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Blackbeard's Cruises (All Star Liveaboards)

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Destination: Bahamas

Itineraries: bahamas (6 nights) | from $166++/night.

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Blackbeard's Cruises Quick Pitch

Blackbeard's Cruises offers great value dive liveaboard for through two sailboats: The Morning Star and Sea Explorer, each one accommodating up to 22 divers in fully air-conditioned cabins. The perfect solution to fulfill your passion for diving in the Bahamas without breaking the bank!

Why You'll LIke Blackbeard's Cruises

  • Only $995 per week for up to 19 dives: great overall value for money!
  • All meals, snacks, and beverages (including beer, wine, and rum punch!)
  • Fully air-conditioned dormitory style cabins
  • Over 35 years of experience diving in the Bahamas   

Accommodations - Facilities - NEW!   Schedule, Rates & Availability   - Dive Info & Itineraries

Other Information - Booking & Inquiry - Underwater Gallery

Need more options? Find another Bahamas liveaboard (with live availability and online booking!)

Liveaboard Location

Embarkation and disembarkation are from Nassau. The nearest airport is Nassau International Airport (NAS).

Dive Overview

Blackbeard’s Cruises offers liveaboard scuba diving vacations to the Bahamas Out Islands. Experience the Caribbean’s largest variety of diving including shark dives, walls, high-speed drift dives including the Washing Machine, night dives, blue holes and the beautiful coral reefs of the Exumas Land & Sea Park.

[Read More: Bahamas Dive Travel Guide ]

This Great Video Will Show You What It's Like to Dive with Blackbeard's Cruises!

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Accommodations

Types of cabins, amenities and photos, blackbeard's cruises accommodation overview.

The three dormitory style cabins with shared baths and shower accommodate 6-8 guests in each. Bunk beds have privacy curtains and personal space to store your belongings.

Blackbeard's Cruises

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What to Expect

Sleeping Cabins 1-4 upper and lower bunks are single bunks with curtains for privacy. There is more privacy here but less space. 5 and 6 upper and lower bunks are double bunks meant for two people to share. This is typically where couples are housed. 7, 8 and 9 upper and lower bunks are in the main salon. These bunks are double wide but usually only sleep single passengers. There is less privacy here but more room. Think camping on the high seas only better!

Blackbeard's Cruises

Blackbeard's Cruises Cabin Details

  • BERTHS #1-2 are upper and lower berths. Ideal for single travelers. Accommodates 4 singles.
  • BERTHS #3 -4 are upper and lower berths. Ideal for single travelers. Accommodates 4 singles.
  • BERTH #5 is an upper and lower double berth that accommodates 2 couples. These berths offer the most privacy for couples.
  • BERTH # 6 is an upper and lower double berth that accommodates 2 couples. These berths offer the most privacy for couples.
  • BERTH # 7-9 are 6 double berths in the main salon and galley area. These berths provide accommodations for couples or singles. These are the least private accommodations, however, berths are the most spacious for single passengers.  

General Facilities

Blackbeard's Cruises

Blackbeard's Cruises Boat Features

  • Fishing gear
  • Free freshly cooked meals 3x daily and free beverages
  • Dorm-style bunks with AC below deck
  • Showers 
  • Kitchen (galley)
  • Dive equipment rental available
  • Diving courses available (from Beginner to Advanced & Specialty Courses)
  • Dedicated rinse tank for cameras & 1 tender

Schedule & Rates

Blackbeard's cruises liveaboard rates & schedule.

Morning Star   - Sea Explorer

Inclusions & Exclusions

Morning Star's Schedule, Rates & Availabilty

Prices are in USD, per person. Prices are in USD, per person.

Sea Explorer's SCHEDULE, RATES & AVAILABILTY

Prices are in USD, per person. Additional port fee of USD 135.

