Private Boat Swim and Snorkel Adventure to Rose Island

Swimming with turtles, snorkeling over coral, and cruising between Rose Island, Athol Island, Green Cay, and Gilligan’s Island give this private boat trip more range than a simple beach outing. You choose the pace and mix of stops, so a group can spend its time in the water or settle into a lazy island afternoon.

I like the small private-group format, which gives you control over the day, and I like that snorkeling gear, snacks, soft drinks, water, alcohol, and a restroom are already on board. The main drawback is the price: $1,670 is good value for 10 to 12 people, but costly for a small party. The boat also has a 12-person limit, and transportation to the meeting point is not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Rose Island is the main setting: Expect clear water, beach time, and a choice of water-based or shore-based activities.
• The boat is private for your group: A 32-foot or 40-foot boat carries up to 12 people, with no unrelated passengers joining you.
• Your captain can adjust the order: The crew shifted activities during a drizzly start for one mixed-age group, helping keep everyone comfortable.
• Snorkeling gear is included: Equipment, water, soda, snacks, alcohol, and an onboard restroom are provided.
• Pig encounters cost extra: Swimming with pigs is an optional choice, not part of the included package.
• Plan around the price: The $1,670 group rate works best when shared by a full party, especially for 10 to 12 people.

Setting out from New Providence Island

This is a private charter rather than a fixed sightseeing cruise. You meet the boat near Señor Frogs, then head out from New Providence toward Rose Island and nearby cays. The exact order can change, which matters if the weather or sea conditions shift during your four-hour outing.

The choice of a 32-foot or 40-foot private boat gives your group room to spread out, though the supplied information does not specify which boat you will receive. Both are described as luxury boats, and the maximum group size is 12. That limit is worth taking seriously. One party included 12 adults and children plus an infant, and the crew allowed 13 people because the additional passenger was a baby. I would not plan around that exception.

The boat includes life jackets and snorkeling gear for both children and adults, according to the operator’s response to that booking. Still, tell the provider your exact group size when you reserve, particularly if your party includes infants or young children. The captain needs an accurate count to prepare the right equipment and keep the boat within its normal capacity.

The trip lasts about four hours. A longer eight-hour rental is also offered, but the supplied price is stated for the four-hour group experience. Ask for the current cost and exact schedule if you want the full-day option. Four hours is enough for a focused mix of snorkeling, beach time, and one extra stop, but it can feel short if you want several islands, a bar, turtles, pigs, and a long lunch.

Rose Island, the main stop

Rose Island is the heart of the outing. Its appeal is simple: open beach, clear water, and the feeling of being away from the built-up parts of New Providence. You can use the island for a quiet beach break, a beach party, or a visit to Footprints Beach Bar. Admission to Footprints is not included, so carry that extra cost in your planning.

The beach stop gives you a useful change of pace. After time on a moving boat and in the water, you can dry off, sit on the sand, and enjoy the scenery without having to rush straight into another activity. If your group includes people who do not want to snorkel, Rose Island is especially important because it gives them a proper shore-based option.

The island is not presented as a guided cultural stop. This is mainly a sea, sand, and leisure outing. If you want museums, historic sites, or a detailed account of Bahamian history, this is not the right use of your time. If you want a private boat, warm water, and flexible time outdoors, Rose Island fits the bill.

Snorkeling coral reefs and swimming with turtles

Snorkeling is included, and the boat carries the necessary equipment. That makes the water stops easy for a mixed group, since you do not need to rent masks and snorkels separately before leaving. The trip includes coral reef snorkeling and a chance to swim with turtles, two of the strongest reasons to choose this charter over a basic beach transfer.

The snorkeling stop can work well for families. One booking had children in the group, and the captain arranged the order of activities during drizzly weather so the party stayed safe and comfortable. That does not promise calm conditions on every departure, but it does show that the schedule is not treated as rigid when conditions change.

You should still be realistic about snorkeling. Coral reefs are natural places, not an aquarium, and visibility depends on the weather and water. The supplied information promises access to coral reefs and turtle swimming, not a guaranteed number of turtles or a particular marine species. Keep your expectations flexible and listen to the crew’s instructions around the animals and reef.

The water time is likely the most active part of the day. Bring whatever personal swim items you need, but remember that the included equipment is described as snorkeling gear, not a full range of personal beach supplies. The boat has a restroom, which is a practical advantage on a four-hour trip with several water stops.

Athol Island, Green Cay, and Gilligan’s Island

The route may also include Athol Island, Green Cay, and Gilligan’s Island. These names give the captain several nearby points to consider, but they are not listed as guaranteed separate stops. Your group chooses from a menu of activities, and the crew can fit the day around your interests and the available time.

This flexibility is valuable when your group has different priorities. One person may want to snorkel, another may prefer a quiet beach, and someone else may want a drink at a floating bar. A private charter lets you discuss those preferences with the captain rather than accept the same schedule as a large shared boat.

The tradeoff is that flexibility requires decisions. Four hours can pass quickly, especially if you add boat travel, two water activities, beach time, and a bar stop. I would pick your top two priorities before boarding. If turtles and coral reefs matter most, make those the foundation. Add Rose Island beach time next, then consider a bar or extra island only if the clock allows.

Gilligan’s Island is included among the possible destinations, but no specific activity or landing details are provided. Treat it as a possible scenic or cruising stop rather than promise yourself a particular shore visit. The same applies to Athol Island and Green Cay.

Optional pigs, bars, and beach-party stops

Swimming with pigs is available as an optional choice, but it is not included in the package. That distinction matters because pig encounters can be a major reason some people book a Bahamas boat trip. Ask about the current extra charge and how much time the stop takes before you commit to it.

