Exotic half day private charters to Rose Island, Pigs and Turtles

Turquoise water, quiet beaches, and pigs await. This four-hour private charter from Nassau gives you a flexible day on the water, with stops around Rose Island for snorkeling, sea turtles, swimming pigs, and a remote beach. I like the private boat for up to nine people and the chance to shape the outing around your family or friends rather than follow a large group.

I also like the practical extras: snorkeling gear, bottled water, snacks, and unlimited Bahama Mamas are included. The main catch is cost. At $1,020 per group, this makes the most sense when you can fill several seats, and swimming with the pigs costs another $40 at the location.

Key points to know before booking

• Rose Island is the main playground: Expect harbor views, open-water cruising, snorkeling, beach time, and stops for turtles and pigs.
• A private group changes the feel: Your party has the boat to itself, with comfortable seating for eight and capacity advertised for up to nine people.
• The $1,020 price is per group: Split among nine people, the cost is about $113 per person before the pig fee. A smaller party pays much more per head.
• Pig swimming costs extra: The advertised $40 charge is not included in the charter price.
• The package includes useful basics: Snorkeling equipment, bottled water, snacks, and unlimited Bahama Mamas come with the boat.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure.

Setting Out From Nassau Toward Rose Island

Your day begins at Elizabeth on Bay in Nassau, with the boat departure described as Bayshore Marina, The Waterfront, at 64 East Bay Street. Because both locations appear in the departure information, I would confirm the exact dock and meeting instructions before heading out. That small check can save you from starting a relaxed boat day with a frantic search along Bay Street.

Once aboard, the trip begins with a look at Nassau Harbor and the shoreline. The cruise may pass luxury celebrity homes, five-star hotels, and an oceanside golf course. These sights give the first part of the trip a pleasant sightseeing angle, rather than making the ride feel like a simple transfer to the snorkeling area.

The boat offers comfortable seating for eight people, while the booking allows up to nine in the private group. That distinction matters. Eight people should have the easiest time spreading out, while nine may need to accept a slightly tighter arrangement. If you are booking for a family or a close group of friends, private use lets you keep the day together without sharing space with strangers.

The trip lasts about four hours, so you should think of it as a compact outing rather than a full-day cruise. The timing is useful if you want water activities without giving up an entire day in Nassau. It also means the captain has to balance several possible stops, so you should not expect unlimited time at every location.

Rose Island Beach Time and Open-Water Views

Rose Island gives the charter its setting away from Nassau’s busier waterfront. The appeal is simple: clear Bahamian water, a beach setting, and the chance to spend time outdoors without a large organized crowd around your group.

You may use this part of the trip for swimming, snorkeling, or simply sitting back on the beach. The description also includes a beachside restaurant, offering a possible food stop during the outing. Lunch is not included, so plan to pay separately if you choose to eat there. The available information does not provide a menu, prices, or a guarantee that every group will have a restaurant meal built into the four-hour schedule.

I like the flexibility here. Some people in your group may want to snorkel while others prefer a quiet beach break. A private charter can make that split easier, provided you tell the captain what matters most when you meet.

Still, you should keep your expectations in check. This is not presented as a long beach day with hours at one secluded cove. The trip combines sightseeing, snorkeling, turtles, pigs, and beach time in roughly four hours. If your top priority is sitting on one beach for most of the afternoon, ask how much time can realistically be set aside for that.

Snorkeling With Equipment Provided

Snorkeling equipment is included, which removes one common nuisance from a water excursion. You do not need to pack fins or a mask unless you prefer using your own gear. Bottled water and snacks are also supplied, helpful touches when you are moving between stops.

The snorkeling gives you a chance to see the water from below rather than only from the boat. The exact reef site, sea conditions, and wildlife sightings can change, so you should treat marine life as a possibility, not a guarantee. The experience specifically includes the opportunity to see sea turtles, but no operator can promise that a wild animal will appear on schedule.

For many families, the private format is especially useful. A confident swimmer can spend more time in the water while someone less comfortable can remain aboard or enjoy the beach. The supplied information says most people can participate, but you should still consider your own swimming ability and comfort around open water.

I would bring a swimsuit, sun protection, and a dry change of clothes. Those are practical choices for any snorkeling trip, though the supplied details do not specify what storage or changing facilities are available. Keep valuables to a minimum, since this is a small boat outing rather than a hotel-based pool day.

Sea Turtles and the Pace of the Water

The turtle stop is one of the most appealing parts of the charter. Seeing a sea turtle in clear Bahamian water can be a calm, memorable moment, especially for children who have only seen turtles in aquariums or on screens.

The experience is framed as a peaceful encounter, not a rushed wildlife chase. That matters because the best turtle sighting is one where you can watch without crowding the animal. Follow the captain’s instructions around wildlife, keep your movements calm, and remember that sightings depend on nature and conditions.

There is no fixed turtle location or stated viewing time, so the captain may need to adjust the route. That flexibility is a benefit of a private charter, but it also means your stops are not as predictable as those on a fixed ferry schedule. If you need a tightly timed return for another reservation, allow extra breathing room after the advertised four hours.

The private setting also helps families stay together during the wildlife portion. You are not trying to keep track of a large tour party spread across the water. That is one of the clearest reasons to pay more for a charter instead of choosing a standard group boat.

Swimming Pigs and the Extra $40 Charge

The pigs are the most unusual part of the outing and likely the biggest draw for many bookers. At the pig stop, you can pay an additional $40 at the location to swim with them. That fee is separate from the $1,020 charter price, so include it in your budget before you go.

