Rose Island Swimming Pigs Water Taxi from Nassau

In the $89

The includes list names the pigs beach entry fee, a guide, food and hotel pickup and drop-off. The food menu is not stated, so do not count on a full lunch. Drinks are not in the includes list. The trip summary mentions local beers onboard and one reviewer mentions an open bar, so confirm on the booking page what you will actually be served. One reviewer reports snorkeling gear and a kayak or paddle board free on the island, which the includes list does not name.

Bring swimwear, a towel and sunscreen, because towels are not provided. The Bahamas departure tax for cruise passengers leaving by sea is $23, or $25 from a private destination, and the Bahamas Customs note says commercial carriers usually include it in the fare, so no surprise is expected there.

How It Stacks Up Against the Other Pig Boats

This is the cheapest pig trip in the catalog, and the two rivals show what the extra money buys. The figures below come from each operator's own listing. Prices on the platform can move, so check the booking page before you pay.

Side by Side

Two of the three leave from the Senor Frogs dock area in downtown Nassau, while the powerboat starts on Paradise Island at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant. All three run about 4 hours in total. The differences are what happens once you are off the boat.

Check-in and the Crossing

Check in outside the booths at Senor Frogs either at 9:00 AM for the 9:30 AM departure or at 11:00 AM for 11:30 AM. The listing asks you to be punctual, and there is no stated grace period. The boat leaves Nassau-Downtown Harbor for the 30-minute ride to Rose Island, which sits about 3 miles east of Paradise Island.

Reviewers report the 9:30 trip leaving plenty of time to be back at the ship, and one mentions a stop to watch turtles on the way back.

Three Hours on Rose Island

The itinerary allocates 3 hours on Rose Island for the visit, swimming and wildlife viewing. The pigs encounter itself is the headline, and one reviewer puts the pig time at about 25 minutes, so the rest of the window is beach time, swimming and the optional kayak or paddle board one reviewer mentions. There is an island restaurant, but a reviewer calls the prices high, so bring snacks if the included food is light.

The guide is live and English-speaking, though one reviewer says the guide could not be heard at the back of the boat, so stand close for the briefing.

Getting Back for the Ship

The listing states no return time and gives the duration as 4 hours. Reviewers report the 9:30 trip leaves plenty of time to be back at the ship, so the 11:30 departure leaves less slack if the boat runs late.

Stated Limits and Gaps

No minimum age, wheelchair policy or difficulty level is stated, so families and less mobile travellers should confirm access directly with the operator before booking. The guide is English only. There is no stated shade on the boat or beach plan, so sun protection is on you. Weather can cancel any boat trip, and the free cancellation window closes 24 hours before departure, .

The beach club facilities are the real gap. Unlike Rose Island Pig Beach and Private Beach Club, which names shaded seating, restrooms and snorkel gear in its includes, this listing states none of them. If you want a guaranteed lunch and facilities, that $129 trip or the $245 Nassau Swimming Pigs, Reef Snorkel and Turtles by Powerboat is the better fit.

Documents

The Bahamas Immigration Department says all persons entering must hold a passport valid at least six months and that passport cards are not accepted. On a closed-loop cruise, US CBP rules allow re-entry with a government photo ID plus an original or copy of a birth certificate, but the cruise line's own rule governs boarding, so carry what your line requires. The listing names no documents beyond the swimwear, towel and sunscreen on its what-to-bring list.

What No Shore Day Can Give You

The boat, the guide and the pigs beach entry are what the $89 buys. If meeting the pigs is the point of your day, book the trip.

What the Free Shore Day Covers

If the pigs are a maybe rather than a must, downtown Nassau costs almost nothing. Bay Street is about 3 minutes on foot from the wharf, the Straw Market sits about 0.2 miles away, Junkanoo Beach is roughly half a mile or about 10 to 13 minutes on foot with free entry, and the water taxi to Paradise Island runs about every 15 to 30 minutes for about $7 to $10 per person with a 10-minute crossing. John Watling's Distillery offers a free walk-in tour with a cocktail sample. See the list of what to do in Nassau on a cruise day for the full walk.

The same logic applies on the Florida side. Before or after a sailing, the cruise from Miami to the Bahamas pairs well with a free Metromover loop and Bayfront Park, both free, or with free day trips from Miami.