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  • Bunk accommodations
  • Up to 19 dives including night dives
  • All meals and snacks served picnic-style
  • Beverages including juices, soda, beer, wine and rum punch
  • Tank, weights and weight belts 
  • Fees and taxes 
  • Rental gear
  • Scuba instruction
  • Crew gratuity
  • Transfers to and from airport
  • Dive and snorkel gear (available for rent)
  • Spending money on port night (Thursday)
  • Pre or post hotel stays
  • Airfare to Nassau

Dive Information & Itineraries

Typical blackbeard's cruises schedule & itinerary.

Blackbeard's 7-day dive trips shove off at 3 pm each Saturday. All passengers disembark by 9 am on the following Friday.  Please keep in mind that there is no set itinerary. The leader will take you to go where conditions and weather are the best to offer you an adventure of a lifetime!

Bilikiki Liveaboard Solomon Islands

You’ll be diving up and down the Exuma Sound, an abyss that drops over 4,000 feet to the ocean floor! The Exuma Cays are known for their wonderful reef dives due to the protection they receive from the Land and Sea Park sanctions. You might dive Eleuthera but that is also weather dependent. Our specific itinerary varies with the winds to obtain maximum visibility for diving. The depths normally range from 20′ to 120′. There are swift drifts between the cays as well as a blue hole that divers will love.

What to Expect During the Dives

Experience a variety of scuba diving like no other place in the Caribbean. The variety of dive sites in the Exuma Cays is truly unique and offer opportunities not available elsewhere and they can only be reached on a liveaboard. Each week we offer a great variety of diving including thrilling shark feeding dives, walls that begin as shallow as 40′ and slope over the edge where large pelagics are frequently seen, exhilarating high speed drift dives through the cuts of the cays, blue holes which are banked by patch reefs with huge schools of fish as well as other wonderful sites.

Shark Diving with Blackbeard's Cruises

The trips to the Exumas, Exuma Cays and Eleuthera’s Split Coral Head allow Blackbeard’s divers the chance to check off items found on their must-do list – to swim and observe sharks. The most common type of shark encountered on these dives are the Caribbean reef shark and the nurse shark which usually rests on the sandy bottoms. Underwater photographers can capture many close up images.

If  Blackbeard’s divers are lucky, the shark gods bestow appearances by hammerheads, lemon sharks, tiger sharks, bull sharks, whale sharks and the black nose shark.

A highlight of the trip is a passive feed, where divers can observe sharks and their behaviors. Afterward, a popular activity is the search for the ultimate souvenir – a shark’s tooth.

Check Out This Awesome Night Dive Video!

Other Information

Boat specifications.

  • Year Built: 1979
  • Year Renovated: 2018
  • Sailing Rig: Sloop
  • Length: 65 feet
  • Beam: 19 feet
  • Draft: 6 feet
  • Cruising speed: 7 knots
  • Engines: 137 HP Ford Leyman
  • Generator: Isuzu 35KW
  • Air Compressors: Yes
  • Water Capacity: 635 gallons
  • Water Maker Capacity: 10 gallons/hour
  • Fuel Capacity: 510 gallons
  • Tenders: 1-12 ft inflatable
  • Sail area: 1,700 sqft
  • Dive Compressor: 17 cu ft/min
  • Maximum guests: 22

Got Questions? Ready to Book?

Call us today at  +1-310-915-6677 or email us [email protected]

And let us book your dream vacation!

Underwater Gallery 

Blackbeard's Cruises Dive

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Reviews (4)

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The Bahamas is a great location for a liveaboard and Allstar made it a great experience with awesome dive sites and delicious food! The boat was the perfect size for a small group, the rental equipment was in great shape and the dive guides were very knowledgeable and fun. Overall, a fantastic experience!

