Marinas with the Friendliest Staff

WINNER

Robbie Smith at Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina

North Bimini, Alice Town, Bahamas

When boaters arrive at a marina, they have a few simple needs: a safe place to dock, essential amenities and, most importantly, a friendly face that makes the destination feel like home. And that’s exactly what Readers’ Choice Awards winner Robbie Smith provides to his guests. 

As a loyal member of the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina staff for 36 years and dockmaster for the past two decades, Smith is no stranger to knowing what it takes to deliver a top-notch experience. The local Bimini native grew up fishing and boating on the island, has a wealth of industry knowledge and is a jack of all trades — dockmaster, Class A master captain and former Bimini chief counselor, and he even plays baritone horn in a marching band. 

Smith greets guests with a warm welcome and says the first thing he always tells boaters upon arrival is, “Before I go any further, my home is your home — so feel at home.” 

Raised as an island boy, Smith always lived less than two minutes from the water and naturally found himself drawn to the boating lifestyle. He spent a few years living in the states to attend school but quickly realized city life wasn’t for him and moved back to Bimini to stay for good. From his childhood boating around the island with his uncles, to his time serving as chief counselor and working in the community, Smith is the perfect person to ask questions and recommendations for the best Bimini experience.

Contest voters had nothing but positive things to say about their time spent at the resort and friendly service provided by Smith. One voter says, “Reliable, friendly, experienced. He is a Bimini institution!” Another notes, “Robbie is the best. He goes out of his way to make everything go smoothly.” 

Even in paradise, challenges can arise, but Smith is known to help resolve any situation. One voter especially praises how he always remains “cool, calm, helpful, polite and friendly.”

“Serving in the hospitality business, you’ve got to have a heart — you’ve got to be able to associate with all sorts of people coming from all over the world, so you have to be humble,” says Smith. “And you’re not gonna find every guest humble — you find some that cost ya to want to blow ya cap, but it’s best to always remain calm and humble.” 

Smith says his cool, calm, collected demeanor and manners are due to how he was raised, especially crediting his grandmother. “Back then in those days I was taught if you’re passing anybody, you say, ‘good morning, good afternoon, good evening’ or ‘yes ma’am, how may I help?’ — so it’s just in me.” 

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VISITING BIMINI BIG GAME 

Bimini Big Game’s boutique resort and marina has 75 slips for vessels up to 140 feet, luxury amenities, charming waterfront cottages and penthouses, and multiple on-site restaurants. Shop merchandise, sundries and provisions from the Outfitters & Liquor Shop where fishers can also purchase bait and ice. Exciting attractions include swimming with dolphins or diving with hammerheads and reef sharks at the on-site Neal Watson Bimini Scuba Center. 

As Bimini is the fishing capital of The Bahamas, the marina is also known for hosting premier events for anglers such as billfish catch-and-release and the popular Slicker Wahoo Bimini Tournament. In 1979, the marina’s tournament broke the record for largest billfish caught in The Bahamas, weighing 1,060.5 pounds. 

“You get to see boats from all parts of the U.S. come to fish the big tournaments — sometimes with 60, 70, 80 boats — and it really gives you that island-life feel and keeps you where you want to be,” says Smith. “Every day you have the fresh breeze because the island is so small, and you couldn’t ask for anything better than that.” 

Big plans are ahead for Bimini Big Game as the marina is working to expand the property, add more rooms and extend the hotel out to the water, as well as enhance boater accommodations and add a new fuel dock. Smith looks forward to the future of the marina and says he hopes to retire there. “I’ve been here through all the changes — I almost know where every pipe is laid in the ground.”

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HONORABLE MENTION 

Dave O’Connor & Rick Atkinson at Pink Shell Marina

Fort Myers Beach, FL 

Dockmaster Dave O’Connor has worked at Pink Shell for 13 years and has seen it all — from a complete destruction from Category 5 Hurricane Ian in 2022 to a rebuild and revitalization that fully restored the marina back to its thriving destination. Despite these challenges, the staff quickly bounced back to prioritizing providing top-notch services to guests. 

“I bought my first boat in 1994 and after that, I knew I had to work on the water,” says O’Connor. 

When asked what makes Pink Shell’s staff so great, one Readers’ Choice Award voter says it’s because of the “personalized service during each visit.” Another common theme among voters notes how “friendly and helpful” the team is. O’Connor says the most important thing to keep in mind with guests is to “treat them the way you would like to be treated.” 

“I believe we make them feel welcomed and appreciated from the very beginning,” he says. 

Rick Atkinson joined the Pink Shell Marina team a little over a year ago and even though he is a newer member, he has already become a friendly face among guests. He’s worked in the industry for more than 30 years and became a U.S.C.G Captain in 2011. 

“The most important thing is anticipating the guest’s needs,” says Atkinson. “You need dependable and friendly people to work in the marina.”