Bimini - Paradise Beach?

[LadyBerard]

Going on a cruise with Celebrity which has a stop on Bimini.  I was looking through the excursions, and Celebrity has one that goes to Paradise Beach and includes chairs for $40+ pp.  I was wondering if we just went on our own, what the cost of chair rentals would be.

[LadyBerard]

After doing more research, I booked Ultimate Beach Experience - Resort World Day Pass.  Total cost with Celebrity for 2 of us was just under $90 - we have OBC with Celebrity, so it makes sense.  It includes beach chairs plus one drink each.  I had read on tripadvisor that it cost $75 for two chairs with an umbrella on Paradise Beach.  It's extremely uncomfortable for me just to sit/lie on a towel, so chairs are a necessity.  

 

If anybody here has done this excursion, I'd love to read more about it.  Thanks!

[alibaba1]

On 5/6/2023 at 10:43 AM, LadyBerard said:

After doing more research, I booked Ultimate Beach Experience - Resort World Day Pass.  Total cost with Celebrity for 2 of us was just under $90 - we have OBC with Celebrity, so it makes sense.  It includes beach chairs plus one drink each.  I had read on tripadvisor that it cost $75 for two chairs with an umbrella on Paradise Beach.  It's extremely uncomfortable for me just to sit/lie on a towel, so chairs are a necessity.  

 

If anybody here has done this excursion, I'd love to read more about it.  Thanks!

We will be going in October, and thought the same thing.
Until........we read the reviews on tripadvisor.com
Now it's a "No".
Looks like there is a resort near the cruise dock; might look into that.

 

[kittyraptors]

On 5/6/2023 at 10:43 AM, LadyBerard said:

After doing more research, I booked Ultimate Beach Experience - Resort World Day Pass.  Total cost with Celebrity for 2 of us was just under $90 - we have OBC with Celebrity, so it makes sense.  It includes beach chairs plus one drink each.  I had read on tripadvisor that it cost $75 for two chairs with an umbrella on Paradise Beach.  It's extremely uncomfortable for me just to sit/lie on a towel, so chairs are a necessity.  

 

If anybody here has done this excursion, I'd love to read more about it.  Thanks!

Did you do this excursion? How was it? 

[LadyBerard]

1 hour ago, kittyraptors said:

Did you do this excursion? How was it? 

No, I did not.  Ended up canceling the cruise and rebooking something else with a better itinerary.

[ElectricBallroom]

On 5/6/2023 at 7:43 AM, LadyBerard said:

After doing more research, I booked Ultimate Beach Experience - Resort World Day Pass.  Total cost with Celebrity for 2 of us was just under $90 - we have OBC with Celebrity, so it makes sense.  It includes beach chairs plus one drink each.  I had read on tripadvisor that it cost $75 for two chairs with an umbrella on Paradise Beach.  It's extremely uncomfortable for me just to sit/lie on a towel, so chairs are a necessity.  

 

If anybody here has done this excursion, I'd love to read more about it.  Thanks!

I did this same excursion last week. My advice is to cancel it right now and stay on the ship or look for an independent excursion that doesn’t involve that Resorts World property. 
 

Virgin is smart enough to staff the beach club with their people when they stop at Bimini, not Celebrity. Our FB group, as well as a Reddit group, have dozens of stories just like we experienced. The staff was horrible, from the welcome desk to the bars and “food”. They don’t want to be there and they take it out on the guests.

 

No one would take guests to the beach, nor provide an umbrella. Few people got their welcome drink and the food service was like a church camp snack bar. I heard people talking about buying drinks, because the custom wouldn’t be accepted. It took some folks over an hour to get on the tram back to the port. Why? There was no organized line and a couple hundred people left at lunchtime because they were not having a good time. It was awful . 
 

The beach is spectacular, everything else shite. 

[kittyraptors]

3 minutes ago, ElectricBallroom said:

I did this same excursion last week. My advice is to cancel it right now and stay on the ship or look for an independent excursion that doesn’t involve that Resorts World property. 
 

