Honor Roll Private Bahamas Boat Charter

Your boat, your day. Honor Roll Charters gives you a private 35-foot open boat and lets your group shape the outing around snorkeling, beach time, turtles, pigs, music, or a fast ride across the water. I like the flexible plan and the personal attention from the captains, plus the easy location near Nassau’s cruise port.

I also like the space for up to 14 people, the included snorkeling equipment, snacks, drinks, and group photos. The main consideration is cost: $1,750 is a strong value for a large party, but a small group may find the price harder to justify. Add the pig encounter fee and lunch, and your final bill rises.

Key points about the Honor Roll charter

• A private 35-foot open boat: Your group has the boat to itself, with room to move, sit, listen to music, or celebrate.
• A flexible Nassau itinerary: You can follow the planned route or spend more time snorkeling, swimming, relaxing, or riding.
• Several distinct stops: The day combines coral reef snorkeling, turtle watching, a pig encounter, a TV filming location, and a beach break.
• Drinks and gear included: Masks, snorkels, fins, life vests, snacks, soda, and alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks are provided.
• Extra costs to plan for: The pig encounter costs $30 per person, and lunch usually adds $20 to $25 per person depending on your order.
• Best value for bigger groups: At $1,750 for up to 14 people, the per-person price becomes much more attractive as your group grows.

A private boat day from Paradise Island

The Honor Roll charter begins at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas, located at Marina Drive on Paradise Island. The activity returns to the same marina, which makes the plan straightforward, especially if you are spending the day in Nassau from a cruise ship.

The private format changes the feel of the outing. You are not sharing the boat with a large mixed group, and your time is not built around a fixed public excursion schedule. The captains can explain what is available, then you decide how the day should unfold.

That flexibility is the heart of the experience. You might follow the published route and see all five stops, or you can put more attention on the activities your group cares about most. If some people want to snorkel while others prefer a beach, the open format gives the captains room to adjust the day.

The 35-foot boat has no cabin. That means less shelter from sun and weather, but it also creates more open space. The description specifically presents it as a boat where people can move around, listen to Bluetooth music, and even dance. For a birthday or family gathering, that open layout may matter as much as the sightseeing.

A lack of cabin is still worth considering. You will spend much of the day exposed to the Bahamian sun, wind, and changing weather. Bring practical sun protection, and remember that the charter can be canceled if conditions are poor. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Rose Island snorkeling in clear water

The first stop is a coral reef near Rose Island. The planned snorkeling time is about one hour, and masks, snorkels, fins, and life vests are included.

This is a good opening activity because it gets you into the water early, before the beach portion of the day. The water is described as crystal clear, with fish showing a slight blue glow as they move through the reef. You can expect the appeal to come from seeing marine life in its natural setting rather than from a formal lesson or guided marine presentation.

The hour gives your group enough time to get comfortable with the equipment and look around without making snorkeling the entire day. If you have experienced swimmers and keen snorkelers, you may wish the itinerary allowed even longer here. That is where the private setup helps, since your group can ask about changing the order or spending more time in the water.

The included equipment also improves the value. You do not need to pack a full snorkeling kit, though you should still bring any personal gear you prefer. Life vests are available, which helps families and less confident swimmers take part more comfortably.

Remember that this is an open-water activity. Conditions can affect visibility and comfort, and the charter requires good weather. The boat crew’s attention and the included safety equipment are useful, but each person should still be realistic about swimming ability.

Atholl Island and the $30 pig encounter

The next stop is Atholl Island, close to Pearl Island and roughly 15 to 20 minutes from Nassau. Here, you can take part in a swimming pig encounter, with snacks provided for feeding the pigs.

The pigs are described as friendly and intelligent, and the activity offers the sort of close-up moment that works well for children and for photos. You are not simply looking at animals from the boat. The planned experience involves getting near them in the water and feeding them from a cup.

