Private 38′ Defender Sportfishing/Swim with Pigs in Nassau

The pigs are only part of the story. This private Nassau boat trip combines bottom fishing, reef snorkeling, sightseeing, and beach time on Rose Island, giving your group several ways to use four hours on the water. I like the roomy 38-foot Defender and the fact that the boat welcomes families and children.

I also like the practical inclusions: water, ice, bait, fishing gear, and snorkel equipment are provided. The main consideration is cost. At $850 for up to seven people, it can be good value for a full private boat, but the $30 swimming-with-pigs fee is extra, and the trip depends on good weather.

Key points to know before booking

• A private 38-foot boat: Your group has the vessel to itself, with space for up to seven people.
• Four activities in one outing: You can fish, snorkel, visit reefs, enjoy the beach, and add swimming with pigs.
• Rose Island is the main setting: The boat heads to a large reef with colorful fish, then continues to another reef for snorkeling or beach time.
• Family-friendly equipment: Snorkel gear, fishing gear, water, ice, and bait are included.
• Pig swimming costs extra: The separate fee is listed as $30.
• Strong overall ratings: The experience is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 50 reviews, with 98 percent recommending it.

Why this Nassau charter works for mixed groups

Many boat trips ask you to choose one main activity. This one leaves room for different interests. One person can fish, another can snorkel, and someone else can simply enjoy the ride and the Rose Island scenery. That flexibility matters when you are booking for a family or a small group of friends.

The boat is a 38-foot Defender Express based in Nassau. The size gives the outing a more substantial feel than a quick ride on a small open boat. A family account also praised the boat for being large and having a bathroom, two useful features when children are aboard or when four hours on the water begins to feel like a long stretch.

The entire vessel is private to your party. You are not sharing the boat with a large mixed group, so the pace can better match your interests. If fishing is going well, you can give it more attention. If the water and reef are calling, you can move on to snorkeling.

The trip is also clearly aimed at families. The operator, Hunter Charters, specifically welcomes children. That does not mean every child will enjoy every part of the outing, but the mix of short activities helps keep the day from feeling repetitive.

Leaving Paradise Island from Margaritaville Marina

The meeting point is Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas, at Margaritaville Bahamas2 Marina Drive on Paradise Island. The tour begins and ends at this same marina, which makes the day easy to plan around a stay in Nassau or Paradise Island.

You should allow extra time to find the marina and gather your group before departure. The experience is sold with a mobile ticket, and confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Since the trip averages about 20 days of advance booking, I would not leave it until the last minute if your schedule is tight.

The boat trip lasts about four hours. That is long enough to visit more than one reef and include fishing, but short enough to fit into a larger Nassau holiday. It is not an all-day island cruise, so you should keep your expectations in the right place. You are getting a focused half-day on the water, not a full island-hopping expedition.

Bottom fishing near Nassau

Fishing is one of the central choices on this charter. The boat provides fishing equipment and bait, so you do not need to bring your own tackle. The focus is bottom fishing, a style that keeps the activity hands-on and accessible for a family group.

I like this option for mixed-age parties because it does not require everyone to be an experienced angler. You can take turns, help children handle the equipment, and treat the fishing as part of the outing rather than a test of skill.

A strong family account described a kid-friendly fishing trip that caught lots of fish close to shore before continuing to the pigs. That detail is useful. The fishing does not have to be an intense offshore mission, and the crew can shape the outing around a family’s comfort and attention span.

Still, fishing results are never guaranteed. The itinerary includes equipment, bait, and the chance to fish, not a promise of a particular catch. If you book mainly for fishing, keep that distinction in mind. The value here comes from having several activities available, not from a guaranteed haul.

Reef snorkeling at Rose Island

At Rose Island, the boat takes you to a large reef where you can swim among colorful fish. This is likely to be the most visually rewarding part of the outing for anyone who prefers wildlife and clear-water swimming to fishing.

Snorkel equipment is included, which keeps the planning simple. You can use the gear provided rather than packing a full kit, though you may still want to bring a swimsuit, sun protection, and a towel. The supplied details do not specify the exact brands or sizes of the equipment, so anyone with a strong preference for a particular mask may want to ask the operator before departure.

The first reef is described as beautiful and filled with excited fish. That wording suggests a lively snorkeling stop, but conditions can change with weather and water clarity. The experience requires good weather, and the operator may move or cancel the trip if conditions are poor.

This stop is also where group flexibility helps. Confident swimmers can spend longer in the water, while anyone less comfortable can stay aboard. The tour is private, so your group does not need to follow the pace of strangers.

A second reef for beach time or more snorkeling

After the first reef, the boat continues to another reef. Here you can choose between snorkeling and spending time on the beach. This second stop gives the trip a useful change of pace.

If the first swim has used up your energy, the beach offers a quieter break. If the fish and reef are the highlight of your day, you can use the time for more snorkeling. That choice is especially helpful for families, since children may want to switch activities after the first water stop.

