Blue Hole, Drift Snorkeling, Turtles Celebration Key Is Welcome

Well we booked for Sept 18 (Carnival Vista) but didn’t notice that it was scheduled Sept 17, we were in Half Moon Cay. It would have been canceled on Sept 18 (all water excursions due to Thunderstorms)

I booked a week in advanced. The man cancelled the excursion the night before and texted me asking for $360 to run the excursion for 2 people for the price of 3 people or he wouldnt do it. He said I had to pay him directly like he was scamming. Then he never refunded my $270 that I already paid and I never did the excursion. This is bad business and exactly why nobody is booking with him. He’s overpriced and illegitimate. Expect to be scammed.

SO GREAT!!!! Pick up was just a little confusing but beyond that it was an incredible experience, my favorite part of the whole trip!

Our driver to the spot was so kind and was great!! The boat captain was so kind as well. Snorkeling was beautiful, we saw so many different fish and massive starfish! We saw two nurse sharks and huge manta rays. On our way to the turtle spot, we passed a huge mango tree and he and the other locals were so kind enough to let us harvest from this mango tree! We saw a few turtles and our boat ride back was amazing too. There was just a group of 4 of us, so it was super personal and off the beaten path to truly see the wildlife we wanted to see. What a great experience!!

Brice was an amazing guide, he accommodated us when we were an hour late due to our ship a local times being different. He was kind and knowledgeable about the area. The trip was off the beaten path and away from all the people which was amazing. There was even a “private beach” which had plenty of wildlife and zero people. The locations we snorkeled at were great with tons of diversity and sights to see and write home about. I saw people complain about the longer car ride but it was maybe 45 minutes which gave plenty of time to learn the history behind the islands and ask questions which Brice could answer. Also put some space in between the busy port and everyone else to provide a quiet, peaceful, beautiful, and absolutely wonderful experience. I will recommend this to my friends and family and also go do it again given the opportunity! Way to go Brice for providing an experience that will stick with me forever!

My boyfriend and I’s tour with Brice was everything we could ask for. We started the tour with going to see turtles, in which we saw two different kinds of turtles. We went to two parts of the ocean, one of which we were able to see two sharks, multiple eagle rays, all different kinds of fish, huge starfish, etc. My boyfriend and I had trouble trying to find the original shuttle to our destination, but Brice was helpful in his communication.

This is the worst Viator excursion I've ever been on, and I have been on many. On the Web the trip is described in the “Overview” as a four-part tour: to snorkel blue holes, then a tour to spot marine life, then a marine park to see turtles, and finally some light refreshments at a local restaurant. That is not the experience most people get. (MAKE SURE YOU READ ALL THE REVIEWS.) First, the drive to the port for snorkeling takes about an hour. The boat provided for the excursion was a small, open vessel of approximately 16–18 feet that appeared to be well past its prime. There was no sunshade, and passengers were exposed to intense sun throughout the trip, seated on storage lockers with only two cushions available for six people. The boat did not appear to have been adequately prepared for departure. Due to problems with the fuel line, it sputtered and stalled several times while en route to the first snorkeling site. Our guide and captain, Brice, attributed the issue to the loss of the gas tank cover during transport. He stated he was not responsible for the incident. However, it is unclear who else would have been responsible for ensuring that essential equipment was properly secured before departing. As a result of the mechanical issues, we were delayed approximately 30 minutes and then taken to a beach, where we waited an additional 30 minutes while a replacement boat was arranged. The beach is attractive with soft, almost pink sand. Next, we were then taken to the so-called “Turtle Park,” which turned out to be a murky cove where local fishermen clean their catch and discard scraps into the water, attracting a few turtles to the area. There were no educational materials, signage, or any explanation provided about the turtles or their habitat. The experience felt unstructured and lacked any interpretive or conservation context, only a small number of turtles present looking for an easy handout. We were then taken to the snorkeling site on another older boat. This time, passengers were given seat cushions, but a sunshade covered only the captain and not the guests. The vessel itself appeared worn and not well maintained. In several areas, screws were protruding through interior surfaces, and the anchor was not properly secured; instead, it was left loosely on the deck, obstructing the passageway between the front seating area and the stern, where the ladder is located for entering and exiting the water. We drift-snorkeled through an area of seagrass that was largely devoid of marine life, with only a few starfish and small minnow-sized fish about. While this condition is not attributable to the tour operator, since marine life naturally varies by location and conditions, it fell far below the expectations raised by the tour description. Finally, we were taken to the “Blue Hole,” where we spent approximately ten minutes in the water. This site offered a noticeably better experience, with a good number and variety of fish present. We then returned to the car for the return trip, where only then were we offered a single bottle of water, our only “refreshment”. There was no restaurant stop, which was disappointing for guests who had eaten an early breakfast and were then facing another hour’s drive, not returning back until about 2- 3 PM. During the return journey, the guide spent much of the time on the phone, apparently on personal calls with friends or family. On arriving back, and giving a small tip to our guide, we were informed of an additional $25 per passenger “boat fee” payable directly to the guide. This charge had not been clearly disclosed upfront and was only referenced in the listing under “What’s Included,” hidden behind a link labeled “See 1 More.” Based on other reviews, some guests have been surprised by additional charges of up to $50 for transportation on this tour. For me, the lack of transparency on pricing and inclusions was a significant concern. SO, BE VERY WARY, DON’T BE DECEIVED, CAUTION IS STRONGLY ADVISED.

