Rose Island: Pig Beach, Snorkeling, Sea Turtles, Beach

Rose Island is only a short boat ride from Nassau, but this private outing gives you a full change of pace: coral reefs, sea turtles, soft sand, and clear turquoise water in one four-hour trip. I like the roomy 38-foot Jupiter, with its restroom, Wi-Fi, music, drinks, and snacks. I also like the private-group format, which lets your party enjoy the boat without sharing it with a crowd.

The main catch is time. Four hours goes quickly once you count the ride and several stops, and the pig experience and lunch cost extra. If you want a long, slow beach day or a full meal included, this is not the package for you.

Key points to know

• A private 38-foot Jupiter: You get a spacious speedboat with a clean restroom, Wi-Fi, music, and room for up to 15 people.
• Three distinct water stops: Snorkel a coral reef, look for sea turtles at Green Cay, then swim and relax on Rose Island.
• Gilligan’s Island included: The trip includes time to explore this well-known local stop.
• Drinks are covered: Rum punch, local beer, sodas, bottled water, and light snacks are included.
• Pigs are optional and extra: Tell the operator if you want to pet or feed the pigs, but plan to pay separately.
• A strong choice for families and groups: One verified July 2025 booking praised the captain and skipper, along with the boat’s clean, comfortable size for children.

Leaving Montague Dock for Rose Island

Your meeting point is Montague Dock, near the fish and conch stalls. To park, turn left at the light. This is a working waterfront rather than a polished resort entrance, which gives the outing a useful local feel from the start.

Before boarding, you must sign a waiver. Bring a towel, sunscreen, and beachwear. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you will need to arrange your own way to Montague Dock.

The boat is a 38-foot Jupiter speedboat, a useful size for a private group of up to 15. That capacity matters. A party of four or six should have plenty of room, while a full group of 15 will naturally feel busier around the seating and snorkeling gear.

You get a captain, skipper, snorkel equipment, drinks, and light snacks. The boat also has music, Wi-Fi, and a restroom, details that make a real difference during a half-day on the water. Families especially benefit from the restroom and the ability to bring children along without being packed into a small open boat.

The speedboat ride across Nassau Harbor

The ride is part of the experience, not just transportation. You cruise away from Nassau and make stops along the way, with the captain sharing facts about Nassau Harbor and local culture.

The speedboat gives you more time at the stops than a slow boat would, though the ride may feel lively on open water. If you have back problems, heart problems, respiratory issues, recent surgery, or trouble with mobility, this is not a suitable excursion. Pregnant women, wheelchair users, and children under three should also skip it.

Music plays on board, and the included drinks help keep the trip relaxed. You can have rum punch, local beer, sodas, bottled water, and light snacks. Lunch is not included, so eat before you leave or budget for food during the day. No lunch arrangement is specified as part of the tour, so do not count on a full meal at the beach.

Snorkeling over a Bahamian coral reef

The snorkeling stop is one of the strongest reasons to book this trip. You receive snorkeling equipment and get time in the water above a coral reef with a variety of fish.

The description does not promise a specific reef location, water depth, or exact wildlife list. That is worth knowing if you are an experienced snorkeler looking for a particular site. Conditions can also affect visibility and comfort, and the trip may be altered or canceled for weather or other unforeseen problems.

For most casual snorkelers, the appeal is simple: you can get into clear Bahamian water, see fish moving around the reef, and enjoy the view without committing to a full-day dive trip. I like that snorkeling is only one part of the outing. If someone in your group would rather stay dry, the beach and boat time provide other ways to enjoy the day.

Use sunscreen before boarding, and bring a towel for the ride after snorkeling. Reef-friendly sunscreen is a sensible choice, though it is not specifically required by the operator.

Green Cay and the sea turtle stop

The boat stops at Green Cay to look for sea turtles and learn about their habitat and surrounding animals. This is a wildlife-viewing stop, not a guaranteed close encounter, so keep your expectations sensible.

The value here is the pause. You are not simply racing from one beach to another. You get a chance to watch for turtles in their natural setting and hear local information from the captain. The stop adds variety to the schedule and gives children something specific to look for.

You should follow the captain’s directions around the turtles. The supplied information does not promise that you can touch, feed, or swim with them. The experience is best treated as a chance to observe them respectfully.

Exploring Gilligan’s Island

Gilligan’s Island is another stop on the route. You get time to explore it before or alongside the other Rose Island activities, depending on the captain’s timing and conditions.

The name may bring to mind a familiar television setting, but the important point for planning is that this is a short local island stop, not a full theme park attraction. The experience centers on the setting, the water, and the chance to walk around a distinctive place outside Nassau.

Because the whole trip lasts four hours, exploration time may be limited. I would not book this excursion expecting a long island hike or a detailed historical tour. Instead, think of Gilligan’s Island as one memorable stop in a compact day on the water.

Rose Island beach time

Rose Island is the main slow-down of the trip. You can swim in clear turquoise water, play games on the sand, collect shells, and sit in the sun.

This is where the excursion feels most flexible. You can be active in the water, wander along the beach, or simply enjoy the quiet after the speedboat ride. The soft sand and shallow-looking turquoise water create the classic Bahamian beach setting, though no exact beach facilities or changing rooms are listed.

