Blue hole, drift snorkeling, turtles Celebration Key is welcome
Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Spend a day on the water on this four-part tour around the waters of Grand Bahama. First, snorkel over blue holes, then listen as your guide takes you on a wildlife tour to spot sharks, stingrays, starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumber, conch, and dolphin. Next, visit a marine park to view several species of sea turtles. Finally, enjoy light refreshments at a local restaurant before heading back to Freeport.
- Four mini-adventures on one tour in just one day
- Spend a day on the water with a local guide navigating the way
- Snacks, lunch, and use of snorkeling equipment are provided
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off are included for ease
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Use of Snorkeling equipmentUse of Snorkelling equipment
- life vest
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- boat fees payable on tour day USD25.00 per person cash / Venmo or Zelle
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 09/01/2026 - 08/31/2027
Monday - Sunday : 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Itinerary
Begin your 4-in-1 Grand Bahamas tour with pickup from your hotel or the cruise terminal.
Your first stop involves snorkeling over the mesmerizing blue holes, where the interconnected caverns create a thriving marine ecosystem. Witness the spectacle of boiling holes and explore the vibrant underwater world for up to 45 minutes.
Continue the aquatic exploration as your guide leads you on a wildlife tour, offering encounters with blacktip sharks, spotted eagle rays, stingrays, starfish, sea urchins, conch, and possibly wild spotted dolphins.
Then, head to a turtle park to see hawksbill, loggerhead, and green turtles. Conclude the day with a visit to Sweetings Cay, where a local restaurant awaits to provide light refreshments and fruit salad.
Return to the mainland, where the van awaits to transport you back to your hotel or cruise ship.
Your first stop involves snorkeling over the mesmerizing blue holes, where the interconnected caverns create a thriving marine ecosystem. Witness the spectacle of boiling holes and explore the vibrant underwater world for up to 45 minutes.
Continue the aquatic exploration as your guide leads you on a wildlife tour, offering encounters with blacktip sharks, spotted eagle rays, stingrays, starfish, sea urchins, conch, and possibly wild spotted dolphins.
Then, head to a turtle park to see hawksbill, loggerhead, and green turtles. Conclude the day with a visit to Sweetings Cay, where a local restaurant awaits to provide light refreshments and fruit salad.
Return to the mainland, where the van awaits to transport you back to your hotel or cruise ship.
1
Fran's Travel Tour & Limo Service
3 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- For cruise ship passengers meeting point is at the white tent next to Harley-Davidson. Celebration, Bahamas Paradise, Grand Clasica passengers meeting point is outside you cruise port at the taxi stand.
- Dress code is smart casual
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
- Operated by Fran's Travel & Tours
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.4
based on 135 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Paul_S, May 2026
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.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
We are very sorry we did not meet your expiration. You did not pay your boat fees so please except the $50 dollars as a credit to you excursion. This excursions is outdoors and we have no control over the weather, sun, or wild life.
CODY_B, Feb 2026
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.
Marsha_S, Feb 2026
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.
Katherine_M, Jan 2026
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.
Sasha_T, Nov 2025
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!
Luke_G, Oct 2025
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
Shelley_H, May 2025
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.
Response from Host, May 2025
I am sorry that we did not meet your expirations. I feel like the excursion the day before put a bad taste in your mouth and any and everyone else was going to get a piece of it. I would hope to earn your business in the future and give you an amazing experience.
Joseph_T, Apr 2025
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.
Diane_P, Mar 2025
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.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hello, this guest did not want to pay the $25 dollars per person, and he stated that if he paid it, he would write a bad review. This $25 dollar is not a hidden charge or in the fine prints. It's in what's included and what's not included. At the end of the day, he enjoyed the excursion and tipped the driver.
Lisa_H, Feb 2025
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.
Lisa_H, Feb 2025
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.
Paul_Z, Jun 2024
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”.
Rachell_H, May 2024
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.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
We are sorry that you were unable to see turtles but they are in there natural environment, nothing can be guaranteed with nature.