Our ship arrived late, we went to the security gate as instructed, there was no black Tahoe waiting for us and the security guard informed us that the driver told him that she couldn’t wait and had to leave. We texted to inform Brice that the driver left and asked to be refunded for the trip. We also tried to call. We eventually received a call and were informed that we wouldn’t be receiving a refund because we were the only people being picked up and that his driver knew to wait for us. Our question was then why did the security guard tell us that she left and why was there no Tahoe waiting for us. The guard would have no reason to lie about it. Later we received 5 texts asking where we were, how much time did we have, etc. Hours later (after our ship left) we received another text stating that the driver had nothing else to do but wait for us. I again explained what the guard told us and have received no response. We are absolutely not at fault for this and strongly feel that we should be refunded for this excursion. We do plan to dispute this with our credit card company. I also want to warn others that it appears this company might go out in very rough seas. Others on our ship had snorkeling excursions cancelled because the seas were considered unsafe.

The snorkeling was great, and we saw lots of wildlife during the trip (dolphins, sea turtles, sting rays, a small shark and lots of other fish). The water colors were amazing. The only downside is that if you are coming from the East end of the island (cruise terminal), it is a very long drive to get to where the snorkeling boat leaves from (almost 90 minutes one way, including picking up one other family). On the way back, the smell of gasoline in the van was a bit strong since they were carrying fuel jugs with us.

The trip to the hole was about an hour from the ship. The experience was fun. What went wrong as I dropped my phone on the boat and the driver asked him to turn around as he just left and he refused and hung up on her. We made contact with him through text and he said he needed $120 to mail it UPS back to me and then asked for another $100: we refused the $100. He did send it a week later for $11.00. Very disappointing sad to say.

Fred and the female driver were outstanding. Without them, this would easily be a 1-star review. This was our second time booking with Bryce and his outfit. Unfortunately, both experiences were negatively impacted by serious safety and professionalism issues—primarily involving gasoline. First Trip: We arrived to find a very small boat. That alone wasn’t a dealbreaker. However, gasoline was spilled in the bottom of the boat and mixed with seawater, soaking our belongings. Everything we owned smelled like gasoline afterward. Second Trip: Before booking, I specifically asked if we would be on a larger boat. I was told no, because there were only four of us. I was also strongly assured that the ocean would be calm with little wind. That was completely inaccurate. We encountered rough conditions with 3–4 ft waves and were nearly swamped twice by broadside waves. Fred handled the situation well, but the boat was simply not designed for those conditions. After 20 years in the Navy, I know waves—and this was unsafe. To make matters worse, there were no life jackets in moderate seas. It felt like profit was prioritized over safety. Transportation Issue: The SUV ride from Freeport to the East End (about an hour) was miserable. You cannot transport gasoline inside a closed vehicle with passengers. We were sitting next to a 5-gallon gas can venting fumes the entire ride. Even with windows down and A/C on, the smell was overwhelming. I had a throbbing headache both ways. Being charged $100 for that ride made it even worse. If I had known beforehand, I would have driven myself. Pattern of Problems: Twice now, gasoline has been a major issue—on the boat and in the vehicle. Add to that the hidden fees (like the unexpected $100 ride), and it creates a very frustrating experience. The snorkeling itself was excellent. That’s why we booked again. Unfortunately, everything around it has been disappointing. To Bryce: You have great staff. Fred and the driver were fantastic. Please fix the operational issues: Store fuel externally—never inside passenger spaces Be upfront about all fees Provide basic hospitality (food without surprise charges) Cancel trips when sea conditions are unsafe If the captain has to repeatedly reassure guests that “it’s going to be okay” while waves are coming over the side, things have already gone wrong. As a captain myself, I know that safety and guest confidence come first. We truly wanted to love this experience again. But after two trips with serious issues, we cannot recommend this outfit to others. Do better—your team deserves it.

