Made up of over 700 islands and 2,400 uninhabited cays, the Caribbean nation of The Bahamas is commonly associated with everything from island hospitality and luxury resorts to offshore banking.
Given its location in the western Atlantic Ocean and just south of Florida, it is also one of the first places cruise ships stop on their Caribbean itineraries.
The port of Nassau is the third busiest in the world. Just under 5.7 million cruise-ship visitors disembarked there for a short visit in the last year, a number that makes up part of the record total 11.4 million international visitors who came to the country in 2024.
But while Nassau, and its home of New Providence Island, receive the lion’s share of tourists, seasoned travelers also go beyond it to islands such as Exuma, New Harbour, Eleuthera, and Bimini.
With a permanent population of just over 2,400 residents, Bimini is a popular cruise-ship destination due to its blue-water beaches and water dropoffs that provide the perfect opportunity for big-game fishing. Ernest Hemingway was known to come to the island frequently in a fishing boat he christened Pilar in the 1930s.
Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean (RCL) , Norwegian (NCLH) , and Carnival (CCL) all have numerous itineraries that make a stop in Bimini. British line Virgin Voyages also offers its guests exclusive access to a private beach club that it gained through a partnership with Resorts World Bimini.
But while Bimini is commonly seen as a cruse-ship destination, it has also been welcoming a rising number of travelers who want to come in for a longer visit.
Image source: Shutterstock
Bimini: “an island filled with activities for all sorts of travelers”
On Sept. 8, Dallas-based American Airlines AAL confirmed a new flight to South Bimini Airport (BIM) from Miami International Airport (MIA) that will launch on Feb. 14, 2026, as a nod to the romantic vibe of the island.
The American Airlines flight to Bimini will run three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays on an Embraer 175 (ERJ) and expand American’s Bahamas network to 30 daily flights per day during peak winter season.
“An island filled with activities for all sorts of travelers, this addition is emblematic of American’s network that gives customers the most ways to relax on the beach or feel the rush of an exciting vacation getaway,” American Airlines wrote in unveiling the new route.
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On top of flights to Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) from cities including Miami, Philadelphia, and Dallas, American also flies to Governor’s Harbour (GHB) on Eleuthera and Freeport (FPO) on Grand Bahama Island.
Plus, the carrier is upping frequencies of its Miami flights to Marsh Harbour (MHH) — the second-busiest airport in the Bahamas after Nassau — and North Eleuthera (ELH) airports during December.
American Airlines will also start new flights to Florida’s Destin and Sarasota.
A new Norman B. Saunders Sr. International Airport (XSC) on the South Caicos Island of Turks and Caicos was launched in March 2025 to meet what American says is growing customer interest in exploring new holiday destinations during the colder months.
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