I had an incredible time. I would absolutely do it again- I wish so much that Blackbeard's offered cruises all over the world- i much rather do this type of diving, where your sleeping accomodations are like that in an RV (bunk beds like book shelves wherever they can fit) so you can get the best $$ for your diving. The meals were delicious- 3 full meals + morning and afternoon snacks. The diving was stunning, reef sharks spotted every dive, several turtles spotted during one week, water as clear as an aquarium, I 100% highly recommend

Loved my time aboard Blackbeard's Liveaboard the Morning Star with Captain Red and the crew. The diving was amazing as we explored the various sites around the Exuma Cays. We saw plenty of sharks during the shark-feed dive where a ball of chum was fastened on a wreck for the sharks to feast on. We must have seen 30 Reef Sharks on that dive. Beyond sharks we saw plenty of Bat Fish, Parrot Fish, Eagle Rays, Sting Rays, Loggerhead Turtles and Groupers. My favorite dive site was Tres Wrecks, where three large vessels were scuttled in a U like formation, creating a massive, interesting artificial reef with plenty of sea life. Overall, the food was pretty simple but fairly tasty; Fresh fruit, burgers, chicken and fish. Free beer and rum were provided after the diving was done. This liveaboard is likely best suited to younger adults as the tight quarters were a little uncomfortable for the older members of our group, who seemed to enjoy the trip less than I did.

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

I really enjoyed my Blackbeard's trip, especially considering the price--under $1000.00 for a week of liveaboard diving. Blackbeard's is especially good for those on a limited budget, and for those who want to see sharks and go on a great shark dive. The crew of Blackbeards were great--there are way fewer crew members to passengers on a trip in this price range, so it is better if you are more independent with your equipment and with diving, but they were fun and worked hard to make sure all the guests had a good time. Also, you were allowed to dive your own profile. The food was simple but good and plentiful, and was augmented by freshly caught fish on a couple of occasions (they allow fishing off the back of the boat, when motoring to new dive sites). Alcohol is included in the price, and there was a nice beach barbecue on one of the evenings. The accommodations are tight, as one would expect on a trip in this price range. You have a small bunk area and share the bathroom with 10 of your new, closest friends. I didn't mind this at all, as I was there to get in some good, affordable diving and hoping to get some good images of sharks. My only concern would be for photographers with equipment, as they are not really set up for large camera rigs. On my trip, there was one bunk that was not filled, and the crew let me keep my camera gear on that bunk, which was very helpful. There are typically 4 dives offered per day. When I was there, nitrox was not available, so 4 dives is probably a good limit. Also, the compressors take quite a bit of time to fill all the tanks. The walls in the Bahamas tend to start deep, at around 70-80 feet, so we would alternate one deep dive, then a shallow dive of perhaps 30-40 feet. There was quite a bit of variety in the diving, and they have a nice, smaller version of the Blue Hole that was a lot of fun. They did have a large number of invasive Lionfish, so there was not as many of the typical Caribbean reef fish as you might see in Cozumel, for example. The best part of the trip was the shark dive. They freeze a large bucket of fish parts into a big "chumsicle" and drill a hole through it and string it on a cable. I think this is a much better and safer approach than hand-feeding, and the sharks circle around and lunge at the frozen bait, making for some great action and photo opportunities. I was even able to get a couple of images of blood on their teeth. Overall, I would say that this is one of the best values in diving for the money. If you want to see sharks, and get a good variety of diving, and don't mind roughing it a bit, this is definitely the place to be. If you want to be pampered, or if you are a photographer with a lot of equipment, then you might want to consider the Aquacat that dives the same area, but has much more room and individual state rooms, bub costs over twice as much.

Caribbean Reef Shark with blood on his teeth

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blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Exploring the depths with Blackbeard’s Cruises Dive liveaboards: A Comprehensive Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The diving conditions are incredible, the health of the reefs, and the amount of marine life I saw was absolutely mind-boggling. And the ease of diving is bar none. You put your tank and BCD on and flop in easier than 1-2-3. What was the accommodation like? Like camping on the high seas, that sounds like it might be fun. Trust me, the diving will be worth it, my friend said.

What was he talking about? Blackbeard’s Cruises liveaboard Dive liveaboard 

In 2022, a good dive buddy invited me on a live-aboard dive trip. I was apprehensive at first. I had never done a live abroad dive trip before, and a lot of the pictures I had seen of the boat and the accommodations and the no-frill tone of the Blackbeard’s Liveaboard website had me thinking about whether this is the best way for me to be spending my vacation time off work. Liveaboard is a large part of dive travel and often offers dive opportunities that one could never encounter with shore diving or charter diving. Liveaboard experiences are unique in that you will be brought to an area of the ocean that may have rarely, if ever, been visited by other divers, giving you views and experiences that couldn’t be had any other way.

