Honor Roll Private Bahamas Boat Charter

The best thing about the Honor Roll private Bahamas boat charter is control. You are not pushed from one crowded stop to the next. Your group has a 35-foot open boat, and the crew lets you choose the pace, from reef snorkeling and turtle watching to beach time, music, or a faster ride across the water. Rose Island snorkeling and the easygoing captains are two strong reasons to book. The main consideration is cost: at $1,750 for up to 14 people, it makes the most sense for a full group.

I also like the practical touches. Snorkel gear, snacks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, Bluetooth music, and group photos are included. The trip works well for cruise passengers because the boat leaves from Margaritaville Bahamas at Paradise Island, within walking distance of the cruise port according to one family’s experience. Pig encounters and lunch cost extra, so budget for those before you go.

Key points to know before booking

• Private 35-foot open boat: Your group has the boat to itself, with room to move around, play music, and change plans.
• Flexible 4 to 8-hour outing: You can follow the suggested route or spend more time snorkeling, swimming, or sitting on the beach.
• Several distinct stops: The day can include Rose Island, Atholl Island, Green Cay, and Sandy Cay, each offering a different kind of activity.
• Drinks and basic snacks included: Soda, alcoholic drinks, nonalcoholic drinks, chips, and cookies are provided.
• Two likely extra costs: The pig encounter is $30 per person, and lunch usually adds $20 to $25 per person depending on your order.
• Strong choice for groups: The $1,750 rate covers up to 14 people, so the per-person price drops sharply when the boat is full.

A private boat day from Paradise Island

Honor Roll Charters departs from Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas at Marina Drive on Paradise Island. The activity returns to the same meeting point, which keeps the day simple, especially if you are staying nearby or arriving by cruise ship.

You are booking the whole boat, not a seat on a large shared excursion. That changes the feel of the day. You can bring your own group, choose the mood, and ask the captains to adjust the order of stops. The advertised duration is about four to eight hours, so this is not a quick harbor ride with one short swim.

The boat is a 35-foot open vessel with no cabin. That gives you more open space, but it also means you should expect full exposure to the Bahamas sun, wind, and spray. The open design suits a social group, a birthday party, or a family that wants room to move. It is less suited to anyone who wants an enclosed, quiet ride.

The captains provide the route options and explain what is available, then you decide what matters most. You might start with snorkeling, save the beach for later, or skip a stop that does not interest your group. That flexibility is the heart of this charter.

Rose Island reef snorkeling in clear water

The first Rose Island stop is for snorkeling over a coral reef. The water is described as crystal clear, with fish that show a slight blue glow as they move through their natural habitat. Snorkel gear is included: mask, snorkel, fins, and a life vest.

This is a good opening activity because it gets you into the water before the beach lounging begins. You can see fish close to Rose Island without needing to arrange separate equipment or bring your own. The planned time is about one hour, though a private charter gives you more say in how the day is divided.

I would treat this as a relaxed reef stop rather than a technical snorkeling trip. The supplied information does not promise a particular species list, large reef formations, or professional instruction. The appeal is the clear, shallow-water setting and the ease of stepping from the boat into the sea.

If you have children or mixed swimming ability in your group, the included life vests are useful. The crew can also shape the day around your comfort level, though you should discuss any concerns before entering the water.

Atholl Island and the optional swimming pigs

Atholl Island, near Pearl Island and roughly 15 to 20 minutes from Nassau, brings a very different activity: a swimming pig encounter. The pigs are described as friendly and intelligent, and you can purchase food in a cup to feed them.

The pig stop is not included in the charter price. The additional fee is $30 per person. That matters for a large family or party. For 10 people, the extra charge would be $300. For 14, it would be $420, before lunch or any other spending.

You should decide in advance if this is a must-do activity for your group. Some children will consider it the highlight of the whole day. Others may be more interested in snorkeling or a quiet beach. Since the boat is private, the stop does not have to define the entire outing.