Virgin is smart enough to staff the beach club with their people when they stop at Bimini, not Celebrity. Our FB group, as well as a Reddit group, have dozens of stories just like we experienced. The staff was horrible, from the welcome desk to the bars and “food”. They don’t want to be there and they take it out on the guests.

 

No one would take guests to the beach, nor provide an umbrella. Few people got their welcome drink and the food service was like a church camp snack bar. I heard people talking about buying drinks, because the custom wouldn’t be accepted. It took some folks over an hour to get on the tram back to the port. Why? There was no organized line and a couple hundred people left at lunchtime because they were not having a good time. It was awful . 
 

The beach is spectacular, everything else shite. 

Aww man this makes me nervous. We only booked it because the pool looks amazing and we’re doing beach stuff for the other ports, so we want to go to the pool. 

[ElectricBallroom]

1 minute ago, kittyraptors said:

Aww man this makes me nervous. We only booked it because the pool looks amazing and we’re doing beach stuff for the other ports, so we want to go to the pool. 

If I had to go to Bimini again, I would go to the beach that’s immediately to the right of the ship. It is next to a sewage treatment plant, but I think it’s far enough away that it hopefully won’t smell. At that beach, there are some enterprising Bahamians that will provide a chair and umbrella, and even some drinks, for a fee. 
 

I don’t want to scare anybody off about the sewage plant, but there is another beach, just next to resorts world. It’s a public beach, and similarly, enterprising locals  have chairs, umbrellas, drinks, and even some snacks. I talked to a couple that went to that beach, and they enjoyed their interactions with the gentleman that helped them and had a great time for about a third of the money.

[kittyraptors]

2 minutes ago, ElectricBallroom said:

If I had to go to Bimini again, I would go to the beach that’s immediately to the right of the ship. It is next to a sewage treatment plant, but I think it’s far enough away that it hopefully won’t smell. At that beach, there are some enterprising Bahamians that will provide a chair and umbrella, and even some drinks, for a fee. 
 

I don’t want to scare anybody off about the sewage plant, but there is another beach, just next to resorts world. It’s a public beach, and similarly, enterprising locals  have chairs, umbrellas, drinks, and even some snacks. I talked to a couple that went to that beach, and they enjoyed their interactions with the gentleman that helped them and had a great time for about a third of the money.

Do you remember what the pool was like at Resort World? We’re now thinking about eating a big breakfast on the ship, hanging at the pool for a while, and going back when we’re done without eating lunch there. 
 

The reason we’re still thinking about going (in addition to our desire to have a pool) is that we had onboard credit to use with Celebrity, and we got the excursion when it was on sale. So it isn’t costing us anything out of pocket as of now, but if we go to a different beach then getting chairs and umbrellas will. 

[kittyraptors]

6 minutes ago, ElectricBallroom said:

If I had to go to Bimini again, I would go to the beach that’s immediately to the right of the ship. It is next to a sewage treatment plant, but I think it’s far enough away that it hopefully won’t smell. At that beach, there are some enterprising Bahamians that will provide a chair and umbrella, and even some drinks, for a fee. 
 

I don’t want to scare anybody off about the sewage plant, but there is another beach, just next to resorts world. It’s a public beach, and similarly, enterprising locals  have chairs, umbrellas, drinks, and even some snacks. I talked to a couple that went to that beach, and they enjoyed their interactions with the gentleman that helped them and had a great time for about a third of the money.

Also, how far is resort world from the pier and how long did the tram take? We love to walk so I’m wondering if we can avoid a long wait for the tram on the way back by walking. 

[ElectricBallroom]

32 minutes ago, kittyraptors said:

Also, how far is resort world from the pier and how long did the tram take? We love to walk so I’m wondering if we can avoid a long wait for the tram on the way back by walking. 

I measured it on google earth (which shows a Virgin ship at port) and it's .77m. 