In this review of my stay with black beard Cruise, I’ll share my experience with you and whether camping on the high seas is something you should consider.

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

BlackBeard Cruises is well-established in the business.

Blackbeard Cruises was established 40 years ago and operates a whole fleet of boats that sail worldwide. The home port where they port four vessels is Nassau, Bahamas. Two are liveaboard sailboats, The Morning Star and The Explorer. We were told that boats are identical, and my dive buddy has been on both of them, and they are mostly the same for all intents and purposes. The Morning Star and the Explorer regularly sail around the Exumas and the Exumas Cays. In particular, we spent much of our week around the Eleuthera Islands.

The Dive Experience

“So what do you think of the diving? I know you were recently in Roatan, and you rave about the Cozumel Reef?” My dive buddy asked after our third dive. He was a little nervous that maybe I was upset that the diving wasn’t up to my expectations. My reply: “Man, the accommodation initially got me slightly thrown off. It seemed like it might be a rough week, but after these three dives alone, I GET IT! Some of the most beautiful reefs I have ever seen in terms of health and abundance of life; this might be some of the best reef diving I have ever done.”

Blackbeard Curses is established to cater to diving full stop, from having a very organized dive brief with constant communication with how the diving will take place, who will be in the water first, and when to gear up to not miss out on any fun. Taking every measure to make sure everyone gets the best dive experience possible.

Once you arrive on the boat, you will be shown how to organize your gear on the board. Where to find your weights before the first check-out dive and what to expect before and after every dive. The captain will start the initial safety briefing, explaining how life on the boat will be for the next week. Right off the bat, this sets the tone for the trip, as the whole cruise will be focused on catering to you and your dive experience.

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Due to the size of the boat, there is no equipment rinse tank, and there is limited fresh water. This worried me a little. I am a freshwater diver regularly; leaving salt water to dry on my gear for a week bothered me. Rest assured that anyone who wants to rinse their gear can do so once a day after their night dive. When you get on board, ask the crew to hose you down with the deck fresh water hose. It’s just a quick rinse. It helped my mind settle as to what salt might be doing to my equipment. After a week of my gear sitting in the sun and only gently rinsing after the last dive of the day, I saw no change or anything to worry about regarding saltwater corrosion.

Our first dive of the trip was a checkout dive, and the crew picked an incredible introductory spot on a wrecked drug trafficking plan in about 29 feet of warm crystal, clear water. Having a shallow, clear area to do your check-out dive with plenty of time to get your lead weight figured out was nice. Often, checkout dives are rushed and quite chaotic. Once we finished our check-out dive, within a couple of hours of leaving port, we were instructed that due to weather, we had a 9-hour crossing to Eluthria Island areas as that’s where we might spend most of our time due to wind and weather. 

After that initial check-out dive, there were four dives a day every day for anyone who wanted to take them. The crew strives to get the guest at least 19 dives in a week unless something out of their control prevents that. Usually, the night dive takes place at the same spot as the last dive of the day and is also where the boat remains anchored for the night.

All the dives were great; you can’t ask someone who loves diving to differentiate. In most of the dives, I didn’t see a lionfish (an invasive species that kills many animals on a reef). There were countless dives of beautiful fan coral for the whole dive, some incredible swim through full of grouper and all sorts of moray eels. Several wreck dives at all depths. Usually, the day’s first dive would be a dive where you could go deeper than 100 ft. Every dive after that will typically be 60 ft and shallower as the day progresses.

All dives start with a comprehensive dive brief from the dive master/instructor on board; the dive brief will generally include any species of animals living in the area or any exciting features you don’t want to miss out on. There were normally pretty detailed diagrams drawn to help you navigate. 

