Honor Roll Private Bahamas Boat Charter

The best part of the Honor Roll private boat charter is that your day is not locked into a fixed script. You can snorkel first, linger on a beach, visit the turtles, or ask for a faster ride across the water. The open 35-foot boat gives your group room to move, talk, and enjoy the sun without sharing the trip with strangers.

I like the private-group format, especially for families, birthdays, and cruise passengers who want one boat for their own party. I also like the mix of activities: coral reef snorkeling, turtle watching, Sandy Cay sightseeing, Rose Island beach time, music, snacks, and unlimited alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. The main drawback is that lunch and the pig encounter cost extra, and an open boat offers little shelter from sun or rain.

Key points to know before booking

• Your group controls the pace: The itinerary can be loose and relaxed or arranged around specific stops.
• The boat holds up to 14 people: At $1,750 per group, the per-person cost becomes much better with a larger party.
• Snorkeling gear is included: Masks, snorkels, fins, and life vests are supplied.
• Pig visits cost extra: The Atholl Island encounter adds $30 per person, and lunch usually adds $20 to $25.
• The boat is open: You get more room to move, but you should prepare for strong sun and changing weather.
• The day mixes water time and beach time: Rose Island, Green Cay, Atholl Island, and Sandy Cay each offer a different kind of stop.

A private day on the water near Nassau

Honor Roll Charters leaves from Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas at Marina Drive on Paradise Island. The meeting point is useful for cruise passengers, and one family arriving by ship found it easy to walk from the cruise port. You return to the same marina at the end of the trip.

The boat is a 35-foot open vessel with no cabin. That design is worth thinking about before you book. You get more room to sit, stand, move around, and play music through Bluetooth. It works well for a group celebration or a family day when you want to stay together rather than split up among several smaller activities.

The tradeoff is exposure. The boat does not give you an enclosed place to escape the sun or a sudden shower. Bring sun protection, and remember that the trip depends on good weather. If conditions force a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

The charter lasts about four to eight hours. That wide range reflects the flexible setup. You can keep the day moving or spend more time at the stops that suit your group. The listed visits add up to several hours, with time on the water between locations and room for the captains to adjust the plan.

Starting with coral reef snorkeling off Rose Island

The first listed stop is Rose Island, where you snorkel above a coral reef in clear, shallow-looking water. The fish are described as having a slight blue glow, which gives you a sense of the bright conditions beneath the surface.

All snorkeling equipment is included: mask, snorkel, fins, and life vest. That saves you from packing a full set of gear, though you may still want to bring your own mask if you prefer a particular fit. If you are new to snorkeling, ask the captains about the best way to get comfortable before heading out.

The snorkeling stop is scheduled for about an hour. That is enough time to get into the water, look around, and take a break without making the entire day about snorkeling. It also gives you a useful early choice: if the water is the highlight for your group, you can ask to give it more attention as part of the flexible plan.

Snorkeling is one of the more active parts of the charter, so it may not suit everyone in the group equally. The private setup helps here. Strong swimmers can spend more time in the water while others stay aboard, take photos, or enjoy a drink.

Atholl Island and the optional swimming pigs

Atholl Island is the stop for the swimming pig encounter. It is near Pearl Island, about 15 to 20 minutes from Nassau, and the visit lasts about an hour.

The pigs are fed snacks from a cup. The encounter fee is not part of the charter price, so budget an extra $30 per person if you want to take part. This can add up quickly for a large family. A group of 10 would pay $300 on top of the boat charter, before lunch.

This stop is most appealing if your group wants a playful, unusual activity and a chance to take photos. It can also be a good choice for children, though the extra fee means you should decide before the boat leaves if the encounter fits your budget.

If some people in your group do not want to participate, the private boat format gives them more freedom than a shared excursion would. They can stay aboard or enjoy the surroundings while others take part. Ask the captains how the timing will work on your day, since the exact flow can change with the group’s choices.

Green Cay for turtle watching

At Green Cay, you watch and feed turtles in shallow water. The turtles pop their heads above the surface, giving you a clear chance to see them from the boat and possibly from the water.

This stop lasts about 30 minutes, making it one of the shorter visits. It is a good change of pace after snorkeling and the pig encounter. You are not being asked to spend another full hour in the water. Instead, you get a focused wildlife stop with a simple goal: watch the turtles, feed them, and take photos.

The stop also works well for people who prefer a calmer activity. You can enjoy it from the boat rather than treating every part of the day as a swim. If you have children in your group, the turtles offer an easy subject for photos and a clear reason to keep everyone looking toward the water.

Sandy Cay and a touch of television nostalgia

Sandy Cay is presented as Gilligan’s Island, the location associated with the popular television series. The visit lasts about 30 minutes and is free.

This is a sightseeing and photo stop rather than a major beach stay. It adds variety to the day and gives you a bit of pop-culture nostalgia between the water activities. If your group enjoys taking pictures, this is one of the places where the setting matters more than the length of the visit.

Do not expect Sandy Cay to replace the longer Rose Island beach stop. Think of it as a quick look and a chance to take photos before moving on. The charter includes new photos of your group or family taken during the trip and sent to you, which can be useful when everyone wants to be in the picture at once.