This stop has an important extra charge. The pig encounter is not included in the base price and costs $30 per person. For a family of four, that adds $120. For a large party of 10, it adds $300, so you should decide before departure who actually wants to take part.

That fee can be reasonable if the pig encounter is one of your main reasons for booking. It is less appealing if your group mainly wants snorkeling and beach time. You can ask the captains about the activity and choose how to use your time, but the published plan includes about one hour at Atholl Island.

Because feeding animals in the water is a hands-on activity, young children should have close adult supervision. The supplied information describes the pigs as friendly, but it does not promise a particular level of interaction on every visit. Treat it as an optional highlight, not the sole reason to book the full charter.

Green Cay turtle watching from the boat

Green Cay brings a quieter moment. The planned stop lasts about 30 minutes, and you watch and feed turtles in shallow water from the boat.

The turtles may pop their heads above the surface, creating easy photo opportunities without requiring everyone to swim. This can be especially useful for anyone who wants to see wildlife but does not want another full water activity after snorkeling and the pig encounter.

The shallow water also gives the stop a different pace. Instead of active swimming, you can wait, watch, and enjoy the setting around the cay. The short duration keeps the itinerary moving, though a group that loves wildlife may want more time here.

Feeding wildlife deserves a little restraint. The activity specifically includes feeding the turtles, so follow the crew’s directions and use only the food provided. This helps keep the encounter controlled and protects the animals from inappropriate snacks.

If your group includes children, Green Cay may be one of the easiest stops to enjoy together. Everyone can look for turtles, take pictures, and stay on the boat if they prefer. It is a small but memorable break between the more active stops.

Sandy Cay and the Gilligan’s Island connection

Sandy Cay is presented as Gilligan’s Island, the filming location associated with the classic television series. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and does not require an admission ticket.

This is primarily a sightseeing and photo stop. It will appeal most to people who know the show, enjoy television locations, or want a change from the water activities. The appeal is nostalgic rather than action-packed, so do not expect another snorkeling session or a full beach visit here.

For a mixed-age group, this stop may divide opinion. Fans of the series may enjoy the connection, while younger children may simply see it as another scenic place for pictures. The short time keeps it from taking over the day.

The value of Sandy Cay comes from variety. This charter is not just a repeated cycle of swimming and riding. It gives you a handful of different experiences, and the filming-location stop adds a bit of local pop-culture flavor to the route.

Returning to Rose Island for beach time

The final planned stop returns to Rose Island, this time for about 30 minutes of beach time and games. After snorkeling, pigs, turtles, and sightseeing, this is your chance to slow down.

The beach stop is short, so think of it as a final pause rather than a long afternoon at the shore. You can relax, play simple games, take photographs, and enjoy a drink before returning to the marina. If your group values beach time above the other stops, ask early about how much the schedule can be adjusted.

The supplied description also presents Rose Island as a place to chill with a beautiful beach. That makes it a useful ending because it does not require another burst of activity. You can finish the day in a relaxed mood rather than rushing straight from a water encounter back to the marina.

The itinerary lists Rose Island twice, once for snorkeling and again for beach time. That is efficient rather than repetitive. The reef and beach serve different purposes, and using the same island keeps the route focused instead of adding unnecessary travel between distant stops.

Drinks, snacks, music, and group photos

The charter includes chips, cookies, unlimited soda, alcoholic drinks, and nonalcoholic drinks. That is a meaningful part of the value, especially for a private group spending four to eight hours in the sun.

The drinks also make the boat suitable for celebrations. Birthdays and group parties are specifically mentioned, and Bluetooth music lets you set the mood. Since the boat is open and has space to move around, the experience can feel more like a private floating party than a standard sightseeing ride.

You should still budget for lunch. Lunch is not included and usually costs an additional $20 to $25 per person, depending on what you order. Snacks are provided, but chips and cookies are not a replacement for a full meal during a long charter.