All dives are self-guided if you choose. On our trip, the dive instructor was busy training some of the people on board, so if you wanted a guided dive, you had to wait through the training portions of the students’ dive and then continue with the non-course-related diving. Other than that, you would guide yourself through most of the dive. 

This may seem scary unless you understand how they organize the dives at Blackbeard. Most dive sites have been specifically selected for a safe dive experience. The dive boat is typically well within view of wherever you are diving. When you descend the line on most dives, you will make it to the ocean floor and swim along small reef mounds, and you and your buddy will feel like you’re alone exploring the reef. But if you float 10-15 feet to the top of the coral mound, you will see other divers from your group on the other side of the mound, and the boat will be within eyesight. Then, you just float back down and continue with your dive. It’s the closest I have ever come to hiking in the water.

At the start of the week part of the dive brief, we are told about the shark dive midweek, typically landing on a Wednesday or Thursday, depending on when your trip started. I didn’t give this too much thought as I love sharks and I love shark dive, but I have been on dozens now, and I know the typical routine your are taken to a familiar site; everyone kneels on the bottom, and a dive master presents a bait ball, and we enjoy the feeding frenzy on the bottom. This was very much the experience on this trip’s shark dive, too. What I particularly wasn’t expecting was that on this trip, there was no need for a shark dive or a bait ball to attract sharks, as this trip was a shark lover’s dream as every one of the 19 dives in 5 days there, at least a couple of sharks visited us. Now that I have read The Biology of Sharks by Peter Klimley and Steven Oerding 2013, I better understand why. But at the time, I was utterly in love and blown away.

Animal facts : In that book, it explained there had been research done that may give us reason to believe that several of the reef shark species have a resident reef where they usually live. They will patrol a territory, or when they catch a scent, they will seek it out, but once they find the food item, they usually return to their home reef. This led me to understand that most of these sharks must live on the reef we are visiting and not just randomly roam the ocean looking for food. 

A quick experience : on our second dive, after seeing a couple of Caribbean reef sharks, I was excited about how incredible the diving had been so far. To my pure joy, as I splashed in and signalled back to the boat that I had a safe entry, I couldn’t help but just put my face in the water to look at the bottom, approximately 60 ft and to my exhilaration, do I not see a group of nurse sharks and more Caribbean reef shark waiting for us at the bottom. This sight would normally bring terror to a non-diver, but I am sure I am speaking to the converted if you read this article that it was a real, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

On board accommodations

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The boat will accommodate 19 divers and five crew. The accommodations are slightly cramped as you are on a sailboat. There are a variety of bunk options. Several bunks surround the gally (Kitchen on a boat). These bunks are double-wide and are in a public area, as that is also where the kitchen, shower and dining tables are. Each bunk has a privacy curtain that works nicely to block out any light but doesn’t block sound. Suppose you are a light sleeper or don’t like to socialize till late. Try to avoid these bunks, which may help you have a more enjoyable trip. Then there are four double bunks sharing a bathroom mid-ship, then in the front of the boat, there are six more bunks sharing their own bathroom at the front of the ship below deck. 

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

If you have the option, select these bunks if you’re not travelling with your partner where you are sharing a bed. These bunks have the most privacy as the curtain will make it like you have your own personal room. These were the only bunks on the boat that provided these options.

If you like me, diving will work up a serious appetite, and given how many people are on the boat and when you see the size of the kitchen, I am sure you will be blown away by how much food they pump out of such a small space.  If you have any special food requests or accommodations, make sure you make them known well before the boat leaves port. The crew will do everything in their power to accommodate their guest, but once they leave port, it puts a real damper on your trip if you need them to sail back just to pick up your box of goldfish crackers. 

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The boat crew sets the menu and will brief you on what to expect each night. We had steak night on Wednesday when we were there, which was a real hit. There will be plenty of food on your cruise, but there are some rules to eat on Black Beards that everyone will appreciate if you follow. Before, you have a second helping of food, and there is always food for seconds. Make sure you are clear with the captain that all the crew have eaten. We are the guests on the boat, so the crew will always eat last, and if everyone takes more than they can eat, and several people go in for seconds, they may still not finish. There might be no food left for the crew. Given the size of the boat for storing provisions and how busy the crew is, the chef won’t start marking more food once the meal is served, so the crew will go with very little food and have to resort to eating snacks until the next meal. When you see how hard the whole crew works and how much they strive for you to have a good time. This is a minor consideration on behalf of the guest. 