 

There's Radio Beach on the South end of the island. Forgot about that one. It's 2 miles and there are taxis. 

[AirPark]

I'm in Bimini right now on the Elation. The original location of the free paradise beach was next to the Resort World Beach Club. Apparently that's been taken private and you are no longer allowed there without paying (Pablo's Bimini Experience?). The new free paradise beach is the one at the end of the pier next to the sewage plant. It literally stinks. People were complaining, but no other options for free. So unless you're willing to pay for one of the resorts, this destination is no longer appealing to those on a budget.

Edited August 19, 2023 by AirPark
Typo and clarification

[bobsfamily]

4 hours ago, AirPark said:

I'm in Bimini right now on the Elation. The original location of the free paradise beach was next to the Resort World Beach Club. Apparently that's been taken private and you are no longer allowed there without paying (Pablo's Bimini Experience?). The new free paradise beach is the one at the end of the pier next to the sewage plant. It literally stinks. People were complaining, but no other options for free. So unless you're willing to pay for one of the resorts, this destination is no longer appealing to those on a budget.

I think we might be going to casino on Bimini and try to find some lunch somewhere.... Le' Sewer beach is no go for us!

[mcatmcat]

On 7/28/2023 at 11:22 AM, ElectricBallroom said:

I did this same excursion last week. My advice is to cancel it right now and stay on the ship or look for an independent excursion that doesn’t involve that Resorts World property. 
 

Virgin is smart enough to staff the beach club with their people when they stop at Bimini, not Celebrity. Our FB group, as well as a Reddit group, have dozens of stories just like we experienced. The staff was horrible, from the welcome desk to the bars and “food”. They don’t want to be there and they take it out on the guests.

 

No one would take guests to the beach, nor provide an umbrella. Few people got their welcome drink and the food service was like a church camp snack bar. I heard people talking about buying drinks, because the custom wouldn’t be accepted. It took some folks over an hour to get on the tram back to the port. Why? There was no organized line and a couple hundred people left at lunchtime because they were not having a good time. It was awful . 
 

The beach is spectacular, everything else shite. 

I went to that beach last week and it was amazing. It was my first time in bimini and I didn't know what to expect there so I booked directly with the cruise. had no problem with the welcome drink or funding chairs and umbrellas. I only waited 5 mins for the tram each way. 

 

our waiter told us about a free beach next to the pier but as I said before, it was my first time in bimini. I'm going back to bimini and I just canceled the excursion not because of bad service, but because I rather stay on the free beach next to the port, The water looks amazing as well. 

[jean87510]

We were just in Bimini as well on Saturday off of the Elation.  Took a $5 pp cab to Radio Beach and spent a few hours.  Did not eat there but did rent chairs and umbrella and snorkeled with our own gear.  Place was nice with no vendors.  It was a last minute plan B and was fine.  Next time we are bringing our own tent and researching a little more.  I had heard quite a few fellow guests hated the Resorts experience.

[Mullwi]

Hi Jean, glad that worked out for you. Do you remember how much 2chairs and an umbrella cost? Was there a bathroom. thank you!

[jean87510]

On 8/25/2023 at 8:25 PM, Mullwi said:

Hi Jean, glad that worked out for you. Do you remember how much 2chairs and an umbrella cost? Was there a bathroom. thank you!

Yes.  $50.  Outside shower to rinse off on the street.  1 bathroom.  

 

I don't know if the island is too small or if I'm missing something but it felt like a lesser version of Grand Turk which I prefer much more.  There's the Resort place, Radio Beach, and 2 snorkeling by boat places for cruise ships.  It appears only 1 company controls the non cruise ship tours and they are packed in with the vests.  The golf carts are overpriced when cruise ships are in.  I hope Im missing something and someone can recommend another side beach or snorkeling trip.  I can't just sit on a beach drinking all day.  I like to explore.  I am debating on bike rentals for the next time we go.