Private Snorkeling or Fishing Charter in Nassau – 38ft Free Time

Nassau’s 38-foot Free Time charter gives you something a shared boat trip cannot: a captain who can change the plan as your day unfolds. You might fish inshore, head offshore, snorkel a coral reef, swim by a nearby island, visit Gilligan’s Island, or spend time on the beach. The crew, including often-praised captains such as Captain D, Dee, Tyson, and Juante, handles the boat and equipment while you decide how active the day should be.

I like the private format, since your party does not have to follow strangers’ plans. I also like that bait, tackle, snorkel equipment, bottled water, and ice are included, making this an easy choice for first-time fishers and families. The main consideration is price: the listed cost is $1,045 for a group of up to one, so you should confirm the final rate for your party before booking.

Key points to know before you book

• A 38-foot cabin cruiser gives you room to fish, snorkel, swim, and relax.
• Your captain can build a four-hour plan around fishing, reefs, turtles, beaches, or island stops.
• Up to eight people can share the private boat, making the cost easier to justify for a group.
• Fishing gear, bait, tackle, snorkel gear, bottled water, and an ice cooler are included.
• Afternoon and eight-hour trips can include Footprints Beach Bar and Grill on Rose Island.
• The boat leaves from Carnivale Bahamas at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole, Paradise Island.

What the four-hour Nassau charter is really like

The best way to think about this trip is not as a fixed sightseeing cruise. It is a private day on the water with a menu of options. You tell the captain what matters most, and the crew uses the available time and sea conditions to shape the outing.

That flexibility matters in Nassau. A party with children might prefer short fishing sessions, swimming, turtle viewing, and beach time. A group of keen fishers may want to give most of the four hours to inshore or deep sea fishing. Another party may care more about clear water, coral reefs, and a quiet stretch of sand.

The standard shorter outing lasts about four hours. An eight-hour option is also available, which gives you far more breathing room between activities. Four hours is enough to combine two or three interests if the stops are reasonably close, but it can feel rushed if you want serious fishing, a long snorkel, lunch, and several islands in one outing.

Leaving from Paradise Island’s Sterling Marina

You meet at Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole on Paradise Island. The trip also ends back at this marina, so you will need to arrange your own way there and back. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

The boat is a 38-foot cabin cruiser called Free Time. That size is useful for a mixed group because it offers more space than a small open fishing boat, along with some shelter and room to move around. The private setup is designed for up to eight people, though the displayed price information lists the charge as $1,045 per group of up to one. Ask the operator to confirm the total cost for your number of people before you commit.

Bring sun protection, a swimsuit, and any food or drinks you want for the day. Bottled water and an ice cooler are provided, but meals and other drinks are not included. If you plan to stop at Footprints Beach Bar and Grill, remember that lunch and the landing fee cost extra.

Fishing with bait, tackle, and as much help as you want

Fishing is the core option, and beginners are welcome because the necessary equipment, bait, and tackle are supplied. You do not need to arrive with rods or a box of lures. The captain and mate can rig the lines, explain what to do, and help when a fish takes the bait.

The fishing style can vary. Inshore fishing suits a shorter trip or a family that wants to mix fishing with swimming and snorkeling. Deep sea fishing uses more travel time and may make better sense on the eight-hour charter, especially if catching larger fish is your main goal.

The results depend on weather, water conditions, and luck. That is important to understand before you pay for a private fishing boat. The crew may work hard to find fish, but no captain can guarantee a catch. Still, the fishing feedback is strong, with reports of barracuda, dorado, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, and other mid-sized fish. One birthday outing produced two large barracuda, while another party caught a wahoo with help from Tyson.

The crew’s approach appears well suited to families. Children have been helped with baiting hooks, handling lines, and landing fish, rather than simply being told to sit back and watch. If your child is eager to fish, tell the captain at the start so the crew can give that activity proper attention.

Some parties have also eaten their catch later, after Captain Dee cleaned and filleted the fish. Treat that as a possible bonus, not a guaranteed part of the package. The supplied information confirms that fish have been cleaned and filleted on some outings, but it does not promise a restaurant meal or cooking arrangement.

Snorkeling over Nassau’s coral reefs

Snorkel equipment is included, which removes one more rental from your planning. The boat can visit colorful coral reefs where you can look for tropical fish and enjoy the clear water around New Providence and the nearby islands.

Snorkeling works especially well as a break from fishing. You can spend part of the morning with a line in the water, then switch to a mask and fins while the crew moves to a suitable reef. The crew can also help nervous swimmers and children get comfortable, though you should discuss swimming ability and comfort levels before leaving the marina.

Past outings have included turtle viewing, and some parties have combined reef time with sightings of dolphins. Wildlife is never guaranteed, so book this for the chance to see marine life rather than a promised encounter. The value is in having a captain who can adjust the route instead of forcing you to stay with one activity.

If snorkeling is your top priority, say so clearly when booking and again at the start. Fishing can easily absorb the available time, especially when several people are catching fish. A private boat gives you control, but only if you use it.

Islands, beaches, and the Rose Island option

The charter can include sightseeing around nearby islands, swimming in clear aquamarine water, sunbathing, and time on a beach. Gilligan’s Island is one possible stop and is described as one of the most photographed islands in the world. The appeal is simple: it gives you a scenic break from the boat and a place to swim or take photographs.

