Honor Roll Private Bahamas Boat Charter

The best thing about the Honor Roll private Bahamas boat charter is simple: you control the day. Your private group can snorkel, swim, watch turtles, visit a beach, or ask the captains to pick up the pace on the open water. The 35-foot boat has no cabin, so there is plenty of room to move, sit, and enjoy the sun.

I like the private format, especially for families or groups arriving by cruise ship. I also like the captains’ practical touch: snorkeling gear, snacks, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, Bluetooth music, and photos of your group are included. The main consideration is cost. At $1,750 for up to 14 people, it is excellent value for a full group, but expensive if only a few people share the boat. The optional pig encounter and lunch also cost extra.

Key points to know before booking

• A private 35-foot open boat gives your group more room and lets you shape the route.
• Snorkeling gear, drinks, snacks, music, and group photos are included in the price.
• The pig encounter costs an extra $30 per person, and lunch usually adds $20 to $25 per person.
• The route covers Rose Island, Atholl Island, Green Cay, and Sandy Cay, with time for snorkeling, turtles, beach stops, and sightseeing.
• The marina is at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas, and the boat returns there at the end.
• A full group gets the best value. With 14 people, the base cost works out to $125 each before extras.

A private boat day from Paradise Island

This is not a fixed sightseeing cruise where everyone follows the same clock. Honor Roll Charters gives your group a private boat and lets you decide how to use it. You can stick close to the suggested route or ask for more time in the water, on the beach, or cruising around the islands.

The boat leaves from Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas at Marina Drive on Paradise Island. If you arrive by cruise ship, the marina is easy to walk to from the port, according to the practical experience shared by one family who booked the trip. That makes this a useful choice for a Nassau port day, since you do not need to arrange a separate excursion transfer.

The boat is 35 feet long and open, with no cabin. That means more floor space and a better view in every direction, but also full exposure to the Bahamas sun and weather. Bring sun protection and expect a day spent outdoors. The open design works particularly well for a birthday, family party, or group that wants music and a relaxed social setting rather than a quiet, formal cruise.

The advertised duration is about four to eight hours. The listed stops add up to roughly three and a half hours, before travel time between locations, so your total day depends on the route and how long your group chooses to stay at each place. Ask the captains at the start how much time you have and which stops matter most to your group.

What the $1,750 price really buys you

The base price covers one private group of up to 14 people, not 14 separate tickets. That changes the value calculation.

With 14 people, the cost comes to $125 per person. With 10 people, it is $175 each. With only four people, it becomes $437.50 per person before lunch or the pig encounter. I would book this for a larger family or friend group, where privacy and flexibility make the price easier to justify.

The price includes all snorkeling equipment: mask, snorkel, fins, and life vest. You also get chips, cookies, unlimited soft drinks, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, Bluetooth music, and photos of your group taken during the day and sent to you afterward.

Lunch is not included. It usually costs an additional $20 to $25, depending on what you order. The swimming pig encounter is also separate at $30 per person. For a group of 10, those two extras could add roughly $500 to the day, so include them when comparing the total cost with other Nassau excursions.

The included drinks and snacks matter more than they might seem. A boat day can feel long when nobody has planned food, especially with children in the group. Chips and cookies will not replace lunch, but they help keep the day moving between swimming stops.

Rose Island snorkeling in clear water

The first planned stop is Rose Island, where you snorkel over a coral reef in shallow, clear water. The fish are described as having a slight blue glow, which gives you a good sense of the setting: this is about easy viewing in bright water, not a demanding open-water expedition.

All gear is supplied, including life vests. That makes the stop accessible to people who do not travel with their own equipment. You should still be comfortable entering the water and following the captains’ instructions. The tour information says most people can participate, but it does not promise a specific water depth or special support for individual mobility needs.

The planned snorkeling time is about one hour. That is long enough for a proper look without making the whole day about one activity. If your group includes strong swimmers and people who would rather stay aboard, the private setup gives you more room to balance both interests.

I would make this an early priority if snorkeling is important to you. Water conditions and weather can affect the experience, and a private route gives you a better chance to ask for more time here before moving on.

Atholl Island and the optional swimming pigs

The next stop is Atholl Island, close to Pearl Island and about 15 to 20 minutes from Nassau. Here you can take part in a swimming pig encounter. The pigs are described as friendly and intelligent, and visitors receive pig snacks in a cup.

This stop has a separate admission fee of $30 per person. That is a meaningful add-on, particularly for a large group. A family of 10 would pay $300 just for this activity, before lunch.

The pig encounter is a good fit if your group wants a playful, photo-friendly stop that differs from snorkeling and beach time. It may be less appealing if your priority is keeping the day focused on the sea, or if you would rather not add another fee.

Since the boat charter is private, you can discuss the stop with the captains rather than automatically paying for it. Confirm the current arrangements and total price before committing. The information provided says the pigs are fed snacks, but it does not give a detailed schedule or state how long you spend in the water with them. Treat this as an optional highlight, not the main reason to book the boat unless everyone in your party wants it.

Green Cay turtle watching from the boat

Green Cay brings a quieter wildlife stop. You watch and feed turtles in shallow water, where they come up and lift their heads above the surface.

The planned visit lasts about 30 minutes. That is short, but it fits well between longer stops. Turtle watching also gives non-snorkelers something to enjoy, since the description specifically places the activity in shallow water and says you watch from the boat.

I like this stop because it changes the pace. After snorkeling or the pig encounter, you get a calmer look at local wildlife without needing another full water session. Keep your camera ready, since turtle sightings are about timing rather than a guaranteed close encounter at every moment.

The tour includes admission here. Feeding wildlife is part of the stated activity, so follow the captains’ directions and use only what they provide.

