SHORE EXCURSIONS

Snorkel the crystal-clear waters off Grand Bahama and enjoy a close-up view of the diverse marine life that inhabits the coral reefs. After a relatively short boat ride, you will reach a reef that the captain has chosen after considering the weather and water conditions. The boat will moor there rather than drop anchor, which could damage the fragile ecosystem. You will then ease into the water and behold the wonders that lie just below the surface. There is no telling what you will see, but you can be sure it will be plentiful as the visibility is often up to 200 feet. You may observe neon-colored parrotfish, blue angelfish, black groupers and horse-eye jacks. Be sure to scan the ocean floor for spiny lobsters, hermit crabs and large sea snails known as Triton’s trumpets. If you spot a leatherback sea turtle, it will be a showstopper, as these graceful creatures weigh up to 1,300 pounds.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Cruise to a coral reef not far offshore that is ideal for snorkeling.
• Look for a variety of colorful marine creatures gathered around the reef.
• Observe schools of tropical fish, unusual mollusks and perhaps even a sea turtle.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

This tour is intended for guests who have limited mobility, rely on a cane or walker, or for guests’ companions.

Browse a museum and a market for a look at Freeport past and present before relaxing on one of the most beautiful beaches on Grand Bahama. The open-air Farmers Market will present a genuine slice of daily life as the locals go about their business, shopping for fresh produce in particular. History is the focus of the Maritime Museum, where you will be free to peruse exhibits on topics as wide-ranging as the early Lucayan free-divers, the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and the treasures that the Spanish fleet once carried from the Bahamas. Artifacts recovered from the shipwrecked galleon Maravillas, which sunk in the Bahamas Channel in 1656, are especially revealing. Free time on Pirate’s Cove Beach will follow, during which you can relax however you please. Options include doing nothing more ambitious that basking in the sun and unwinding with a cool tropical drink in hand.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Wander about the bustling Farmers Market for a genuine look at daily life.
• Browse the Maritime Museum, whose exhibits include treasures from shipwrecks.
• Spend free time relaxing as you please at Pirate’s Cove Beach

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring and towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Observe sharks and other marine life from the comfort of a glass-bottom boat while cruising over several coral reefs. The 56-foot-long boat features large viewing windows to offer clear, unobstructed views of the underwater wonders. The first stop will be a barrier reef that is typically teeming with brightly colored tropical fish darting in and out of the coral. The spectacle should be even more spectacular at the next coral reef, a spot with so many marine creatures that it is nicknamed the Fish Farm. After witnessing the ever-changing parade of marine life there, you will soon reach Shark Junction, an area that dozens of nurse sharks usually frequent, some of them up to 8 feet long. Chances are, they will congregate around the boat because they have been hand-fed for years. As you will see while watching an expert shark feeder, nurse sharks use suction to quickly vacuum up their food.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy unobstructed views of marine life when cruising in a glass-bottom boat.
• Expect to see schools of tropical fish, sea turtles, stingrays, sharks and plenty more.
• Watch a shark expert hand-feed the nurse sharks that congregate around the boat.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Guests who are fully dependent on their mobility device are eligible for this excursion and are required to bring their own wheelchair/scooter.

Browse a museum and a market for a look at Freeport past and present before relaxing on one of the most beautiful beaches on Grand Bahama. The open-air Farmers Market will present a genuine slice of daily life as the locals go about their business, shopping for fresh produce in particular. History is the focus of the Maritime Museum, where you will be free to peruse exhibits on topics as wide-ranging as the early Lucayan free-divers, the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and the treasures that the Spanish fleet once carried from the Bahamas. Artifacts recovered from the shipwrecked galleon Maravillas, which sunk in the Bahamas Channel in 1656, are especially revealing. Free time on Pirate’s Cove Beach will follow, during which you can relax however you please. Options include doing nothing more ambitious that basking in the sun and unwinding with a cool tropical drink in hand.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Wander about the bustling Farmers Market for a genuine look at daily life.
• Browse the Maritime Museum, whose exhibits include treasures from shipwrecks.
• Spend free time relaxing as you please at Pirate’s Cove Beach

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring and towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy a once in a lifetime kiss and hug from one of our Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. This is an interactive program that is fun and educational, ideal for non-swimmers and families with young kids.

Upon arrival at Sanctuary Bay, one of the most natural and largest protected dolphin facilities in the world, you will begin your dolphin encounter. Learn about these amazing creatures as our professional dolphin trainers conduct an educational orientation. Interact with these friendly dolphins while they splash and jump around you, and then step on to a 3 foot deep submerged platform where you will touch, kiss and hug a dolphin.

