On our recent trip to the Bahamas, we really wanted to charter a boat for the just the six of us, rather than deal with large crowds that you can get stuck with on a snorkeling excursion. I really hadn’t been feeling well before this trip and had planned absolutely nothing other than our flights and hotel. This is very uncharacteristic of me because I usually have a couple of things planned before we arrive. I will also have ideas for other options and plenty of time for everyone to do their own thing. But this time, I waited until we arrived to make our snorkeling plans. Usually, this would stress me out, but I had nothing to worry about!
The Weather in the Bahamas
The weather during our stay was pretty chilly and VERY windy. Although we left Texas with temps in the 30’s, it was barely getting into the ’70s in Nassau during the day with 30 mph winds. That can make time on the water less than fun. Some boats were canceling planned trips and not even going out during the time we were there. Luckily, our concierge at our hotel was able to find us a captain who was willing to take us out despite the high wind. While it was windy and chilly where our hotel was, the weather was calmer near our destination: Rose Island.
Our Day
We spent a half day (4.5 hours) with Barefoot Sailing and I have to say it was one of the best afternoons we have ever had. The folks are Barefoot Sailing arranged transportation for us from our hotel to the marina, which was about a 20-minute drive. We then met the Captain and his First Mate on the sailboat, were shown some safety features of the boat and then we were off. Again, it was very windy and chilly that day, but the weather was clear and our views were gorgeous. We motored to Rose Island, where we were given the option to snorkel, but given the conditions of the weather, we opted to explore the tiny island directly across from Rose Island, which we mostly had to ourselves.
-
- Exploring Rose Island
-
- Our sailboat for the day
After spending about an hour, we got to enjoy some rum punch, beer, and snacks before heading back to Nassau with the sails hoisted. The crew on our trip was excellent (Thanks, Captain Randy and First Mate Sean!). Captain Randy is local to the Bahamas and was so interesting to talk to if you ever want to get the real dirt on the goings-on in the Bahamas, FYI.
Returning to the Marina
It took us almost an hour to get from Rose Island back to the marina. Our transportation was waiting to take us back to the hotel. It was such a lovely day that I want to return on a day when I can actually snorkel. I thought I would be disappointed to get on a sailboat and not be able to go swimming. Nope! This trip far exceeded my expectations and we really had a wonderful time. I highly recommend Barefoot Sailing, so check out their website and Facebook page.
You might also enjoy...
Whoa…Things Look Different! That’s right, friends! Behind the scenes, along with Gariele over at Dreamworthy Design, I have been working hard to create a website that’s calm, easy to use and very different than anything I’ve had in the past. This site now features my photography, which I love, while…
My husband and I were able to cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas last fall. We were having trouble getting our schedules to line up, but we made it work! Somehow, the stars were aligned in our favor to make it happen. This was our first time on this class of ship and I was really excited to check to out.
I recently asked my followers about what kind of content they would want to see from me. More often than not, they wanted to read about beach/ocean travel. And since that’s right up my alley, I wanted to share the result. I’ve broken down my trips from least expensive to most expensive.
Sounds great! I’d love to get back to the Bahamas – it’s been 40 years!
Now it’s time to head back! Definitely check these guys out when you go!