The beach stop is also the best reason to bring children who may not want to snorkel. One verified booking praised the boat’s clean, comfortable setup for kids, and the beach gives young swimmers a less structured way to enjoy the day.

Still, four hours is not a long beach visit. Snorkeling, Green Cay, Gilligan’s Island, and the boat ride all share the clock. If your priority is several uninterrupted hours on the sand, a beach-only booking may suit you better.

What the optional pig stop really means

The title includes Pig Beach, but the pig experience is not part of the included price. If you want to pet and feed the pigs, you need to tell the operator and pay at your own expense.

This is an important distinction when comparing excursions. The advertised base price covers the speedboat, captain, snorkeling equipment, beach time, Rose Island, Gilligan’s Island, drinks, and snacks. It does not cover lunch or the pig activity.

Ask about the pig cost before departure if this is the main reason you are interested. The supplied details do not give a fee, duration, or exact location for that add-on, so you should not assume it will fit automatically into the four-hour schedule.

What is included on the boat

The included comforts are unusually useful for a short private charter:

• Speedboat transportation
• Captain and skipper
• Snorkeling equipment
• Rum punch
• Local beer
• Sodas
• Bottled water
• Light snacks
• Music
• Wi-Fi
• Onboard restroom
• Beach time and island stops

The drinks are a real value for a private outing, especially in the Bahamian heat. The restroom also makes the boat more practical than a bare-bones runabout.

The boat’s setup received especially strong praise in a verified July 2025 booking, which described it as clean, comfortable, and a good size for children. The captain and skipper were also singled out for creating good energy on board. Their names are not provided, so you cannot request a particular guide in advance.

Is $1,800 good value?

The price is $1,800 per private group of up to 15 people. At a full group, that works out to $120 per person. With 10 people, it becomes $180 each. With only four people, the cost reaches $450 per person.

That makes group size the key value question. For a large family, wedding party, cruise group, or group of friends, the private format can make good financial sense. You are sharing the boat only with your own party, and the price includes a captain, equipment, drinks, snacks, and several stops.

For a small group, the cost is harder to justify unless privacy and a custom boat day matter more to you than keeping the price low. Compare the total group price rather than focusing only on the per-person figure shown for a full boat.

Lunch, hotel transportation, gratuity, and the pig activity are extra. Build those costs into your budget. Gratuity is left to your discretion.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this outing for a private group that wants several Bahamian highlights without spending a full day at sea. It suits families with children over three, couples traveling with friends, and groups that want control over the boat atmosphere.

It is also a good fit if your group has mixed interests. Strong swimmers can snorkel, wildlife fans can look for turtles, children can enjoy the beach, and adults can relax with drinks and music.

I would think twice if you want a quiet, highly scheduled wildlife tour, a guaranteed pig encounter, or a long beach stay. The experience is active and varied, and the short duration means each stop gets only part of your day.

At present, the available rating is 3.3 from four ratings, while the strongest individual feedback praised the clean boat, comfortable ride, captain, skipper, and family-friendly setup. That mixed overall score is a reason to confirm the details you care about most, especially the pig add-on, lunch options, and timing of each stop.

Weather, cancellation, and practical planning

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Canceling less than 24 hours ahead does not qualify for a refund.

If weather or another unforeseen problem forces the operator to cancel, you can receive a refund or reschedule the trip. Since snorkeling and beach time depend heavily on sea conditions, keep some flexibility in your Nassau schedule if possible.

The tour is offered in English with a live guide. Reserve now and pay later if you want to hold a place while keeping your plans flexible.

Should you book the Rose Island charter?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the $1,800 cost and want a private half-day that combines reef snorkeling, sea turtles, Gilligan’s Island, Rose Island beach time, and comfortable boat service.

I especially like the boat amenities and the mix of stops. The main caution is to treat Pig Beach as an optional paid extra, not as an included feature. For a small group, or for anyone who wants lunch and a guaranteed pig encounter bundled into the price, compare other options first. For families and larger groups that value privacy, this is a practical way to get beyond Nassau without giving up basic comforts.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is Montague Dock near the fish and conch stalls. Turn left at the light to park.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts four hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

How many people can join the private group?

The price covers one private group of up to 15 people.

What type of boat is used?

The tour uses a 38-foot Jupiter speedboat with Wi-Fi, music, a spacious clean restroom, drinks, snacks, and room for the private group.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkel equipment is included, along with a guided stop at a coral reef with a variety of fish.

Are drinks and snacks included?

Yes. The boat provides rum punch, local beer, sodas, bottled water, and light snacks.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at your own expense.

Is the pig experience included?

No. If you want to pet and feed the pigs, tell the operator. The pig experience costs extra.

Can I see sea turtles?

The tour includes a stop at Green Cay to look for sea turtles and learn about their habitat. A turtle sighting is not guaranteed in the supplied tour information.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel, sunscreen, and beachwear. You must also sign a waiver before boarding.

Who should not take this activity?

The experience is not suitable for children under three, babies under one, pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, or people with back, heart, or respiratory problems. It is also not recommended after recent surgery.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If the operator cancels because of weather or another unforeseen circumstance, you can receive a refund or reschedule the trip.