You can also choose a floating bar or Footprints Beach Bar on Rose Island. Footprints admission is not included. These add a social, celebratory tone to the day, while coral snorkeling and turtle swimming make the outing more nature-focused.

The best plan depends on your group. For a birthday or lively gathering, a beach party and floating bar may be more important than a long reef stop. For a family with children, turtles, snorkeling, and a beach may offer more value. For a couple or a quieter group, you can skip the party-style options and use the boat for water time and a calm Rose Island stop.

Alcohol is available on the boat, along with soda, bottled water, and snacks. Lunch is not included. Four hours may not require a full meal for everyone, but do not assume the snacks replace lunch, especially with children or an early departure. Since private transportation is also excluded, you need to arrange your own way to the meeting point.

What the crew adds to the day

The captain and crew make a noticeable difference on a private charter. Gee and Higs are the guide names associated with this boat experience, and the strongest praise centers on their energy and willingness to help. One group specifically described them as going out of their way to find another option when needed, though the supplied details do not explain the exact situation.

That kind of flexibility is more useful than a rehearsed speech. On the water, timing and comfort can change fast. A drizzly start affected one booking with six adults, six children, and an infant, but the crew changed the order of the activities and kept the group safe and comfortable. Rose Island and snorkeling still worked well for the mixed-age party.

I would still set clear expectations before leaving the dock. Confirm the group count, tell the crew about children and infants, and say which activities matter most. A private boat gives you a voice in the schedule, but the captain still has to make sensible choices around weather and safety.

The price and who gets the best value

The listed price is $1,670 per group of up to 12. Divided among 12 people, that comes to about $139 per person. For 10 people, it is $167 each; for six, about $278 each. That makes the charter much better value for a full family or friend group than for a small party.

The rate includes the private boat, snorkeling equipment, snacks, soda, bottled water, alcohol, and a restroom. It also buys control over the day, which is the central value here. You are not paying only for transportation to Rose Island. You are paying for a boat reserved for your group, a captain who can adjust the order, and the ability to choose between reefs, turtles, beaches, bars, and nearby islands.

The price does not include lunch, private transportation, admission to Footprints Beach Bar, or the optional pig activity. Those extras can make the final cost higher. I would request a clear total before booking if your plan includes pigs, a bar, or an eight-hour rental.

For a large group celebrating together, the price can be fair. Splitting one private charter among 12 people gives you a full half-day on the water with supplies included. For two or three people, I would compare the cost with shared boat trips unless privacy and schedule control are especially important to you.

Weather, timing, and practical planning

This outing requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel it, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, based on local time. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

I like the weather protection because a private boat day depends heavily on sea conditions. The drizzly booking shows that light rain does not automatically ruin the outing, but poor weather can still force a cancellation or a different order of stops. Keep your schedule flexible if this is one of the main activities during a short Bahamas visit.

Confirmation arrives at booking. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting area is near public transportation. Private transportation is not included, so you need to get yourself to the departure point near Señor Frogs.

The boat can accommodate most participants, and the operator says most people can take part. The practical exception is that you should discuss any special needs or very young children in advance. Do not assume a baby counts the same as an adult passenger for every boat or departure, even though one group was allowed an infant beyond the normal 12-person count.

Who should book this Rose Island charter?

I would choose this trip for a group that wants one flexible day on the water instead of a tightly fixed excursion. Families can combine beach time with snorkeling, while friends can add drinks, a beach party, or a floating bar. The private setup also suits groups that want to stay together rather than split up by interest.

It is less suitable if you want a low-cost outing for only one or two people. It is also not the best match if your main goal is a long lunch, a formal guided tour, or guaranteed time at every named island. The destination list is broad, but four hours gives you limited time once cruising and activity changes are counted.

Children can participate, and the crew has both child and adult life jackets for 12 people. Still, parents should be comfortable with a boat-based day and changing weather. The captain can adjust the order, but no charter can guarantee perfect sea conditions.

Should you book the Private Boat Swim and Snorkel Adventure?

Book it if you have a large group and care more about privacy and choice than about finding the lowest fare. The combination of Rose Island, coral snorkeling, turtle swimming, included gear, drinks, and an onboard restroom gives you a well-rounded half-day.

Before paying, confirm the exact boat size, your full passenger count, the cost of the pig activity, any bar admission, and the price of an eight-hour rental. Then choose your top priorities. For most groups, I would make snorkeling and Rose Island the core plan, with turtles next and bar or pig stops added only if time and budget permit.

FAQ

How long is the boat trip?

The listed experience lasts approximately four hours. An eight-hour rental option is also available, but the supplied information does not state its price.

How many people can join?

The private boat is intended for up to 12 people. The operator has 12-person life-jacket and snorkeling-equipment capacity for children and adults.

Is the boat shared with other groups?

No. This is a private activity, so only your group participates.

What is included in the price?

The package includes snacks, soda, bottled water, snorkeling equipment, an onboard restroom, and alcohol. The private boat experience is also included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included.

Is swimming with pigs included?

No. Swimming with pigs is an optional activity and is not included in the listed package.

Can I visit Footprints Beach Bar?

Footprints Beach Bar on Rose Island is an available option. Admission is not included.

Is transportation to the boat included?

No. Private transportation is not included. The departure area is near public transportation, and the boat can be found at Señor Frogs.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

You can choose a different date or receive a full refund if poor weather causes the experience to be canceled. You can also cancel yourself up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.