Fred and the female driver were outstanding. Without them, this would easily be a 1-star review. This was our second time booking with Bryce and his outfit. Unfortunately, both experiences were negatively impacted by serious safety and professionalism issues—primarily involving gasoline. First Trip: We arrived to find a very small boat. That alone wasn’t a dealbreaker. However, gasoline was spilled in the bottom of the boat and mixed with seawater, soaking our belongings. Everything we owned smelled like gasoline afterward. Second Trip: Before booking, I specifically asked if we would be on a larger boat. I was told no, because there were only four of us. I was also strongly assured that the ocean would be calm with little wind. That was completely inaccurate. We encountered rough conditions with 3–4 ft waves and were nearly swamped twice by broadside waves. Fred handled the situation well, but the boat was simply not designed for those conditions. After 20 years in the Navy, I know waves—and this was unsafe. To make matters worse, there were no life jackets in moderate seas. It felt like profit was prioritized over safety. Transportation Issue: The SUV ride from Freeport to the East End (about an hour) was miserable. You cannot transport gasoline inside a closed vehicle with passengers. We were sitting next to a 5-gallon gas can venting fumes the entire ride. Even with windows down and A/C on, the smell was overwhelming. I had a throbbing headache both ways. Being charged $100 for that ride made it even worse. If I had known beforehand, I would have driven myself. Pattern of Problems: Twice now, gasoline has been a major issue—on the boat and in the vehicle. Add to that the hidden fees (like the unexpected $100 ride), and it creates a very frustrating experience. The snorkeling itself was excellent. That’s why we booked again. Unfortunately, everything around it has been disappointing. To Bryce: You have great staff. Fred and the driver were fantastic. Please fix the operational issues: Store fuel externally—never inside passenger spaces Be upfront about all fees Provide basic hospitality (food without surprise charges) Cancel trips when sea conditions are unsafe If the captain has to repeatedly reassure guests that “it’s going to be okay” while waves are coming over the side, things have already gone wrong. As a captain myself, I know that safety and guest confidence come first. We truly wanted to love this experience again. But after two trips with serious issues, we cannot recommend this outfit to others. Do better—your team deserves it.

Our Captain was Fred. He took great care of all in his charge with patience and understanding. We saw 5 Spotted Eagle Rays along with tons of other fish, star fish and coral. The water is so clear! I would have gladly have stayed longer. The blue hole was amazing. As it was, we went back the next week, it was sooo beautiful. We were with Captain Fred again, a big plus for us. Both times we stopped off a wonderful sandy beach with the softest sand you may ever find. And of course, we saw the rescued turtles. I would go here every time.

Our guides forgot the snorkeling equipment. Although they did go back to get it, we weren't able to get back to the original snorkeling site. The site we did go to was small, and we only stayed about 20 minutes. We stayed at the beach for an equally short time, and only about 5-10 minutes at the park where we were to see the turtles (only 1 turtle was seen, and the viewing area was small and crowded, even though there were only 8 in our group.

Booking was easy, communication was timely, ride from hotel to boat was comfortable, and captain Fred was great! Drift snorkeling was a lot of fun and met our expectations! We saw a variety of sea life and the snorkeling gear that was provided was much better than what we rented at Paradise Cove. Although we enjoyed our day, I feel the cost is a lot given the additional boat fee.

