Nassau - Blue Water Catamaran Snorkeling and Beach Tour

While visiting Nassau for the day on the Carnival Fantasy cruise ship, we chose the "Blue Water Catamaran Snorkeling & Beach" half-day tour. Our large group walked ashore from the ship and boarded the Sweetie Pie catamaran. I was glad to see the large sheet of canvas covering the boat deck, so we could sit in the shade.

The boat was quite full, but the crew did a good job of distributing the snorkeling gear during the 45-minute ride to the reef near Rose Island. They never raised the sails, and we motored by Paradise Island and got a great look at the huge Atlantis Resort complex.

Arriving at the Rose Island reef, the group had about an hour of good snorkeling before returning to the boat for the short ride to the island. While on the island, we had plenty of time for a swim or beachcombing on the pristine beach. The water was refreshing and as clear as any pool.

The time went by too quickly, and we re-boarded the Sweetie Pie for the return trip to the Carnival Fantasy. It was a perfect way to spend a Bahamas morning in Nassau.

Check out the Carnival Fantasy Cruise Ship Travel Log - Charleston to the Bahamas.

Our catamaran ride on the Sweetie Pie was quite exhilarating, and the azure seas were spectacular.

The water temperature in the Bahamas in the winter is a little chilly, but we all warmed up quickly and really enjoyed the snorkeling and swimming experience. The crew of the Sweetie Pie catamaran provided all the snorkeling gear and quick lessons for those who had not snorkeled before.

No one looks beautiful with snorkeling gear on, but who cares? The shallow, clear water is a perfect place for beginner snorkelers, but also fun for those of us who have tried it many times.

The fish and underwater plants at Rose Island were colorful and fun to watch. Snorkeling gives participants the opportunity to see marine life in their own habitat since you are watching everything around you and trying to be unobtrusive.

Seeing colorful coral moving with the sea currents is a marvelous experience to have when snorkeling in the Bahamas from a cruise ship.

These fish look like they are in an aquarium rather than in the Atlantic Ocean near Nassau, don't they? It's a little terrifying to see so many fish surrounding you, but they make way for giant humans.

Rose Island is a picturesque island in the Bahamas. It has a sparkling white beach and very clear water, perfect for snorkeling and swimming.

The catamaran was packed with tourists, but we all spread out once we were in the water.

Even though we had dozens of people on the catamaran tour, it was easy to find a quiet place in the water to just relax and float in the sparkling clear water.

After snorkeling and swimming, many on the Sweetie Pie rested on the net on the way back to Nassau. We were all tired after a fun, relaxing day on the beach.