The listed time is about one hour. You can expect a playful, hands-on stop rather than a passive photo opportunity. Feeding animals also means keeping a close eye on children and following the crew’s instructions. The supplied information does not state that the pig fee is optional at the dock or explain the exact payment process, so ask about that when booking.

Green Cay turtle watching from the boat

At Green Cay, the focus shifts to turtles in shallow water. You can watch and feed them from the boat as they swim below and lift their heads above the surface.

This is one of the calmer parts of the route. You do not need to leave the boat, put on fins, or spend an hour in the water. That makes Green Cay a useful pause between more active stops. It also gives anyone who prefers wildlife watching to swimming a clear reason to stay involved.

The planned visit lasts about 30 minutes. The turtles are wild animals, so sightings and activity can vary. The experience promises a chance to watch and feed them, but it does not guarantee a certain number of turtles or a close approach. Keep your expectations sensible and enjoy the brief encounter for what it is.

For families, this stop adds variety. A child who tires of snorkeling may still enjoy spotting turtle heads in the shallow water. The crew also takes group photos during the day, so this can be one of the easier places to capture a family picture without everyone wearing masks and fins.

Sandy Cay, the Gilligan’s Island stop

Sandy Cay is promoted as Gilligan’s Island, a sightseeing stop tied to the popular television series. The planned time is about 30 minutes, and admission is free.

This is the least active stop on the route. You are visiting for photos and nostalgia, not for a long beach session or a major museum-style attraction. If you have never watched the show, the reference may mean little. If someone in your group remembers it, the stop can add a fun bit of pop-culture context to the boat day.

The short visit works well in a flexible itinerary. You can take pictures, look around, and move on without spending a large part of your charter at one spot. Ask the captains how much time makes sense on the day, since weather, water conditions, and your group’s priorities may affect the order.

Rose Island beach time and a slower finish

The final listed stop returns to Rose Island for beach time and games. The planned stay is about 30 minutes, though the private format lets you ask for more time if relaxing onshore is more important than completing every stop.

This is where the charter can feel most personal. A shared excursion usually needs to follow a fixed schedule. Here, your group can decide if it wants a quiet break, a swim, some beach games, or more time with drinks and music on the boat.

The beach stop is included, and the crew provides snacks such as chips and cookies. Lunch is not included. It usually costs an additional $20 to $25, depending on what you order. One family of 10 had fresh-made lunch during the outing, which suggests that a meal can be arranged as part of the day, but you should confirm the menu and price when booking.

Do not confuse a 30-minute planned stop with a full beach afternoon. If your group wants a long stretch of sand time, say so clearly. The itinerary is personalized, and the advertised duration can run from four to eight hours, but your preferred balance should be settled with the crew.

What the $1,750 price really means

The price is $1,750 per group of up to 14 people. At maximum capacity, that is $125 per person before the pig encounter and lunch. A group of 10 pays $175 per person before extras. A couple or small family would pay far more per person, so this charter is built for groups.

That rate includes the private boat and the listed onboard extras: snorkeling gear, life vests, chips, cookies, unlimited alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, Bluetooth music, and photos of your group or family. Those inclusions matter because the price is not simply a boat rental with fuel added later.

The group photos are a useful touch. The crew takes pictures and sends them to you, which means you do not have to choose between being in the water and documenting the day. The available details do not specify how many photos you receive or how they are delivered, so ask for those details if pictures are important to you.

The value improves when you fill the boat. For a birthday, reunion, cruise group, or extended family, the cost buys privacy, flexibility, and several different activities in one day. For a small party, compare the per-person total with a shared excursion before committing.

Also price the extras honestly:

• Pig encounter: $30 per person
• Lunch: usually $20 to $25 per person, depending on the order
• Snorkel equipment, snacks, drinks, music, and group photos: included

One review from a cruise-ship family of 10 considered the full day worth the money after feeding pigs, snorkeling with turtles, and having lunch on a beach. That is a useful benchmark, but your value will depend on how many people share the charter and how much you use the flexible schedule.

