The Berry Islands are an underrated choice for a family charter in the Bahamas. They sit north of Nassau in waters that are shallower, calmer and less trafficked than the Exumas, giving families with younger children a gentler alternative to the more popular charter circuits. The snorkelling in the Berry Islands is excellent, the beaches are uncrowded and the fish are unafraid of snorkellers, making every stop in the water genuinely rewarding for children who are new to the reef.
The Bahamas family charter fleet covers more than 65 vessels suited to groups travelling with children, from 20-metre catamarans to 60-metre motor yachts with dedicated kids areas and water toy packages. Family charter yachts in the Bahamas are equipped for the water as standard: jet skis, paddleboards, snorkelling gear and towed toys come with most boats. The crew on family-rated yachts are chosen for their experience with children, their patience at mealtimes and their ability to match the pace of activity to the youngest guest on board.
Weekly family charter rates in the Bahamas range from around 50,000 euros for a well-equipped mid-size motor yacht to 500,000 euros for a large superyacht. The advance provisioning allowance of approximately 30 percent covers food, beverages, water toy fuel and port fees. The Berry Islands add no premium to charter costs: they are within easy range of Nassau, and the marina fees at Great Harbour Cay are modest. September through November offers warm water and competitive rates.
For a family charter week in the Berry Islands, the itinerary writes itself around calm shallow water and easy snorkelling. Great Harbour Cay has a safe beach for young swimmers and a marina where the crew can reprovisioned mid-week. Frozen Cay and Bird Cay, two uninhabited cays south of the main island, have patch reefs shallow enough for children to snorkel without fins. Chub Cay at the south end offers the deeper reef for teenagers and the wall dive for the adults while the younger guests play in the shallows from the tender.