On our trip, we had a few inconsiderate individuals, and this did happen one night; three individuals took more than they could eat, and we noticed that two of the crew didn’t eat any dinner and were snacking on some fruit. As a group, we approached this individual, pointed out the results of their actions, and reminded them of what was explained when we got on the boat. Those individuals were apologetic and made it up to the crew on tips at the end of the trip. I just mention this because the crew did not complain when this happened. They didn’t point it out in any way. We noticed it and asked the captain to ensure what we saw was happening, that some of the crew went without dinner.

As this is a dive trip, alcohol consumption is always welcome, but it is something we need to watch to stay hydrated, as dehydration is the number one cause of the bends. Blackbeard’s Provided domestic alcohol on board, beer on tap and as much rum punch as you want. The captain normally opens the bar after the last night’s dive. There were some nights when only some were doing the night dive, and the captain would tap the keg early for those individuals. The crew made it clear they had zero tolerance for drunken diving. 

Showering and bathroom 

On a boat, a bathroom is called a head. On our ship, the Explorer, there were three bathrooms; the largest one was at the back of the ship in the common area with the kitchen and the bunks surrounding the dining table.

The toilets are similar to plane toilets; they don’t use a lot of water as fresh water on the boats is mainly for drinking and bathing sort of, I’ll get back to that in a minute. With the bathroom, be mindful not to throw much, if any, paper down the toilet. There are receptacles in the bathroom for the paper. Toilets will clog regularly on the boats because we land lovers don’t know how to use the bathroom properly. The crew was very accommodating no clog got out of hand, and it was handled discreetly. The toilets regularly needed a lot of maintenance by the crew, but it never harmed our trip. 

When it comes to showering on the boat, the truth is that most people didn’t shower often, and I know this may sound gross, but it wasn’t that big of a deal. You are diving all day in the water in a wetsuit. At the end of the day of diving, you hang any wet clothing on the side of the boat to dry and put on some shorts and a T-shirt. 

The main reason for this is that fresh water is precious on the boat, and the freshwater for showering isn’t drinking water it’s water condensation collected from an evaporator, not the de-salination, which is only for drinking water. The evaporator won’t condense enough water for everyone to even take a 10-minute shower of just fresh water ; there wouldn’t be enough for everyone to shower. So, keeping that in mind, you can take a freshwater shower, but there is a bit of a sequence to do it right. 

There are two taps in the shower: a warm salt water shower and then a cold water shower. 

This is how it works

  • first, enter the shower and wet yourself with the salt water; enjoy the warm water it’s salty; you have as much as you want.
  • Now that you are wet lather up and shampoo yourself
  • Finally, you will have 3 min of fresh water to rinse off

I know that 3 minutes doesn’t sound like a lot, but it was more than enough for me, and I know there were a couple of women with long hair who just chose not to wash their hair as it wouldn’t be enough time. I know when the captain heard it wasn’t enough time for the people with long hair, He made it clear he would make minor exceptions to the rule, but I don’t think anyone took him up on it.

Pro-tip –

The single shower will get very busy after the night dive, as people are going to want to clean up at the end of the day. Skipping out on a night dive a few times gave me the boat mostly to myself, so nobody was waiting for me to shower. Another good time is first thing in the morning, as everyone is focused on eating or getting ready for the first dive.

Common areas 

The Morning Star is a boat catered to diving, so there isn’t too much space on the board for lounging. Below the deck, there are the common areas in the back of this ship where the dining table is. This area will often be busy post-dive, with people charging cameras and batteries and using laptops to view videos post-dives. Basically, all the common areas where you will be spending all your time when not diving or sleeping will be on the boat’s deck. There is a large awning to protect from the sun and fibreglass benches all around the ship for lounging. At the front of the boat, the life raft makes a great, comfortable place to sunbathe and take naps between dives. 