The details do not promise a specific beach setup, facilities, or length of time at either reef. You should see this as a flexible stop rather than a tightly scheduled shore excursion. The captain and crew can respond to your group’s wishes, but the exact order and timing may depend on conditions.

This is one place where a private charter has a real advantage. A large shared group might need to leave when the clock says so. Your party can make better use of the available time based on what everyone actually wants to do.

Swimming with the pigs, for an additional $30

Swimming with pigs is available as an add-on, not as part of the $850 base price. The separate fee is listed as $30. The pig-swimming stop is on that island, so you should treat it as an extra activity alongside the fishing and reef visits.

This can be a fun choice if your group wants the familiar Bahamas photo opportunity. It also gives children a clear goal during the day. You should remember, though, that the pig encounter is not the only reason to book this charter. The reef snorkeling, fishing, and private boat are the main package.

The supplied details do not state whether the $30 fee is charged per person or per group, so confirm that point before you pay. They also do not specify how long the pig visit lasts or what facilities are available there. That makes it sensible to ask Hunter Charters for the current details when arranging the outing.

A family account described combining kid-friendly fishing with the pigs, which shows how well the add-on can fit into a short private charter. If your party wants the pigs but also wants time for snorkeling, tell the operator when booking so the four-hour schedule can be planned sensibly.

What the $850 price really buys

The price is $850 per group, for as many as seven people. At full capacity, that works out to about $121 per person before the pig fee and gratuity. For a smaller group, the per-person cost rises quickly, so the value is strongest when you can fill most of the seven places.

You are paying for a private boat rather than individual seats on a shared excursion. The package also includes snorkeling equipment, fishing equipment, bait, ice, bottled water, and the charter itself. Those inclusions reduce the number of extras you need to arrange.

I see the price as reasonable for a full private half-day if your group plans to use several parts of the outing. It is harder to justify if only one person wants to fish and everyone else plans to sit aboard. Before booking, decide if your party truly wants the privacy and flexibility of a private charter.

Gratuities are not included. The swimming-with-pigs fee is also extra. Those costs should be included in your final budget, along with anything you choose to bring for the day.

Comfort, children, and the practical side

The boat’s size is one of the better reasons to choose this experience. A 38-foot Defender gives your group more room than a small fishing boat, and the reported bathroom is a real comfort on a four-hour trip.

The operator says families and kids are welcome, and most people can participate. That broad participation note is useful, but it is not a promise that every activity will suit every person. Swimming and snorkeling require personal comfort in the water, while fishing may be less appealing to someone who prefers a quiet sightseeing trip.

Water and ice are included, so basic hydration is covered. You should still dress for a day outdoors and bring any personal items you need, since the supplied information does not list a full packing guide.

The trip returns to Margaritaville’s marina. That simple out-and-back plan makes it easier to schedule lunch, an afternoon activity, or an evening reservation after the charter. Leave some breathing room, though, since the listed duration is approximate.

Weather and cancellation rules

This experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That protection is helpful, especially in a destination where wind and sea conditions can change your plans.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off is based on local time.

I would book this early, then watch the forecast as the date approaches. The average advance booking time is 20 days, and confirmation arrives within 48 hours, subject to availability. If the charter is important to your holiday, avoid placing it on the only available day of a very short Nassau stay.

The best match for this private boat

I would recommend this outing to a family or friend group that wants a private day with choices. It is a particularly good match for parties with children, mixed swimming abilities, or people who cannot agree on fishing versus snorkeling.

It also suits visitors who want a half-day rather than a full-day cruise. The four-hour format leaves space in your Nassau schedule, while the private boat makes the time feel more personal than a standard shared excursion.

I would think twice if your main goal is a long offshore fishing trip, a luxury cruise, or a guaranteed wildlife encounter. The trip offers fishing, but the results can vary. It offers swimming with pigs, but that costs extra and the exact details of the stop should be confirmed.

The overall score is 4.9 out of 5 from 50 reviews, and the recommendation rate is 98 percent. The strongest praise centers on the family-friendly setup, the roomy boat, the bathroom, the fishing, and the chance to combine it with the pigs.

Should you book the Nassau Defender charter?

Book it if you want a private, flexible outing that lets your group fish, snorkel, visit Rose Island, and add the pigs without committing to a full day. The included gear and water make planning easy, and the larger boat is a meaningful comfort for families.

Skip it if the $850 group price does not fit your party size, or if you want a single-purpose fishing charter with a guaranteed catch. For most families and small groups who will use the boat’s full range of activities, this is a well-rounded Nassau water day with practical value.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas2 Marina Drive on Paradise Island, New Providence Island, Bahamas.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the charter last?

The tour lasts approximately four hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

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

What activities are available?

The charter offers bottom fishing, snorkeling, sightseeing, reef visits, beach time, and swimming with pigs for an additional fee.

Is swimming with pigs included?

No. Swimming with pigs has a separate fee listed as $30.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included.

Is fishing equipment provided?

Yes. Fishing equipment, ice, and bait are included.

Is bottled water provided?

Yes. Bottled water is included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Poor-weather cancellations offer a different date or a full refund.