This is a small business run by locals, so don't expect posh rides or fancy foods. That being said, you will NOT be disappointed by this excursion. Brice was a great guide and our kids still talk about him to this day. While the blue hole was a tad anti-climactic, the snorkeling along the current was absolutely amazing - we saw all kinds of fish and wildlife. The shoal that we ended at provided more areas of explore and great photo ops. The lunch was a sandwich and chips on a back porch looking out into the water - nothing fancy, but solidly good and completely charming. My boys say that was the best turkey sandwich they've ever had! We still talk about this excursion to this day.

We were on a Carnival cruise that stopped at Celebration Key and are so glad we booked this excursion. If you're looking to get away from the crowds and the ho hum experience staying within the walls of Celebration Key, book this tour now! After walking through Celebration Key to the taxi station, we were picked up in a van and driven approximately 40 minutes to the other side of the island. The group size was our family of six and two others. Very small, private tour. That's part of what made this tour so great. Once we arrived, we hopped on a boat with Captain Shervin. This dude is incredible. Just an all around kind person, engaging guide, and even a talented singer! Shervin took us on about a 20 minute boat ride along the beautiful coast line to our snorkeling spot. He helped us get our snorkeling gear on (provided) and we jumped in! The start of the drift snorkeling was at a blue hole where we saw a good variety of fish and marine life - even a couple of rays. The snorkeling lasted about 45 minutes as we drifted along with the natural current. Along the way we saw many huge starfish and even more fish. It really was great snorkeling and after 45 minutes we were tired out. We hopped back on the boat and Shervin took us to a secluded spot where we saw some beautiful sea turtles. It was a nice touch being able to see them up close. We stayed on land for this part, but the turtles swam up right near us. To end the excursion, Shervin said he was taking us to a beach so we could take pictures. The stretch of beach he took us to was unlike any I had ever seen. We had plenty of time to relax and take some awesome pics. Truly a magical place. 10/10 recommend this excursion. My four kids ages 13-22 all absolutely loved it. Don't think any more - just book it!

We enjoyed the small group size, the nice SUV we rode in, and the drift snorkel was neat. Didn't like the 45 minute late pickup, the extra $25 p/p boat fee, the long drive to the boat, the lack of directions and information given at the snorkel and turtle area. It felt very unorganized and unofficial.

We were traveling on carnival cruise and were looking for an authentic local experience away from the crowds. We were very lucky to book this tour - we had a long but very comfortable air conditioned ride to gorgeous absolutely stunning keys on the very south of the island. Not a tourist in sight! We drift snorkeled which was effortless and saw a crazy number of huge rays, starfish, fish, etc. on second snorkeling stop over blue hole - more rays and larger fish. For $15 we had a delicious freshly cooked local meal made for us which we ate right on the beach. The restaurant was spotless and the cooking lady very sweet. If I could give this tour more then 5 stars - I would. It exceeded my expectations, absolutely loved it. Easy to go if you are on cruise- they pick you up right at port.

If you are a Carnival traveler you should know that you can go in this adventure too! Celebration Key ISN’T your only option on Grand Bahama Island! Brice was such a great tour guide. This was an unrefined EcoTourism adventure to parts of the Bahamas that you could never find yourself. Taking the boat ride from the far East End of the Island out to hidden treasures of coral and fish to see the blue hole, it was so beautiful! Small village Cay with turtles at the dock and a tasty meal on the water in a local and authentic Bahamian bar. Anyone who likes adventures off the beaten path should take this tour!

Super super super ecotourism experience. Brice was an incredible guide and we experienced an area of Grand Bahama that most folks never see. Wildlife and pristine area with healthy colorful coral. Super lunch in Sweeting Cay at a small, authentic venue on the water. Cruise ship customers should try this tour instead of the canned cruise excursions. What a magnificent and magical day we had!

Keep phone volume up so that you can hear messages from the company, they were very good at communicating as long as I was paying attention to my phone! Had a awesome experience,they showed us a great time! Food was awesome too at the little village we got lucky to eat at near the turtle sanctuary!

