The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Several Bimini business owners yesterday said Resorts World’s new cruising schedule, which has seen its vessel pull out of Port Everglades and revert to sailing from Miami, in what the company has called a “repositioning” to two-night cruises, has caused a fall-off in business levels.

Nate Hanna, owner of Nate’s Variety of Bimini Bread, told Tribune Business: “For most of the tourists, on Sunday evening was when they would come come by to get their bread to carry back.

“Now the boat leaves on Sunday morning, and since they changed that business has really dropped off. This two-day thing isn’t really good for my business. The only people really making money now is probably the resort.”

Sue Duncombe, owner of Sue & Joy’s Variety Store in Alice Town, told Tribune Business: “The schedule has changed. The area that I’m in is not as good as the area my daughter is in. She is up at the resort, but I personally have been at this location for like 30 years.

“I’m right across the street from Big Game. You can see an improvement. I think once the hotel is finished and the boat comes in on a regular basis, there should be more business. You have people who have their opinion on how they think things should go, but I feel that even though we don’t get too many people yet, they do come and go down to the Straw Market.

“There is an improvement in the overall economy in Bimini. September, October and November are usually very slow months. It was not that bad this year. You have a lot of people still complaining, but I don’t think it was that bad this year and I’m looking forward to better. Right now they are really not on schedule as they would like to be.”

Explaining its decision, Resorts World Bimini said in a statement earlier this month: “Following numerous requests for overnight cruises to Bimini, Resorts World Bimini has announced the repositioning of Bimini SuperFast to operate two-night cruises from Port Miami on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, departing at 5pm and returning at noon two days later.

“Additionally, the company will offer a one-night weekend cruise on Saturdays departing Port Miami at 5 pm, returning at noon on Sundays.” The new schedule took effect on November 13.

Commenting on the schedule change, another business owner, who chose to remain anonymous, said: “The ferry has helped my business out a good bit, when they were coming out of Fort Lauderdale on the old schedule. Now they have changed it up, that’s a business decision on their part I suppose, but I have seen my business drop off a bit.”

Resorts World Bimini is operated by the Genting Group which has Resorts World-branded properties in Asia, Europe and North America. Bimini SuperFast began offering trips from Port Everglades on October 14, but average passenger numbers quickly dropped.