On afternoon or full-day trips, you may choose Footprints Beach Bar and Grill on Rose Island. The setting includes white sand and turquoise water, with lunch, music, a stocked bar, volleyball, billiards, and other relaxed beach activities. This is a useful choice for a group with different interests. One person can swim, another can sit in the shade, and someone else can order lunch or play a game.

The tradeoff is cost and time. Lunch and the landing fee are not included, and going ashore uses part of your charter. On a four-hour trip, that stop may leave little time for serious fishing and snorkeling. I would save Rose Island and Footprints for the eight-hour option unless your main goal is a beach afternoon.

Some outings have also included pig feeding. That is not listed as a guaranteed stop, so do not book this charter solely for pigs. Ask what is practical on the date of your trip, since the captain’s route depends on conditions and your chosen priorities.

The crew makes the private format work

A private boat is only as good as the people running it. The strongest praise here centers on the crew’s attitude, patience, humor, and ability to suggest a workable plan.

Captain D and Dee are frequently singled out, along with Juante, Tyson, Collin, Kyris, Cal, John, Lauren, Freddy, and other crew members. Names and crew assignments can change, so do not assume a specific captain unless the operator confirms it. Still, the repeated pattern is clear: the crew helps with fishing gear, offers suggestions, explains options, and works well with children.

That makes a difference when the weather is not perfect or the fish are slow. One first-time fisher had poor conditions but still enjoyed the day because the crew kept working to find fish. Another family with children ranging from four to eleven received help during fishing, lunch, snorkeling, and sightseeing.

I also appreciate the reported willingness to let a party play its own music. That small detail fits the private nature of the boat. You can set a relaxed mood without worrying about a shared group’s preferences. Keep the volume reasonable and follow the captain’s instructions, especially when the boat is moving or lines are out.

There is one serious caution. One account describes repeated political conversation after the party asked for the subject to stop. The operator apologized and said the concern was being addressed. Most of the available feedback describes a friendly, professional crew, but this incident is worth noting because a private charter means you spend several hours in close quarters with the staff. If a neutral atmosphere matters to you, make that preference clear when arranging the trip.

Is $1,045 good value for your party?

The listed price is $1,045 per group of up to one, and the boat can carry up to eight people. Because the pricing display is unusual, confirm the exact total for your group before booking.

For one or two people, this is a costly way to spend four hours. You are paying for a private boat, captain, crew, fuel, gear, and the ability to set the route, not just a seat on a fishing trip. If you only want a quick snorkel, a shared excursion may cost less.

For six to eight people, the math is more favorable. Divided among a full party, the cost buys privacy, space, equipment, and a day that can suit both fishers and swimmers. It becomes especially useful for families who would otherwise need to book separate activities.

The eight-hour option may offer better value if you want deep sea fishing, reef snorkeling, beach time, and a meal stop. A four-hour charter is best for a focused plan, such as fishing plus a short snorkel or snorkeling plus beach time.

The current record is strong, with a 4.9 rating from 40 ratings and 98 percent recommending the experience. The most praised points are the crew, flexible planning, comfortable boat, family-friendly help, and ability to combine fishing with snorkeling and island time.

Who should book this charter

I would choose this for a family or group of friends that wants control over the day. It suits mixed interests particularly well. Strong fishers can cast lines while less active people swim, sunbathe, snorkel, or enjoy an island stop.

It is also a good first fishing charter. You receive the equipment and can ask for as much instruction as you need. Children have been included successfully, and the crew has helped nervous young swimmers and first-time fishers.

This is less suitable if you want a guaranteed catch, a fixed sightseeing schedule, or the lowest possible price. It is also not the right choice for someone who dislikes time on a moving boat or wants every expense included. Food, drinks beyond the supplied water, transportation, and some landing fees are extra.

Cruise ship passengers should provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and required re-boarding time when booking. Build in enough margin for the return to the ship, since the activity ends at the marina and transportation back is your responsibility.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is private. Most people can participate, but you should discuss any concerns with the operator before paying, especially if someone in your party is not comfortable in open water.

The trip requires good weather. If poor conditions cause cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Should you book the Free Time charter?

Book it if you want a private Nassau day that can shift between fishing, snorkeling, wildlife, swimming, and beaches. The crew’s strongest quality is its willingness to help you use the time well, whether that means baiting a child’s hook, finding a reef, or suggesting which stops to skip.

I would book four hours for a focused outing and eight hours for the full mix of fishing, reef time, island stops, and lunch. Confirm the party price, ask which captain and mate are scheduled, and state your top two priorities before you arrive. If that price works for your group, Free Time offers a flexible way to enjoy the waters around Nassau without being tied to someone else’s itinerary.

FAQ

Where does the charter start and end?

The charter starts and ends at Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, Sterling Marina, Hurricane Hole, Paradise Island, The Bahamas.

How long is the charter?

You can choose a charter lasting approximately four or eight hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The 38-foot cabin cruiser can accommodate up to eight people, and only your party participates.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkel equipment is included, along with bottled water and an ice cooler.

Is fishing equipment included?

Yes. All necessary fishing equipment, bait, and tackle are included.

Are food and drinks included?

Bottled water is included. Food and other drinks are not included unless specifically stated. Lunch and the landing fee at Footprints Beach Bar and Grill are extra.

Can the itinerary include Rose Island?

On afternoon or full-day charters, you may choose to visit Footprints Beach Bar and Grill on Rose Island. The stop is not included as a guaranteed part of every four-hour trip.

Is hotel pickup provided?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must make your own way to and from the marina.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The charter requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of poor conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time.