Jonathan_K, May 2024
To kick off, I actually really enjoyed the snorkeling portion of our 4 part mini tours. I think the disappointing part was the difficulty with setting a pick up location in Viator (which I don’t blame the service provider for), and then the misleading information on the site. We booked the 4 part mini tours, and when the car first arrived to get us they informed us that we did not have lunch included with our package. I read so many reviews about the unimpressive lunch, so it wasn’t a huge loss as we had packed snacks. It took about 1.5 hours to get from our hotel to the snorkel location between the car and boat rides. When we started snorkeling, we spent around 15 min at the blue hole, and then 45 min floating in an outlet to the ocean. Very cool nature along this part. The guide didn’t really have much information or anything to tell us about what we were seeing aside from pointing out a star fish and a school of manta rays. When we got to the part where we thought the turtle sanctuary started, the staff informed us that that was not included and if we had complaints to contact the company president. As our tickets obviously said turtle sanctuary was included, the staff informed us that it was an option in the park, and pictures online show a board walk and signs for the sanctuary, we assumed that it was a separate item. We called the company president and he told us that it was just part of the float if you were lucky enough to see one, and not a separate item. So there was a lot of confusion and no explanation on the discrepancies between the different members of the staff. So the snorkeling was great, but we felt robbed of an experience that we paid for due to the overall unclarity on the turtle sanctuary. Several other couple in the same van had similar complaints, so just be aware. Wanted others to be aware of what they were actually purchasing with this so that they know what the money they are spending is actually going towards since there seem to be many holes in the companies explanation.
Heather_L, May 2024
Some things people should be aware of, that may not be in the tour info is that, this is a very long drive to the east end of the island, if you’re coming from Freeport. Then, there’s a loooong boat ride to the location - for a very short time snorkeling in the water. The turtle park should be skipped altogether, as the other couple on this trip with us also agreed, it wasn’t even worth it. The tour lunch is a turkey sandwich. Really? No lobster on conch?
This is the Bahamas!
I could get a turkey sandwich at my resort.
And if the ocean waves are aggressive that day, be sure to bring a wetsuit.
You’re going to get drenched on the boat ride, to and from the “drifting/snorkeling/blue hole” location.
Also, totally not worth the $50 additional boat fee (per person) on a boat that is on its last leg and can break down at any moment. We didn’t expect a yacht for the $50 boat fee but c’mon, we all expected more than a row boat with a single motor that barely got us to and from our location.
And One of the two bench seats (where customers sit), didn’t even have a pad so, it’s obvious the “boat fee’s” aren’t going towards buying a new pad for one of the seats for customers.
We let the old couple we were with have the padded bench seat..
Being a frequent traveler to this island over the years, this is by far the worst tour I’ve ever been on. And the additional $50 boat fee per person, are also a first for any tours I’ve EVER been on… Anywhere. Worldwide.
We knew about the fee going in but wow, wtf for? Horrible tour and totally not worth it.
Look elsewhere at other tours and save yourself the trouble..
Stephanie_C, Apr 2024
April, 2024 Royal Caribbean Cruise
Excursion through VIATOR, not RC.
Very long taxi/van drive to the hurricane devistated side of the island, followed by a 30 minute boat ride (additional $50 per person) for some basic snorkeling where we enjoyed seeing tropical fish, coral, starfish, sea cucumbers, tiny jellyfish, and a few nurse sharks. Then another boat ride to walk through someone's yard and stand next to a small pond-like water hole to look at 3 small-medium sized sea turtles for 10 minutes. Then another boat ride to eat an American brown bag lunch at a nice Air BnB and a final boat ride back to the dock to meet the rattletrap taxi/van with No Air Conditioning for the 90 minute drive back to Freeport. Thank goodness for the island breezes.
Pros:
-The drivers and tour leaders are very friendly and enjoy educating guests about their island.
-The snorkeling is fun and the water is gorgeous.
-The sea turtles are adorable.
Cons:
-Simply put, you do NOT get what you pay for on this excursion.
-Extra cash-only expenses for essential transportation that should be included in the excursion cost.
-Not a special lunch of local island foods.
-No air conditioning in the beat up old taxi/van.
-Worst of all, there is NO swimming with the sea turtles as advertised. (You would get much more out of seeing the lovely turtles at a nice aquarium than is possible to do in this expensive excursion.)