Rose Island beach time and a slower finish

The final listed stop returns to Rose Island for about 30 minutes of beach time and games. This is the part of the day when you can slow down after snorkeling, boat rides, turtle watching, and the other stops.

Rose Island gives your group a chance to spread out and choose its own pace. Some people can sit with a drink, while others play games or take photos. The beach time is brief, so if your group wants a longer stay, tell the captains early that beach time matters more than fitting in every listed stop.

The charter includes chips, cookies, soda, and unlimited alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. That is useful on a warm day, particularly with children and a mixed-age group. It also means you do not need to plan every refreshment in advance, though lunch is separate.

What the $1,750 price really means

The private charter costs $1,750 for up to 14 people. At the full group size, that works out to $125 per person before lunch and any pig encounter fees. For 10 people, the base cost is $175 per person. For a smaller party, the same boat becomes a much more expensive choice.

That makes group size the key value question. If you have a large family, a birthday group, or several cruise companions who want to spend the day together, the price can compare well with paying separately for several activities. You are paying for the boat, crew, flexible schedule, equipment, drinks, snacks, and privacy.

For a couple or a small family, the economics are harder to justify. A shared excursion may cost less, though it will not give you control over the route or the same room to change plans. The private format is the main reason to consider this charter, not simply the number of stops.

Plan for two common add-ons. Lunch usually costs $20 to $25, depending on what you order. The pig encounter costs $30 per person. Ask about lunch choices and timing before the day gets underway so your group is clear about the total cost.

Captains, service, and the family feel

The supplied details do not name the captains, but the experience is designed around attentive, hands-on service. The strongest praise focuses on the captains being attentive, the snacks being plentiful and suitable for children, and the drink selection working for both adults and children.

That matters on a private charter. You are not just being transported from one stop to the next. The captains help shape the order of the day and explain what is available, then let you choose. The result can feel more like a family outing arranged around your interests than a standard boat transfer.

One family of 10 used the charter while their cruise ship was in Nassau. They fit comfortably on the boat, visited the pigs, snorkeled with turtles, and had fresh-made lunch on a beach. That example shows how the charter can work as a full-day alternative to a cruise ship excursion, especially if you want to stay together from start to finish.

Still, the quality of your day depends partly on speaking up. Tell the captains what matters most: snorkeling, beach time, wildlife, music, photos, or a thrill ride. The more clearly you set priorities, the better the flexible format can serve your group.

Music, photos, snacks, and the open-boat setup

Bluetooth music is included, which can help set the tone for a birthday or group celebration. Since the boat is open and has room to move around, the setup also allows for a more social day than a closed cabin boat.

The charter includes chips and cookies, along with drinks. These are helpful between stops, but they are not a substitute for lunch. If your group expects to spend much of the day on the water, include the lunch cost when you compare this with other options.

The crew will take photos of your group or family and send them to you. This is a small but valuable touch. On a private boat, someone usually has to stay behind the camera, so having the crew handle group pictures lets everyone appear in the memories.

You should still protect your phone and camera from spray. The boat is open, and the charter includes water activities. The supplied information does not specify dry storage, so ask about protecting valuables before you set off.

Who will enjoy this charter most

I would choose this experience for a group that values control more than the lowest possible price. It suits:

• Families with children and adults who want different activities
• Groups of friends celebrating a birthday or special occasion
• Cruise passengers looking for a private alternative near Nassau
• People who want snorkeling, wildlife, beach time, and music in one day
• Groups large enough to share the $1,750 cost

I would think twice if you dislike direct sun, want an enclosed boat, or are traveling with only one or two people. The open design and flexible plan are strengths for the right group, but they are not universal advantages.

The activity is listed as suitable for most people, and no special access restriction is given. You should still consider your group’s comfort with swimming, boat movement, sun, and getting in and out of the water.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

The charter offers free cancellation if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and a cancellation inside that period is not refunded.

Good weather is required. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can move to another date or receive a full refund. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity ends at the same place where it begins.

The charter is often booked well ahead, with an average booking time of about 63 days. That is worth noting if you are visiting Nassau on a cruise or planning a birthday trip. A private boat for up to 14 people is a limited kind of booking, so last-minute availability may be tight.

Should you book the Honor Roll charter?

Book it if you have a group that wants a private day with choices built in. The strongest reasons are the flexible schedule, the mix of snorkeling and wildlife, the open space on the 35-foot boat, and the attentive approach described by the families who used it. For a full group, the price can be reasonable, especially when compared with buying several separate activities.

Skip it if you want a cheap short boat ride, a covered cabin, or a tightly timed excursion with every cost included. Remember to add lunch and the pig encounter if those appeal to you.

For a family arriving by cruise ship, a birthday group, or a party of friends who want Nassau on their own terms, this charter gives you a practical way to combine reef snorkeling, turtles, pigs, beach time, music, and drinks in one private outing.

FAQ

Where does the Honor Roll boat charter begin?

The charter begins at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas, Marina Drive, Paradise Island, New Providence, Bahamas.

Where does the activity end?

The charter ends back at the same meeting point.

How many people can join the private charter?

The boat can take up to 14 people in one private group.

How long does the boat charter last?

The experience lasts approximately four to eight hours.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Masks, snorkels, fins, and life vests are included.

Does the pig encounter cost extra?

Yes. The pig encounter at Atholl Island costs an additional $30 per person.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.