This is a good example of an experience that appeals strongly to some people and not at all to others. Children may love the novelty, while adults who prefer snorkeling or quiet beach time may see the pig stop as optional. Since you control a private booking, the group can decide if the extra cost is worthwhile.

I would clarify two points before departure: whether the $40 charge is per person or another unit, and how much time the stop takes. The supplied information confirms the additional fee but does not explain its exact billing basis or the length of the visit. Those details can affect the value of the trip, especially for a larger family.

You should also expect a practical, outdoor animal encounter rather than a polished theme-park attraction. The charm is in doing something distinctly Bahamian and a little goofy. Bring a sense of humor, protect your belongings, and listen carefully to the crew’s instructions.

Drinks, Snacks, and the Real Value of the Charter

The package includes unlimited Bahama Mamas, bottled water, and snacks. For adults who want a drink while cruising or relaxing at the beach, that can add real value. The water and snacks are less flashy but more useful, since four hours in the sun can leave you hungry and thirsty.

Lunch is not included. If you plan to eat at a beachside restaurant, you will pay separately, and the available information does not give a meal price. You may want to ask the operator if the restaurant stop is optional and how it fits into the short schedule.

The $1,020 group price looks high at first glance. Split nine ways, it works out to about $113 per person before the pig charge. For eight people, it is about $128 per person. For four people, the cost rises to $255 per person, before lunch and any pig fee.

That makes group size the key value question. A full family group may find the private boat worthwhile because it combines transportation, a captain, equipment, drinks, snacks, and several water stops in one package. A couple or small party may find a shared cruise easier on the wallet.

The strongest value is not simply the number of inclusions. It is control. You get a private outing with your own captain, room for your group, and a route built around several different interests. If everyone in your party wants the same quiet beach experience, a simpler beach transfer might be enough. If you want turtles, pigs, snorkeling, and drinks in one compact trip, the charter makes more sense.

The Captain and the Personal Feel

The private captain is central to the experience. Instead of following a large tour group, you have a crew focused on your party. That can make the day feel relaxed, especially when children, older family members, or mixed swimming abilities are involved.

Antoine and Chris are named as the hosts and guides connected with this outing. Their role is important because a short charter with several possible stops needs clear communication. You should tell them early if your priority is snorkeling, pigs, turtles, beach time, or the restaurant.

The strongest praise attached to this experience centers on the hosts, the private setting, and the range of activities packed into one trip. The overall rating is 5 out of 5 from 20 ratings, with 100 percent recommending it. That is a small sample, but it points to a consistent strength: people value the relaxed family feel and the chance to enjoy a beach with very few other people around.

I would still ask about the day’s plan rather than assuming every advertised activity will receive equal time. Four hours passes quickly once you include harbor cruising, boat transfers, swimming, snorkeling, the pig stop, and any meal break.

Who Will Enjoy This Nassau Charter Most

I think this outing suits families and friend groups who can fill most of the boat. It is also a strong choice for people who want privacy and variety instead of one fixed activity.

You are likely a good match if you want:

• A private boat for your own group
• Several water activities in one half-day
• A chance to see turtles and swim with pigs
• Snorkeling gear supplied
• A beach break away from Nassau’s main waterfront
• Included drinks, water, and snacks

You may want another option if you are traveling alone, as a couple, or with only a few people. The per-person price becomes much harder to justify when the group is small. You may also prefer a different tour if lunch is important, since it is not included.

Families should note that most people can participate, but the activity takes place around open water and a small boat. If someone in your group is not comfortable swimming, check with the operator about the arrangements before booking. Service animals are allowed, and the experience is near public transportation.

Booking, Weather, and Meeting Details

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the ticket is mobile, so you can keep the booking on your phone. The tour ends back at the meeting point, which makes planning your return simpler.

The departure information names Elizabeth on Bay as the start point and Bayshore Marina, The Waterfront, at 64 East Bay Street as the boat location. I would confirm which place you should use for check-in, along with the exact dock, well before the start time.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the experience begins. If you cancel later, you will not receive a refund, and changes made within that same 24-hour window are not accepted. The cut-off follows local Bahamas time.

Good weather is required. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you can receive a full refund or choose another date. That policy is useful for a water activity, but keep your schedule flexible if possible.

Should You Book This Rose Island Charter?

I would book it for a group of six to nine people that wants a private, easygoing half-day on the Bahamian water. The mix of snorkeling, turtles, pigs, beach time, harbor views, snacks, and Bahama Mamas gives the outing more range than a simple boat ride.

The best reasons to book are the private format, the friendly hosting associated with Antoine and Chris, and the chance to enjoy a quiet beach with your own group. The main reasons to hesitate are the high total price for a small party, the extra $40 pig charge, and the limited four-hour schedule.

Before paying, confirm the dock, ask how the time will be divided among the stops, and clarify the pig fee. If your group is large enough to share the cost and you value privacy more than a bargain rate, this is a strong Nassau choice.

FAQ

How long is the private charter?

The experience lasts approximately four hours.

Where does the experience start?

The start point is given as Elizabeth on Bay in Nassau, while the boat is described as docked at Bayshore Marina, The Waterfront, 64 East Bay Street. Confirm the exact check-in location before departure.

Where does the experience end?

The charter ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join the private boat?

The booking allows up to nine people per group. The boat is described as having comfortable seating for eight.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included in the charter.

Are food and drinks included?

Bottled water, snacks, and unlimited Bahama Mamas are included. Lunch is not included.

Does swimming with the pigs cost extra?

Yes. Swimming with the pigs costs an additional $40 at the location.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you can receive a full refund or choose a different date. Free cancellation is also available up to 24 hours before the start time.