Nassau Snorkeling Tour: Catamaran to the Reef, Rose Island Pigs and Green Cay Turtles

In the Fare and Outside It

The catamaran voyage with captain and crew is the core of the ticket, along with life jackets, masks, fins and snorkel tubes for the reef stop at Pearl Island. Lunch is served onboard with vegan and vegetarian options, and the bar pours soda, fresh water from a large jar with cups and ice, rum punch and Cuba Libre. There is a washroom and cover from rain.

What is not in the fare matters just as much. Hotel pickup and drop-off are excluded, beach towels are excluded, and the listing names pig interaction (swimming, feeding, taking pictures with and holding the pigs) as not included. Guests who do not want to visit the pig island can stay onboard.

Two things to confirm at booking. The listing data shows $149 plus $30 in extra charges, and the listing does not label that $30. The pig interaction is the named exclusion and no amount is given for it, so ask the operator directly what the $30 covers before you pay. Tips are also not mentioned, so carry cash for the crew.

What You May Pay on the Day

The ride to Montagu Beach is the main cash cost outside the ticket. Nassau taxis are unmetered and run on zone fares, so agree the price before boarding, and neither Uber nor Lyft operates in Nassau. Budget for the crew tip as well, since nothing in the listing covers it.

Guests who skip the pig island can stay onboard. If you want a full pig package with the encounter and a beach club included in one price, look at Rose Island Pig Beach and Private Beach Club at $129 or the Rose Island Swimming Pigs Water Taxi from Nassau at $89, both of which include the pig time in the fare.

Getting to the Boat

Cruise ships on the Miami itineraries dock in Nassau from about 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The boat sails from Montagu Beach on the eastern side of the island, past Fort Montagu, so take a taxi from Prince George Wharf and agree the fare first. The listing says arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled start, and the operator asks you to bring a beach towel, especially from December to March.

That early arrival plus the taxi run is why cruise passengers should pick a departure that leaves clear margin on both ends of the ship's hours, and check the calendar before committing to a specific sailing day.

The Three Stops

Once underway the catamaran heads first to a coral reef by Pearl Island for the snorkel stop, where the listing promises colorful fish with gear provided. At Rose Island the pigs are the draw, with guests who opt out able to remain onboard. Lunch is served onboard to recharge for the last stop at Green Cay, where you glide with wild turtles.

Note the listing's own warning: turtle sightings are not guaranteed because they are wild animals, and island visits involve anchoring nearby or docking when available, so walking access is not guaranteed.

Fitting a Ship's Port Hours

The listing gives 5.5 hours but publishes no start or return time and does not state the return point, so ask the operator where you will be dropped and how long the taxi back to the pier takes. Build in buffer before your ship's all-aboard time. If your ship docks late or leaves early, a shorter four-hour option such as the Nassau Swimming Pigs, Reef Snorkel and Turtles by Powerboat may fit the window better.

Health and Access Limits

The listing does not recommend this boat for pregnant travelers, people with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or epilepsy, or people with mobility impairments. Travelers need at least a moderate level of physical fitness, and a waiver must be signed before boarding. Infants 0 to 1, children 2 to 5, youths 6 to 12 and adults 13 to 99 are priced separately, and the trip is not recommended for people traveling with infants.

Practical Exclusions

There is no hotel pickup and no cruise port pickup, so anyone staying in Nassau or arriving by ship organizes their own taxi or car to Montagu Beach. Beach towels are not provided. Turtle sightings are not guaranteed, walking access on the islands is not guaranteed, and the itinerary may change due to weather, sea conditions or facility availability.

On the upside, a weather cancellation can be rescheduled or refunded in full.

Better Fits Elsewhere

If the health limits apply to you, a seated city option is a better day: the Nassau Electric Trolley Culture Tour rides a trolley with stops at Atlantis and Junkanoo Beach (the listing also names the Queen's Staircase, which is closed for renovation), and the Nassau Island Highlights Sightseeing Tour runs an air-conditioned van with port pickup. If you travel with an infant or want a shorter day on the water, the Rose Island Pig Beach and Private Beach Club gives a 30-minute boat ride and a beach club base instead of a full sail.

What the Shore Gives You Free

The walk from the Nassau pier covers a lot. Bay Street is about 3 minutes from the wharf, Junkanoo Beach is roughly 13 minutes on foot with free entry and paid chairs and drinks, Parliament Square is 2 minutes away, and the Straw Market sits a few steps off the pier. John Watling's Distillery runs a free walk-in tour with a complimentary cocktail sample, no reservation needed.

For water time without a boat, the Paradise Island water taxi crosses in about 10 minutes for about $7 to $10 per person depending on the source.

What Only the Boat Provides

The shore cannot give you the coral reef snorkel with gear included, the Rose Island pigs, the Green Cay turtles, or a guide and transfer wrapped into one ticket. That is exactly what the $149 buys. If swimming with pigs is the priority, the cheapest listed way is the Rose Island water taxi at $89 with food and the entry fee included, though one reviewer puts the pig time at about 25 minutes.

If snorkeling is the priority and you are already on Bimini instead, the Bimini Four-Stop Snorkeling and Shark Tour covers wrecks and sharks for $175.

When the Free Day Is Enough

If your ship has a short call, if you are on a tight budget, or if the weather looks rough, the free walk plus Junkanoo Beach plus the distillery makes a full and cheap day. The what to do in Nassau on a cruise day section lays out the free and low-cost plan, and free day trips from Miami covers the other end of the trip if you have days in Miami before or after sailing.