The captains, comfort, and group atmosphere

The most praised part of the service is the captains. One family described them as attentive, with plentiful snacks and a good selection of drinks for both children and adults. That matters on a private boat because the crew shapes the entire day. A friendly, responsive captain can make schedule changes feel easy rather than awkward.

The open boat has space to move around or dance, and Bluetooth music is included. This makes the charter a natural fit for celebrations. You can keep the mood lively, but you also control the music and the pace rather than sharing a speaker with a boatload of strangers.

There are a few comfort points to weigh. With no cabin, shade and shelter are limited by the boat setup, and the tour takes place under the Bahamas sun. The provided information does not specify a shade canopy, so bring sun protection and ask the operator what is available. You should also expect to get wet around the snorkeling and swimming stops.

The activity is private, and most people can participate. It is near public transportation, and the meeting point is easy to reach from the cruise port on foot according to one booking experience. Still, allow enough time to find Margaritaville Bahamas2 Marina and check in without rushing.

Who will enjoy this charter most

I would recommend Honor Roll Charters most strongly to a group that wants variety without surrendering control. You can combine reef snorkeling, turtle watching, a pig encounter, a television-location photo stop, and beach time in one outing.

It fits especially well for:

• Families with children and adults who want different activities
• Cruise passengers looking for a private alternative to a standard ship excursion
• Birthday groups and celebrations
• Friends who want music, drinks, and room to socialize
• Groups of eight to 14 people that can share the fixed price

It is less ideal for a small party that wants the cheapest possible way to reach one beach. It may also disappoint you if you want a tightly timed sightseeing program with long, guaranteed visits at every stop. The point here is freedom, not a rigid checklist.

The charter also suits mixed-energy groups. One person can snorkel, another can watch turtles, and someone else can stay on the boat with a drink. That range is more useful than it first sounds, especially when children, older relatives, and strong swimmers are traveling together.

Weather, cancellation, and booking details

Confirmation is provided at booking, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and a cancellation inside that window is not refunded.

Weather matters because this is an open-water boat trip. If poor weather causes the activity to be canceled, you are offered another date or a full refund. Cutoff times follow local Bahamas time, so keep that in mind if you are arranging the charter from another time zone.

The tour is booked, on average, 63 days ahead. That is a useful sign that you should reserve early if you have a fixed cruise date, birthday, or holiday schedule. A private boat for up to 14 is not the sort of outing I would leave until the last few days.

Should you book Honor Roll Charters?

Book it if you have a medium or large group and want a flexible day on the water rather than a fixed shared excursion. The combination of a private 35-foot boat, clear-water snorkeling, turtles, optional pigs, Rose Island beach time, drinks, snacks, and photos gives you a full day with plenty of choice.

Before paying, confirm the pig encounter fee, lunch arrangements, shade options, photo delivery, and the route you want. If your group can fill much of the boat, the $1,750 price is easier to justify. If only two or three people are going, a shared tour may give you better value.

For a cruise stop in Nassau, this is a particularly appealing alternative to a standard ship excursion. You can walk to the marina, spend the day with your own group, and return to the same meeting point. Just remember that the open boat, sun, optional fees, and flexible timing are part of the deal, not small footnotes.

FAQ

Where does the Honor Roll private Bahamas boat charter start?

The charter starts at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas2 Marina Drive on Paradise Island, New Providence, Bahamas.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the private boat charter last?

The charter lasts approximately four to eight hours.

How many people can join the private charter?

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

What snorkeling equipment is included?

Mask, snorkel, fins, and a life vest are included.

Are drinks and snacks included?

Yes. Chips, cookies, soda, alcoholic drinks, and nonalcoholic drinks are included. Bluetooth music is also provided.

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 pig encounter costs an additional $30 per person.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the experience to be canceled.