This was the highlight of our trip to the Bahamas! The driver picked us up at the port and delivered us to the boat. She and the boat captain were so kind. The water was the beautiful. We snorkeled for about 30 minutes in one spot and saw sponges, starfish, what seemed like one hundred conchs, and a ray the size of my stationwagon! We then went to the blue hole area. I won’t describe it because it’s so wonderful, you need to see it for yourself! We were taken to a small area where sea turtles are and able to see them up close. The lunch Mrs. Marilyn made us was delicious. Do not skip the lunch! After lunch we head to a private beach area. I have never seen so many shades of blue and green! Finally we had to go back to the van and return to port. Mrs. Williams got us there about an hour before our ship departed so we had some time to buy a few souvenirs. This day was a perfect one!

Awesome trip. Driver picks you up and drops you at port. Once in a lifetime experience. Definitely book this excursion everyone is very friendly and treats you like family

Celebration Key was very relaxing and beautiful. There are plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas, with no fee. Good food selection, a few shops and entertainment. Best place to enjoy the beach and water. A MUST to do especially if you’ve cruised, walked and toured for days. Perfect place to enjoy the last day of your cruise. Would definitely go back again

Shandra aka “babymingo” made our lunch so special! Such a sweet personality. Really brought up our vibes. Such an amazing person!! She was so attentive 💖

We loved Carnivals Celebration Key!! We spent the day in the splash area with the kids. I do recommend that Carnival allows for more access to the water slides, the complimentary lunch options were you unique 😉 I enjoyed my beef tacos 🌮 😋

Excellent service. They picked us up at our resort and drove us there and back, which was a little more than an hour away at no extra cost. Very kind and professional, they provided all equipment necessary. During our snorkeling time we seen amazing sea life such as stingrays, ginormous, starfish, corals, fish, big, small, colorful, unforgettable experiences. We also stopped at a small private beach, where we have the chance to swim and look for sandals. I would definitely do it again and recommend it.

It never happened and we expect to get a refund. We drove over an hour to discover a boat not suitable for four people. No snorkeling equipment and they apparently were not going to honor the original description of the excursion to four different experiences. I would not waste my time or money on any tour offered in the Grand Bahamas. Our tour of swimming with the pigs yesterday was a waste of time and money.

This trip was absolutely worth every penny. The captain Shervin was a complete blast. He makes you feel welcome and can even sing! Seeing all the sharks and rays and fish around the blue holes was so exciting and beautiful to see, I highly recommend this.

If I could leave 0 stars, I would. This was probably the worst excursion experience we have ever had. First off, the order in which we were picked up didn’t make sense and cost us a lot of time. We were picked up, driven in the opposite direction, and then passed our hotel on our way to our destination. This cost us about an hour and a half. People should be picked up in an order that makes sense, as to not waste anyone’s time. We would be willing to let this go, had the day improved. Sadly, it did not. We then drove over an hour to the boat. When we arrived, the driver said to give him a minute and left the car for a while. We then found out the boat had left without us because our driver was late. So we spent about 45 minutes hanging out there, waiting for the boat driver to (maybe) turn around. This never happened and we got back in the car to drive back to the hotel. After an awkward drive, we were dropped off at the hotel. This whole fiasco cost us half a day of our trip, with nothing to show for it. Mistakes happen. We get it. But this was a series of multiple mistakes that cost us a good portion of our limited time on the island. We were refunded, however.. we don’t think that was enough compensation for what happened. If you want snorkeling for a much better price and overall amazing experience - go to Paradise Cove!!! We loved that place and it was a small fraction of the price.

We had a great time! Our excursion was through Sweetings Cay. Driver picked us up at resort. Our Captain Sherman was amazing. Drift snorkeling is the way to go for those non swimmers, you just get carried along. We saw tons of starfish, stingray, and lots of tropical fish! We visited the turtles on Sweetings Cay. It's not mentioned in the description, but you can take a lunch break at the restaurant on the island - cash only! I'd say approximately 45 min snorkeling, 30 min with turtles. We did not eat as we didn't know. Nothing is rushed and even though it wasn't a 4hr excursion, it was worth the price for sure!

We booked a toor it was confirmed and when we arrived in the morning after we received no messages. Called the operator and they said that it was cancelled because we were only two that booked. Beware and don’t book this

OMG - so sad! I am a Travel Advisor. They were 1 hour late departing - driver with 1/2 hour late then they waited for more people. The bus was embarrassing and years old. My clients were told that they had to pay another $125 ($25/person) that they said was in the "fine print" for the captain. My clients were not offered food and were gone 7 hours. They did ASK for water and were provided that late in the excursion. Travel Advisors - don't use this company. Your clients will not be happy! My worst experience with Viator and I did check the rating.