Sandy Cay and the Gilligan’s Island connection

Sandy Cay is presented as Gilligan’s Island, a sightseeing stop linked to the popular television series. The visit lasts about 30 minutes and admission is free.

This is the most nostalgia-driven part of the route. If you know the show, it adds a fun bit of context to the boat day. If you do not, it is still a short island sightseeing stop and a chance to take photos.

Do not expect a full museum or a long guided history program. The information describes this as sightseeing at the location, not a structured tour of television production sites. That makes it a pleasant bonus rather than a major reason to choose the charter.

Rose Island beach time and an easier final stop

The route returns to Rose Island for about 30 minutes of beach time and games. This is the least structured part of the day, which is often exactly what a private charter needs.

You can slow down, stretch your legs, take photos, or let children play. After several water-based stops, a beach break gives everyone a chance to reset. It also suits members of the group who prefer not to snorkel or swim for the entire outing.

The beach stop is included. The time listed is only 30 minutes, so ask whether your group can adjust the schedule if beach time matters more than one of the earlier stops. The operator specifically allows a personalized itinerary, but the final timing depends on the day and the captains’ judgment.

Drinks, music, snacks, and a party-friendly boat

The onboard setup is built for a social group. Bluetooth music lets you choose the soundtrack, while unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks keep the boat from feeling like a bare transport vessel. Chips and cookies are included as well.

The open boat has room to move around or dance. That is unusual wording for a snorkeling excursion, but it tells you what kind of experience this is meant to be. A birthday group, family reunion, or group of friends can turn the ride between stops into part of the day.

This same setup may not suit everyone. An open boat with music and a party atmosphere is less appealing if you want a quiet wildlife trip or a shaded cabin. You can ask the captains to keep the music low, but the information does not promise a specific noise level or shaded seating.

The group photos are a useful extra. The captains will take photos of your family or group and send them to you, so you do not have to keep one person behind the camera all day. Confirm how and when the photos will be delivered when you meet the crew.

What the captains add to the experience

The captains are described as attentive, and the supplied details emphasize that they explain what is available before letting you decide. That approach matters on a private charter. You are not simply being taken from one fixed stop to the next. You get a say in how the day unfolds.

One family of 10 used the boat while visiting Nassau from a cruise ship. Their day included the pigs, turtle snorkeling, and a fresh-made lunch on a beach. Another family specifically appreciated the attentive captains, plentiful child-friendly snacks, and good choices of drinks for both children and adults.

I would treat those details as useful clues about the service style, not a guarantee that every outing will follow the same pattern. Weather, timing, sea conditions, and your own choices affect the day. Still, the captain-led flexibility is one of the strongest reasons to choose this over a large shared excursion.

No captain names are provided, so you should not expect to select a particular crew member when booking.

Timing, weather, and what to bring

The charter lasts approximately four to eight hours. Because this is a private activity, the length can depend on the itinerary you choose. A route with every listed stop will require time for boat travel, while a group that spends longer snorkeling or on the beach may use more of the available day.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. That policy is important in the Bahamas, where a boat day depends heavily on safe conditions.

You receive confirmation when you book, and a mobile ticket is provided. The experience ends back at Margaritaville Marina, so plan your return to the ship or hotel with that location in mind.

For preparation, I would bring:

• Sun protection for an open boat
• A swimsuit and a change of clothes
• A towel
• A waterproof way to protect personal items
• Any personal medication you need during a four to eight-hour outing

The operator supplies snorkeling equipment, life vests, fins, snacks, drinks, music, and group photos. Lunch is extra, so decide whether you want to buy it before the boat leaves or discuss the plan with the captains.

Who will get the most from this charter

This experience makes the most sense for a group of at least eight people. The per-person price becomes easier to accept, and you can choose stops that suit several age groups.

It is especially well suited to:

• Families with children
• Cruise ship groups with a full Nassau port day
• Birthday and celebration groups
• Friends who want music and drinks on the water
• Mixed groups with snorkelers and non-snorkelers
• People who prefer a private boat to a large shared excursion

It may be a weaker match for a couple or a very small group on a tight budget. The flat $1,750 price does not shrink much when fewer people join. It is also not ideal if you want a quiet, enclosed boat, a long formal wildlife tour, or a fully planned schedule with no decisions to make.

The route includes several activities, but none is presented as a lengthy expert-led lecture. You are paying for space, flexibility, transport between island stops, included refreshments, and a private day tailored to your group.

Is the Honor Roll boat charter worth booking?

I would book it for a larger group that wants one easy, flexible day on the water. The combination of private use of the boat, included gear and drinks, and a route that mixes snorkeling, turtles, pigs, sightseeing, and beach time gives you more variety than a single-stop excursion.

The value is strongest with 10 to 14 people. At that size, the base cost is reasonable for a private boat and can be shared across the group. Add lunch and the $30 pig encounter only if those stops matter to everyone.

I would skip it if your group is small, price-sensitive, or mainly interested in one activity. In that case, a simpler snorkeling or beach excursion may cost less. But for a family arriving by cruise ship, a birthday group, or friends who want the day to feel like their own, this charter offers a practical way to see several nearby islands without being locked into someone else’s timetable.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes made inside that window are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded. Book early if your schedule is fixed, since the experience is often reserved about 63 days ahead.

FAQ

Where does the Honor Roll boat charter start?

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

Where does the boat trip end?

The boat returns to the same meeting point at Margaritaville Bahamas.

How long does the private boat charter last?

The experience lasts approximately four to eight hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers one private group of up to 14 people.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

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

Are drinks included?

Yes. Unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including soda or pop, are included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch usually costs an additional $20 to $25, depending on what you order.

How much does the pig encounter cost?

The swimming pig encounter costs an additional $30 per person.

Is this a shared tour?

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

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.