Another useful inclusion is group photography. Photos of your family or group are taken and sent to you afterward. That saves you from having to keep your phone out during every activity, though you may still want a waterproof phone pouch for your own pictures.

Is $1,750 good value for your group?

The price is $1,750 per group for up to 14 people. For a full group, that works out to $125 per person before lunch and the pig encounter fee. That is a much better calculation than looking only at the total price.

For 10 people, the base cost is $175 per person. For six people, it is about $292 per person. A couple or very small group would be paying a premium for privacy, so this charter makes the most financial sense for families, reunions, birthday groups, and cruise parties traveling together.

You are paying for more than transport. The price covers a private boat, flexible scheduling, captains focused on your party, snorkeling equipment, drinks, snacks, music, and group photos. The route also combines several popular Nassau-area activities in one day.

The extra charges are easy to understand, but they can change the budget quickly. Lunch usually adds $20 to $25 per person, and the pig encounter adds $30 per person for those who choose it. A full group that does both should plan carefully rather than assuming the advertised price is the final amount.

The four-to-eight-hour duration is another value factor. The broad time range reflects the flexible plan, but you should confirm the expected length when booking. A four-hour charter and an eight-hour charter are very different days, especially when you are arranging the outing around a cruise ship schedule.

Who will enjoy this private Nassau charter?

I would recommend it most strongly to a group that wants control over the day. Families can mix swimming, wildlife, snacks, and beach time without asking strangers to follow their pace. Friends celebrating a birthday can use the music, drinks, and open deck for a more social outing.

It also suits cruise passengers. The meeting point is at Margaritaville’s marina on Paradise Island, and one family of 10 found it easy to walk there from the cruise port. You should still allow enough time to reach the marina and return to your ship, since the charter ends back at the meeting point.

This is less ideal for someone seeking a quiet, enclosed boat with shade and a fixed educational program. The boat has no cabin, and the day includes several active stops. It is also not the right pick if you want every cost included, since lunch and the pig encounter carry separate charges.

The tour is described as suitable for most people, and it is near public transportation. Still, the water activities require sensible judgment. If someone in your group does not swim, the turtle-watching and beach portions offer alternatives, but the day is built around being on and around the water.

Booking well ahead is wise. The experience is booked an average of 63 days in advance, which suggests that popular dates can fill before your trip. A mobile ticket is provided, and confirmation arrives when you book.

Should you book the Honor Roll charter?

Book it if you have a medium or large group and want one private day that combines reef snorkeling, swimming pigs, turtles, a famous television location, and beach time. The captains’ flexible approach, included drinks, and open boat make it especially appealing for families and celebrations.

Think twice if your party is small, if you dislike sun exposure, or if the pig encounter and lunch fees push the price beyond your comfort zone. For a group of 10 or more, the charter’s privacy and range of activities make the $1,750 base price easier to defend.

The experience has a perfect five-star rating from 14 reviews and a 100 percent recommendation rate. The strongest praise focuses on attentive captains, plentiful snacks, child-friendly options, a broad drink selection, and the ease of reaching the marina from a cruise ship.

My practical advice is to decide your priorities before boarding. Tell the captains if snorkeling, beach time, wildlife, or a party atmosphere matters most, then use the private format to shape the day around that choice.

FAQ

Where does the Honor Roll Bahamas boat charter begin?

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

Where does the charter end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas.

How much does the private charter cost?

The price is $1,750 per group for up to 14 people.

How long does the boat charter last?

The experience lasts approximately four to eight hours.

Is the boat private?

Yes. This is a private activity, and only your group participates.

What snorkeling equipment is included?

The charter provides masks, snorkels, life vests, and fins.

Are food and drinks included?

Chips and cookies are included, along with unlimited soda, alcoholic drinks, and nonalcoholic drinks. Lunch is not included and usually costs an additional $20 to $25 per person.

Does the pig encounter cost extra?

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

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience begins.