Very cool and unique snorkeling experience! Great day snorkeling in shallow water. We saw many types of fish and plant life, huge starfish, and many stingrays. Low effort swimming as we just floated with the current. The guides were great and friendly. Stopped at a great lunch spot. Would have loved to have more time in the water. Overall, a great trip.

This was a great adventure. Brice picked us up at the port terminal and drove us to east end of the island where we boarded the boat with Barry. We took an interesting ride through the island passages until we reached the blue hole. Great snorkeling around the hole and then proceeded with our drift. The species of underwater sea life was spectacular. Rays, Coral and fish galore. Well worth the price. The current was strong but Barry stayed right with us guiding from the boat. Once we were done we went to Sweetings Cay for turtles and lunch. Very fun day with great hosts.

We THOROUGHLY enjoyed ourselves with Brice and his family. This is a must do especially with this company 5 Stars plus … thanks for a memorable experience :)

Excellent trip loved the drift snorkeling. Driver and family were great entertainment. Weather was perfect A must see when you are in Freeport. Driver picked us up at hotel and transported us to the boat.

Can't say enough good about this excursion. The guide was amazing, the drift snorkeling was incredible, and the food at the small local town that no other tourists were at made the trip. The sea life and coral all the colors took our breath away. They also ensured that we got back to the ship in more than enough time.

This is one of the best excursions we have been on so far. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. All the sea life that we saw was incredible. Being able to actually drift while snorkeling made this experience amazing. We also were able to eat at a local spot that the guide took us too. This was some of the best food. We did this we 3 of our friends and it was just the 5 of us. Can not say enough good things about everything.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO - other than 45 minutes of drift snorkeling, our trip bore no resemblance to what is described in other reviews. We were supposed to be picked up at 8:45. It was 9:30. We were told the drive to the East End of the island was 45 minutes. It was an hour and a half. That was three hours in a vehicle for a five hour trip. The local taxi service, Brice's Taxi, is your transportation. It was a rickety taxi bus. No shocks and it shakes as you drive. Our driver must have been used to one way roads because he constantly drove along the center of the road and had to swerve to avoid oncoming cars. Not only was it a long ride, but it will feel like the longest of your life. All 13 passengers complained about being afraid. Once you get to the boat, it was a water taxi, not a pontoon. Getting in was a challenge in low tide for several passengers as was getting back in after snorkeling. No ladder, no steps. We never visited a blue hole. We had fun drift snorkeling for about 45 minutes. The turtle visit is a hike from a pier. Several passengers did not feel comfortable getting out of the boat because it would have been a climb up to the pier. Plus, no turtles. There was no meal included. Some guests purchased a meal from a restaurant by the turtle park, but it was a choice between chicken or fish with fries or rice and beans. While sitting in the water taxi waiting for the people who ordered a meal to eat, we were also advised that we each owed $25 per person for a water taxi fee. Why not fee inclusive? Why ask for cash near the end of the trip? At the price you charge, why did you need to ask for more? They must be used to complaints because Rika's response was to call her boss so he could confirm it. At the end of the trip, she offered his contact info in case we wanted to talk with him more. Friends, there are easier options that will leave you more time to enjoy Freeport. We should have been back by 2-2:30. We barely made it back to our cruise by 4:30 for our departure because the taxi driver mentioned above wanted to drop off fish to a lady friend on the way back. In short, snorkeling was great but the rest made it not worth it.

We met on a pontoon boat with about 10 of us to go snorkeling. It was about 40 minutes boat ride through the gorgeous turquoise waters. They took us up river to blue hole, let us out in about 2 feet of water. We floated down river and saw stingray, 50+ starfish, tons of coral, and shells. The deepest part was maybe 10 feet and you could dive down for a closeup. The boat picked us up at a gorgeous sandy beach at the opening of the waterway. I wish we could have spent the entire day just snorkeling and being on the beach and not have to go back to the cruise ship!

