Day three didn’t start smoothly. Early that morning, Steve wasn’t feeling well. Luckily, I had all the right things in my travel bag. Thankfully we’re able to nip it in the bud and no one else got sick.
Originally, today was supposed to be our snorkel day. We had all signed up for the shipwreck snorkel at the SS Sapona, but as people started reading the description more closely. One by one, everyone backed out — the phrase “strenuous, open seas” scared us off.
I wasn’t wild about that part either—but what really sealed it for me was the cool water temperature. The water in Bimini was going to be in the 70s.
So we all pivoted and switched to a beach resort day. On paper, it sounded great. Easy on and off the ship. Relaxed. Almost like a private island.
After breakfast, we disembarked and walked with Tracie and Glenn—after we walked past the front of the ship, we immediately walked into strong winds — strong enough that water was spraying through the air. It was cold and blustery, and I remember thinking, I am very glad I didn’t do that snorkel. I am also hoping the beach is protected.
We boarded a tram to the beach resort, which was actually kind of charming. You ride on the left side of the road, there were hardly any cars, and the beach houses—mostly rentals—were really cute.
We learned that North Bimini is the smaller of the two main Bimini islands, stretching about seven miles long and sitting roughly 50 miles east of Miami at the western edge of the Bahamas. It’s narrow, flat, and lightly developed, but also means weather and wind play a big role in how the day unfolds.
I caught myself thinking, This wouldn’t be a bad place to come back to.
That thought didn’t last long.
From the right side of the tram came a steady chorus of:
“Golf cart? Golf cart? Golf cart?”
Golf carts were being rented for about $80, and at first we politely declined. Then they asked again. And again. Eventually it crossed from persistent into just plain obnoxious. One would finally move on, and a few minutes later another would appear.
Once we reached the beach, we followed the recommended directions—walk straight out, then head left until you stop hearing the music.
The beach chairs were low to the ground and smashed in tight, which made getting up and down harder than expected. We grabbed our one free drink and settled in with our books, and waited—hoping the sun would come out and warm things up.
It helped a little. Not enough.
At some point, we all kind of looked at each other and said what we were already thinking. If Steve managed to get food poisoning on the ship—where we know food prep is handled well—then eating lunch at this older, slightly worn beach resort didn’t sound all that appealing. Between that, the wind, and the chill, going back to the ship just made more sense.
Back to the tram, Debbie got in the back row and sat next to this rude woman who wouldn’t slide over, she made Debbie crawl over her with her beach bag. Then the golf cart sales people came back over and over. Originally I planned to shop the market but changed my mind. We could not wait to get off this island!
We went back onboard, ate lunch, warmed up, got out of the wind, and found spots by the pool. Books came out. Sunglasses went on. At one point, I looked down the row and realized every single one of us was stretched out in the sunshine, basically asleep.
That part? That was actually perfect.
By then, Steve had made a full recovery, and everything was back to normal.
Art is all over the ship. Pretty cool to see.
That night, we ate at Eden, which ended up being one of the highlights of the trip.
Eden is one of the ship’s signature specialty restaurants — not fancy for the sake of fancy, but truly unique in its atmosphere and menu. The space itself is dramatic and immersive, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a design that feels more like a destination than a restaurant. The menu is creative without being intimidating, and the pacing of the meal is intentional. You’re not rushed. It’s meant to be an experience, not just dinner.
After dinner, the guys tried to catch the playoff game. The craft beer and sports bar area was tiny, so they headed up to The Rooftop Garden, where games had been shown earlier in the cruise. Not this one. Apparently, a movie was scheduled for 10:00, so by 8:00 the massive screen was already displaying a floral screensaver.
Tim even tried to intervene. He asked servers for help and somehow ended up being handed a phone to call Miami and complain. He actually did it but it still didn’t work. Bob said he kept saying “I am standing here looking at flowers.”
Eventually, they gave up and met us for the comedy and sing-along show with Tommy Green Jr., who was absolutely hilarious.
After the show, the girls wandered through the ship and caught the chandelier show. Inside The Chandelier, the bartenders take over the space, moving in sync to the music while the massive chandelier above them pulses with light. It’s quick, unexpected, and surprisingly fun.
We ended the night at the club for the silent disco. Barb and I participated fully—headphones on, dancing like no one could hear us. Tracie and Debbie laughed from the sidelines, watching the chaos.
Both roles were equally entertaining.
And with that, Day Three came to a close.
Tomorrow: a sea day. 🌊
Happiness is Possible 