Bimini, Bahamas – The inaugural Bimini SuperFast cruise from Fort Lauderdale,Florida arrived to the Port at Resorts World Bimini on Tuesday October 14, bringing more than 800 visitors to the island. The influx of hundreds of visitors during what is traditionally the “slow” tourism season for the island was welcomed by business owners in the hospitality sector who had been eagerly anticipating the start of the weekday cruises.
“Business is great, it feels like a weekend,” said water sports entrepreneur Edward Reckley. “When you look at the hundreds of people here today, I know this is the beginning of a great thing for the island. A lot of these people are in the media, so word is going to travel quickly and we will see a lot of repeat business. Biminites have been waiting to see this kind of thing for a long time and we are ready to welcome them with open arms.”
With the new service, Bimini SuperFast is now sailing three days a week from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and three days a week from Miami on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Service from Miami will be increased to four days a week by Thanksgiving, providing daily cruise ferry service to Bimini from South Florida. The daily service will dramatically improve the quality of life for all Biminites as for the first time, fresh produce will arrive on a daily basis and the cost of transporting goods to Bimini will be significantly reduced. However, as RWB Executive Dana Leibovitz points out, it is the economic impact to the island’s economy that will be most notable.“Resorts World Bimini injects millions of dollars directly into the local economy, however the money spent in town by visitors who come to Bimini aboard the SuperFast is providing a substantial indirect impact,” he said. “When the island succeeds, we succeed, and we are pleased that the people of Bimini are benefitting from our cruise service on so many levels.”
The increase in visitor numbers presents opportunities for Biminites to create more restaurants, bars,shops and other businesses, which will translate into an enhanced travel experience for visitors. Existing businesses are now promoted via five videos which air on board the ship as it sails from Florida to Bimini, informing passengers of what they can expect upon arrival to the island in the areas of dining, historical sites and attractions, water sports and ecotourism, sports fishing, and accommodations. Guests visiting for the day now get to spend up to 6 hours exploring the island and enjoying all that is has to offer.