Brice met us at our cruise ship, Dwayne drove us out to McLean's Town out at East End Grand Bahama where Brice in fishing boat and Shervin in his flat bottom skiff met us. We sped out for about 20-minutes over shallow, clear turquoise waters to uninhabited Lightbourne Cay where we entered a small slough and stopped at a blue hole. We donned snorkel gear and didn't even need flippers since the water was barely hip deep. The blue hole is remarkable (see photo) and had stingrays half buried in the sand. Then we drifted on the receding tide down the slough watching an endless variety of coral, crustaceans and fish drift by, 3-4 feet beneath us. The drift lasted about 45 to an hour and we went about 1/2 mile to finish at a sand spit where we walked around and then headed by boat to the village of Sweetings Cay where we tracked down the turtles in the sanctuary and had a nice lunch at the restaurant and chatted with the local conch fishing families. Back to our ship on time. Brice and Shervin are real pros and great guides. Yes, it's about 1:15 minutes out to this area but that effort is rewarded with pristine water and wildlife. Just do it!

We had an amazing trip to the East End of Grand Bahamas 🇧🇸 couple of days ago, drift snorkelling - so cool, the blue hole, fantastic lunch and Sweetings Cay for the turtle sanctuary. We’ve been coming to the island for 12 years now (have a place here) and finally got to know better the beauty that is the East End. Lots of boat time, beautiful blues of the water, lots of creatures to see, spotted eagle rays, stingrays, tarpon etc. and a whole lot of starfish which are a favourite of mine. Lunch was in a beautiful setting with peas and rice, cracked lobster and fish fingers cooked perfectly. Plenty of quiet beauty, resilience and pride present here, pleasure to experience 🥰🇧🇸🥰

Our stay was messed up a bit because of the weather - strong winds and some rain due to a passing hurricane (but not directly in our area). Folks in town are very friendly and will tell you a lot of history. We enjoyed exploring restaurants - Flying Fish Gourmet Bar, The Stoned Crab, and Peer One are defining worth a visit. Lukaya market is also a fun place to visit but on the days when there are no cruise ships in town not all stalls are open and the they also close early. Banks and ATMs are few, and most give you local money. Definitely swim with dolphins. Also we took a ferry from Ft. Lauderdale to Freeport - a very nice experience. Comfortable way to travel.

Bryce picked us up and informed and entertained us on the ride to the boat. He provided a lot of iinterstinf info on the Bahamas, joked and even sang a song. The snorkeling was excellent. Starting with the Blue hole, we saw Stingrays and tons of fish. We then drift snorkeled which I had never done…it was great. We covered a lot of area and saw more rays, fish and tons of starfish. Finished off at one of the most amazing beaches I’ve ever been to. Unlike anything. Bryce works hard to make sure you have a great time.

Excellent island tour by a native Bahamian who has studied his history and made some otherwise dry facts VERY interesting! It’s not often that your shuttle driver is also your tour guide, outfitter, and boat captain! Brice carried us in his beautiful Yukon and put us right in the action with his 75 HP Yamaha, to see Stingrays, Snapper, Tangs, Parrotfish, Starfish, and several other marine species. The blue hole was our first, and I would have loved to be SCUBA diving! Giant Snapper and the largest school of minnows I have ever swam through, larger than a full size sedan! My advice is to take a fully charged GoPro camera with at least a 32 gig chip in it. GoPro 6 and newer don’t require a dive case as long as you don’t exceed 33 feet. Make sure to use a red lens filter. FANTASTIC excursion, Bruce is “the Man”.

This was the HIGHLIGHT of our cruise. WOW, what an amazing time. If you want an experience that is extremely more personal and intimate than that of the cruise ship, book this excursion. Bryce picked us up at the airport and then it was about an hour drive to the boat. He took us to a remote part of the island where the cruise excursions don't go. We saw dolphins, nurse sharks, eagle rays, starfish (the size of basketballs), crazy amounts of fish, and turtles that were simply mesmerizing. Then we did a drift snorkel where the current carried us along - there was no swimming involved. We got a great history of the island, saw a local fishing village, and even got introduced to a fun song that Bryce sang. I simply can not encourage anyone enough to book this excursion. You won't be disappointed!!!

The snorkeling was good. We paid $640 for 4 people online via viator, but once there we were told it would be an additional $49 per person which was surprising. There were no turtles at the turtle park because no one fed them that day? Would not pay $836 for 4 people for this experience.