Blue hole, drift snorkeling, turtles Celebration Key is welcome

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.