The front life raft is a sought-after place to be, so get there early and don’t give it up. Use your buddy all week so you can play tag team to keep that spot .

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Because you spend most of your time on the deck of the boat, bring a proper sun protection hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The fibreglass seat isn’t too bad. I never brought a cushion, and I was fine, but several others packed a mall foam or inflatable cushion to sit on, and the crew can sell you a Blackbeard crushes cushion any time if you feel you would like one.

When it comes to packing, follow the packing instructions on the website. They really cover everything you need, as there will not be any space for extras. I was apprehensive when I saw this list at first, but after talking to several divers who had already done this trip several times, they swor by the list, and I can say they were spot on. I had everything I needed and understood that there was no room for extra. Just in case there is a cool night, wear a windbreaker jacket or a light-packing jacket. It won’t take up too much space, and you will have it if you need it.

The only personal space for your belongings is your sleep bunk and a very small shelf at the foot of your bunk. Pack all your clothes in packing cubes . It helps to keep your bunk originated and maximizes the space you have.

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Crew and staff 

Our boat had a crew of five: a Captin, a First Mate, an Engineer, a Cook, a Deckhand and a dive instructor/deckhand. All the crew had a great positive attitude, always happy to help.

Captain – our captain was great. He had worked for the company for over a decade and had captained every vessel the company had in its fleet. The boat we were on wasn’t his official boat, but he was training and testing his Second Mate to get his Coast Guard requirements to Captain the Explorer once he was ready. The Captin was always very accommodating, full of stories of crazy dive experiences and other experiences with guests. He swore not to say anything bad about guests, but after the three days, we wore the Captin down; he told us one story where a guest got drunk and physically violent, and they had to find a small island to strand the guest to keep everyone else safe till the coast guard came. Whether that was true or not, it was a fair warning not to get out of line on the boat. He also couldn’t tell us whether there was a weapon on board or not in case it happened again. (The Coast Guard doesn’t allow commercial vessels to have any weapons on board I am sure he was keeping us in suspense.)

First mate – The first mate was in charge of the boat any time the Captin was on relief or occupied below deck with equipment or planning navigations. 

Engineer- The engineer will quickly become the most valuable person on the boat when you experience regular toilet issues. The engineer is the one who corrects that, so in my opinion, the person doesn’t make enough money. We also had a breakdown of our freshwater desalination unit while out sailing. He took the whole unit apart and replaced the broken components lucky they had it on board, and we had fresh water running before we knew anything was wrong.

Deckhand – hour deck hand was great and worked hard. It was her first week on the boat, so she was working hard to earn the crew’s respect. The deckhand supports every one of the crew members, and she helps cook and prep meals. Deckhand will be right next to the engineer during repairs, and ran around the boat like a wild person when we came to each dive site to moore the boat smoothly so none of the guests ever really felt the rocking of the boat one moored. 

Dive instructor -was a great dive instructor I didn’t take any courses with him on this trip, but his sheer enthusiasm for diving and the wildlife exemplified what a dive instructor should be. He was also a model in the water with exemplary trim and buoyancy and had a clean kit set up. He would be the first to show everyone anything interesting happening in the water, whether you were his student or not.

One note that I did not expect was the effort the crew made the whole trip to limit the rocking and swinging of the boat as much as possible to prevent guests from getting seasick. The crew is constantly considering wind and wave direction, hoisting gib sales to tighten up the boat when we would moor at a dive site or overnight they would use triple rigging to the boat was tied at the front and back so that the boat would face into the wind. It was during these times you could see how hard the deckhand and the whole crew worked together so that we could have the most enjoyable experience. It was impressive and appreciated.