Before you depart, don’t forget to say hello to the many tortoise’s that live on the property and have your photo with one of the colorful parrots. Our photographers will be on hand to capture your time with the dolphins and photos are available through our website after your program.

Upon arrival, you’ll have the option of a guided tour or to explore on your own. Interpretive signs highlight this lush tropical landscape with trees and flowers from around the world. You’ll find a replica of the original chapel from the early logging days, tranquil lagoons with cascading waterfalls and an open-air cafe deck.

Local artisans display their arts and crafts. Walk down into the cool fern grove and marvel at the magnificent limestone boulders that tower to both sides of your trail! You may also want to relax out on deck where Bahamian drinks and food can be purchased. After your visit to the gardens you’ll be transported to Port Lucaya Marketplace for shopping.

Enjoy a once in a lifetime chance to swim, kiss and hug an Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin. This is an interactive program that is fun and educational, suitable for people 55” or taller.

Upon arrival at Sanctuary Bay, one of the most natural and largest protected dolphin facilities in the world, you will begin your dolphin swim. Learn about these amazing creatures our professional dolphin trainers conduct an educational orientation. Guests will enter the water 6 at a time, free form swim with the dolphins, dive under the surface or swim side by side. Our trainers will instruct you on proper use of hand signals for some extra fun with the dolphins. Finally, have your moment to kiss and hug the dolphins while our professional photographers capture the memory forever. This program is conducted in approximately 12 ft of water, you will be provided with a life vest(optional) and swim fins.

Before you depart, don’t forget to say hello to the many tortoise’s that live on the property and have your photo with one of the colorful parrots. Our photographers will be on hand to capture your time with the dolphins and photos are available through our website after your program. Please note: pregnant women are not permitted to participate on this tour.

Enjoy a spectacular day at the beachfront Pirate’s Cove doing most anything you please. With no schedule to follow, you can genuinely relax in style at your own pace. Feel free to stretch out on a beach chair and bask in the sun or simply while away the hours under a beach umbrella. Of course, there is plenty to do if you’re looking for activities. You might take a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear seas, stroll along the lengthy shoreline and admire the classic Caribbean views while wading in the shallows. If you really want to get the adrenaline pumping, and join a rousing game of beach volleyball. When you get hungry, head for Blackbeard’s Tree Bar, and enjoy a buffet lunch with unlimited Bahamian-brewed beers and spirits. With so many options, it’s no wonder this Pirate's Cove is so popular.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Relax however you please at Pirate’s Cove.
• Bask in the sun, stretch out in a bear chair, and take a refreshing swim in the sea.
• Join a friendly game of beach volleyball.
• Enjoy a buffet lunch and unlimited beer at Blackbeard’s Tree Bar.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, hat, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Swim in the crystal-clear waters off Grand Bahama with a passel of cute, friendly pigs and then spend time shopping at Port Lucaya marketplace. After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a scenic drive along the western tip of Grand Bahama Island. Along the way to Deadman’s Reef at Crystal Beach, you will hear about the wild pigs that inhabit this part of the island. It’s not known exactly why or when pigs were introduced to Grand Bahama, but it will become obvious that their descendants have thrived. Once you wade into the shallow waters, you can expect the pigs to follow, knowing that food awaits. The guide will show you how to feed the pigs and the best ways to interact with them while swimming. The pigs couldn’t be friendlier, cuter or more enthusiastic about the attention. Following this unusual experience, you will enjoy free time in Port Lucaya Marketplace, open-air shopping and dining venue in the Bahamas. The marketplace has duty-free shops, two straw markets, two craft centers and a variety of restaurants. You might shop for exquisite jewelry-fashions. There are art galleries well worth browsing for local paintings and watercolors.

Satisfy your adventurous side and completely relax by making the most of the amenities at Pirate’s Cove Zipline and Water Park at Taino Beach. Thrill-seekers will love the exhilaration of racing downhill on the ziplines, which span eight wooden towers of varying heights. From these elevated perches, the bird’s-eye views of the turquoise sea, idyllic beach and coconut palm-dotted landscape are extraordinary. You will also have plenty of time to enjoy the other generous offerings. You might bask in sun in the comfort of a beach chair, read a favorite book in the shade of a beach umbrella and take a dip in the sea whenever the mood strikes. The beach is wide and lengthy, the perfect invitation to just stroll along the shore and wade out into the shallows, if you please.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Race downhill on a zipline course that offers fabulous views of the Caribbean and beyond.
• Relax however you please at Pirate’s Cove Zipline and Water Park at Taino Beach.
• Bask in the sun, stretch out in a bear chair and take a refreshing swim in the sea.
• Join a friendly game of beach volleyball and try the challenging obstacle course.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, hat, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.