will mail the forms to you. No I don’t, but let me check in with some friends and see if I can put one together! That’s ok by me. You can mail the immigration cards if you don’t officially check out (and many people forget to mail them and it doesn’t seem to hurt anything). It is a gorgeous shade of cobalt blue there and all I could do was stare at the ocean. This guide will cover how to best yacht to Eleuthera, crossing from either Fort Lauderdale, Miami or Nassau. Snacks, Some water sports and beach activities ( non-motorized activities), Round trip ground transportation from port to resort Round trip Cruise. Be sure to take your immigration card with you to the airport when you fly out — you’ll have to turn it in at the airport. In addition to BTC for cell service, we have found Aliv service to be easier to use and you may also set up auto renew which we do monthly. Once you are in The Bahamas, several island chains there allow you to island-hop without making any more bluewater passages. The CDC one is what I always refer to. If you were crossing in November or December it is usually easy to get a buddy boat or two with whom to do the crossing. Thank you in advance. We will be crossing from Florida within the next few days and recently discovered it may not be possible to bring fresh fruits, veggies or dairy into the country. Box N.4860Nassau, Bahamas. The pigs have landed in freeport, Bahamas for you to enjoy. One question, we have alcohol on board as a matter of routine. I sent Mike the link to your blog posting. Left St. Petersburg FL to Isla Mujeres MX, now in Key West planning for crossing to Bahamas. By Kimberly Smith April 19, 2017. I looked on your site for information about vaccinations before traveling but didn’t see anything (you have pets well covered!). Alright, we made it to great beautiful crossing. If any U.S. residents are interested the CDC has a thorough and informative site at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destination Thanks for a wonderful and informative website. The pigs have landed in freeport, Bahamas for you to enjoy. Hi! Cat has one of the most unusual landmarks in the Bahamas—the Hermitage atop Mount Alvernia, the highest point in all the island nation. Required fields are marked *. I remember that well from planning our crossing in 2016 — I was so confused by what all I read. Could you also comment on the decal, please? One of my favorite things to do as a South Florida boat owner is travel to Bimini. Bahamas Marinas. There may be requirements that I don’t know about for other combinations. More and more cruises are requiring passports. NOTE: Legal requirements can always change and I make no guarantees about this list having absolutely everything. Great info! Visiting boaters must clear Customs and Immigration at the nearest designated Port of Entry. • New articles & podcasts Phone: 954-236-9292. I'm Carolyn Shearlock. Explore all Eleuthera has to offer by staying at local Hotels & Airbnb’s, rent a car, and explore the island by land as well as by boat! Once winter has passed, boats can anchor just about anywhere along the 45-mile western shore of Cat Island, sheltered from the prevailing easterlies. The official Bahamas website do not mention any restirctions: https://www.bahamas.com/faq/enteringexiting-policies. The journey by boat can be as short as 2.5 hours, so it's an excellent choice for a Miami to Bahamas one-day trip. © Hotel411.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Get Ready To Cruise The Bahamas includes membership in a private Facebook group to ask additional questions and get to know others headed to the Bahamas.. All this for just $39, or $49 bundled with Unwritten Rules Of The Cruising Life.Yes, it's ridiculously cheap for … I'm glad you had a good crossing and hope you enjoy your time in the Bahamas! For the end of the day we went to one of the other boats where our gracious hosts showed us a number of different ways to filet and cook the fish that everyone caught en route. . I’d love to try Aliv, but they don’t have any offices in Bimini it the Berries, and Mr. Sim Card doesn’t work with them to get a card in the US. So if you're planning a long vacation, a normal vacation, a mini-vacation, a birthday, a wedding, an important meeting, an incentive group, or any special event, you might want to consider a nice cruise to Grand Bahama Island. Looks like an updated SVRS is up and running. 2) With respect to pet imports, I want to thank you for mentioning the services of Wellington Saunders. Balearia Caribbean offers the only direct fast ferry service between Fort Lauderdale (Fl) and Freeport (Grand Bahama), and from Fort Lauderdale (Fl) to Bimini (Alice Town). The pigs have landed in freeport, Bahamas for you to enjoy. Requirements can vary according to the boat and people’s nationality. This can be very inconvenient. The conditions at sea can change rapidly and the Gulf Stream be a headache, especially if you’re aboard a smaller size boat. Heading off to the Bahamas aboard your own boat and want to know all the documents and other things you need to have? I’VE STARTED CRUISING AND I’M FRUSTRATED AND OVERWHELMED, living on a boat • cooking & food • gear Read our privacy policy. However, if someone does decide you need the sticker, you should be able to just pay for it then. I’m not making any guarantees, but simply have not heard of anyone having a problem or even being asked. US citizens may travel with their Drivers licence and State issued original Birth Certificate, (IF SAILING FROM MIAMI), Stay on the island for a while longer? Your email address will not be published. It’s time now to leave The Bahamas and the question arises…do we need to officially Exit the islands and turn in our immigration cards? And with over 700 islands sprinkled over 100,000 square miles of ocean there’s an option for any type of trip imaginable. So while you lose a little speed and burn a bit more fuel, it’s still very straight-forward navigating in the right conditions. Bimini is only about 50 miles due east from the Port of Miami. Staff was helpful and professional and the boat ride was very smooth. I've been following their boat Colleen on Marinetraffic.com and Winlink.org. . We will never sell your email or send spam. Try the one day cruises from Fort Lauderdale or Miami cruise ports, If you need hotels near the Cruise Port Everglades call toll free 800-327-1390For Cruise Port Everglades call 954-523-3404. Pirate's Cove Zipline and Waterpark is Freeport's very first Adventure Theme Park and is now the newest attraction for Grand Bahama Island. To enter the Bahamas, private vessels need a Bahamas customs clearance form, one Bahamas immigration card per person aboard, and proof of citizenship (a U.S. passport). An overview and comparison of 10 of the most popular small catamarans. Whether you’re island hopping, shipping large freight, or you simply want a relaxing day away, our many destinations will take you (and your goods) wherever you need to go. Boats 30 feet or longer in length must pay an annual fee of $27.50 for a border crossing decal (also called a “user fee decal” by the government; cruisers just call it the “customs decal.”) You need the number from this on your return to the US (or US territory, such as … We offer 16 unique destinations filled with exciting experiences below and above water. I don’t know anything about not needing the decal since the boat is US-built as I’m American. The trips are for members, but I suspect that we'd let you join! It is always a better way to go so it's worth asking on VHF 16 before you go. We used the Bahamas Pet Import website with fantastic results. If you want to get the ferry schedule to Bahamas click in our booking engine. When first researching, it may seem like a crazy dream to take a trailer boat to The Bahamas. If you’re an experienced boat captain planning to make a trip to Eleuthera via your own yacht, then you’ve come to the right spot! I also saw your post about taking young children on the crossing. Entering Policies . This fast-flowing current is part of the North Atlantic Gyre and flows northward from the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. To enter the Bahamas, private vessels need a Bahamas customs clearance form, one Bahamas immigration card per person aboard, and proof of citizenship (a U.S. passport). Is it a problem to bring “ships stores” of liquor in and out of Bahamas. I would like to create a checklist of items I will need to insure I take with me if I need to make an emergency flight back to the U.S. while in the Bahamas on our personal sailboat. If we do not officially Exit, will this affect our Entry into the US? I believe that’s the case. Leaves from Fort Lauderdale cruise port everglades goes to Freeport, Bahamas and comes back all in one day. We will definitely use him again. Their documents, too board as a matter of routine it a problem to bring “ ships stores of! 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