Cynthia_W, Apr 2024
What an awesome experience we had with Brice! We were able to swim with rays, a huge selection of starfish and we swam with a couple sharks (they were just there, it wasn’t set up for us to swim with them or anything). Then we got to see some sea turtles at a sea turtle nursery. There was just 4 of us and we didn’t see anyone the entire day which was so nice. We would 100% do this again
Amy_C, Mar 2024
We feel like Viator intentionally deceived us because you had to pull up a drop-down list to say that they were going to charge us an additional $50 per person in addition to what we paid Viator to take the tour. We had no advance warning, and they sprung it on us on an island they had boated us too, and we could not get off the island until we paid them. Beware it is a rip off and my recommendation is that you read every single line of their website because they intentionally hide it so you won't know it. BELIEVE ME, IN MY OPINION, THE DECEPTION IS INTENTIONAL!!!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Good day,
I am sorry that you did not read what was included and excluded in the tour you booked. We will reach out to Viator to place the boat fees where it is more viable. Do you think a 5 hr tour with transportation, gear, boat, and lunch can only cost $121 per person minus booking fees of up to 33%, and fuel at 5.55 per gallon, we would be paying you to go on this excursion. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
Cheryl_M, Mar 2024
I did not realize there are separate port terminals when I booked the excursion and I was at the opposite one. Thank goodness the Bahamian authorities helped me communicate with the tour company to figure out what happened
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Good day,
This is why Viator tries to get all the information from you when you booked. That will then give us enough information to inform you that you will be arriving on the wrong island and you can cancel your excursion with a full refund
Jennifer_C, Feb 2024
The hubby & I had Brice all to ourselves. What a wonderful guide. The "drift" snorkeling was one of the best things I've ever done. No effort involved. Just peacefully drifting over some of the most beautiful sea life imaginable. Can't wait to do it again.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Good morning,
Thank you for sharing your experience for others to know how you enjoyed your day in sweetings cay. Don’t forget to WhatsApp me 1-242-7279900 to get your photos.
Thanks,
Brice.
Michaela_D, Dec 2023
We loved all the information and history Brice shared on the way as well as the abundance of plants and animals seen throughout the trip! Definitely recommend.
JeanPaul_M, Dec 2023
Definitely, off beaten path, with no other tourists in site! Brice is an awesome guide, knowledgeable and very funny. We got to snorkel with healthy coral and saw lots of fish, rays and turtles …I highly recommend this tour!
Ashley_E, Oct 2023
We had such an incredible time on this trip! The drive and boat ride to Sweetings Cay was worth it for the views and experience. We got to see some of the healthiest coral I’ve ever seen and follow a pod of dolphins. I would recommend this trip to anyone spending time in Freeport, and would happily take my family again!
Leslie_G, Aug 2023
The drift snorkeling was amazing. The water was beyond beautiful. I would do it again. The turtle park for OK but defiantly not the high light of the tour. Our guide Brice was knowledgeable about the island and everything we did. He answered all questions and was a great guide. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the snorkeling.
Taylor_H, Jul 2023
Brice was awesome, informative, and super fun! A day I’ll never forget. Brice’s dogs tagged along for some of the day and we got to enjoy lunch on a private beach area. Would recommend again and again and will be back if I’m in the area again.
Thanks Brice!
Annette_W, May 2023
Though we didn’t see the sea turtles we did see a dolphin up close and personal and some eagle rays! Rika was very accommodating to us and our 10 year old granddaughter. The weather was touch and go and she kept us safe and provided a lovely tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thank you for sharing your review with other readers. Hope to see you again on this tour or another one of our tours.
Susana_M, Apr 2023
I have snorkeled/dived all over the Caribbean, I have never experienced the abundance of corals and fish/sea life as I did on this tour. Such an amazing place. The tour guides were helpful and polite. Lunch was a delicious sandwich with chips and drinks on the beach. I will be doing it again. Highly recommend it!
Laura_T, Apr 2023
Brice was a fantastic tour guide and Rica cooked delicious burgers and homemade fries for lunch. We had our cheeseburgers in paradise! Brice picked us up directly in front of our boat and drove us. Then he took us out on the boat for snorkeling. The views were gorgeous, and we saw so much underwater plant and animal life. I have snorkeled in Hawaii, and this was just as good, if not better. Brice went out of his way to educate us, and to make sure we had an amazing time. The day was exciting, yet serene. There were never any crowds. This is a trip where you can get away from it all. We will definitely recommend to friends and family and we plan on returning.
Jamie_P, Mar 2023
Unique snorkeling experience using currents. Brice was knowledgeable and hospitable. The lunch was delicious. My family of 5 had a great day
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Thank you for sharing your experience with other readers. Hope to see you back soon.
Thanks,
Brice.
Christine_E, Mar 2023
Brice and his partner and their 2 adorable dogs picked us up at the resort and took us on a private excursion to the very end of East Grand Bahama. Brice is a funny guy that made the car ride fly by while we learned about the island. We then took a small boat ride to a beautiful spot where we drift snorkeled with lots of coral, fish, starfish, rays and sharks as well as blue holes. Then a short boat ride to Sweetings Cay and Turtle Park. We only saw the turtles at a distance despite Brice's attempts to bring them closer, but that's the fun with wild creatures. We then went to his beautiful waterfront home where we had a delicious lunch followed by some time to walk along the beach before heading back. An amazing day trip that won't be forgotten.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
Thank you for letting me show you my island. I am happy you enjoyed it as much as I love showing it off. Thank you for sharing your experience with other readers.
Brice.
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