Booking and logistics 

This trip was fully booked through my local dive shop, Dan’s Dive Shop , and their resident travel agent, Fawn Messer . Fawn does an outstanding job, especially with adventure and dive vacations. Feel free to reach out to her for any Travel-related questions or to book a trip. Our trip was hosted by TikTok Dive celebrity Chris Foisey with Modern Diver Channel . Once we flew to Nassau from Toronto, we had an overnight stay at the Nassau Hotel, which is also Black Beard Cruise’s home port. The accommodations were basic for the single-night stay, this also gave us a day to explore the island and catch any attractions. A few others and I visited the pirate museum. Several people in our group took a taxi to the Atlantis Hotel to see the aquarium. Make use of your time when you arrive, as once you are on the boat, they usually don’t come back to port.

Excursions 

BlackBeard Cursise offers a few non-dive excursions there are several beaches and Pig Island that they can bring you to if your group would like a break from all the diving. Our group is very dive-focused, so we didn’t want to do any excursions that would distract from the diving. This is normally coordinated in the opening orientation with the Captin. He will tell you all the offerings that are available given the wealthier and the planned journey, and if the group decides they want to do all the excursions, some or none. There are no rules; the crew and Captin are there to provide you with the best experience within their power.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, if you are looking for an affordable, unique dive experience that will leave you sad, the week is coming to an end. Then BlackBeard Cursies is the trip for you. Don’t let the camping on the high. Seas intimidate you. The staff and the crew will do their best to show you a good time, and the diving, I promise, will make up for any slight discomfort you may experience on the top side of a sailboat.

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Blackbeards Liveaboard Review (Sea Explorer and Morningstar)

Alex Lowe

Written and Reviewed By

  • Divemaster Alex Lowe
  • Last Updated: September 27, 2023

Blackbeards Liveaboard Review

Today, we will review and share my experience with the Blackbeard Liveaboard Duo – The Sea Explorer and The Morning Star .

While my experience took place on The Sea Explorer, the boats are pretty much identical, with the only differences being the crew that tends to run the operation and some smaller structural changes.

We’d like to thank Kevin and the AllStarliveaboards team for taking us out on the trip, allowing us to share out experience with you all.

Blackbeard's Cruises

What Are Blackbeards Liveaboards?

You’ll find a near-endless supply of delicious freshly cooked meals and drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic).

Most trips will have 19 dives spread across 6 days. You can expect 3-4 dives a day, which is usually a post-breakfast dive , pre-lunch dive , pre-dinner dive , and then a night dive most nights.

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

From what I could tell, bunks 5-9 are the most spacious, whereas 1-4 were the smallest.

On top of that, the top bunks (see the pun), were even less spacious.

They do the best they can to place people according to their size, age, weight, etc, but it’s not going to be incredibly comfortable regardless.

Pictured below was the top bunk I stayed on. To get an idea of ceiling height, I could not sit down on the bed without bending my neck down, and I’m only 5’6″.

Blackbeards Liveaboard Bunks

Overall, the point of the trip is not luxurious cabins, it’s to dive, and they do an incredible job of doing that, I just want to set expectations properly for what the cabins will look like.

The cabins do have AC, but it isn’t the strongest, so you should pack and sleep accordingly.

Crew, and Guests

Onboard, you’ll find around 10-17 like-minded divers and five crew members.

Even though many of the people on my trip came from many different backgrounds, ages, and diving skill levels, everyone got along and made the trip great!

What I found super interesting about the passengers, was that besides a group of three that came together, every single other diver came by themselves (including me) . So if you’re worried about doing this trip alone, don’t be!!

Given that there are two separate crews depending on the boat, I won’t be referencing specific names, as there’s no guarantee you’d get placed with the same one as me

Onboard, there’s a captain , deckhand , engineer , dive instructor , and most importantly a chef !

They have their own quarters but are very friendly and active onboard from pretty much 6 AM – 11 PM.

Blackbeards Crew Selfie

Due to the design of the boats, they are VERY heavy, and travel at 5-6 miles an hour. Departing from Nassau, the 30-mile trip to the Exumas will be around 6 hours.

This rules out diving on the first day.

So now that there are 5 dive days, you can expect 3.8 dives a day, which is usually a post-breakfast dive , pre-lunch dive , pre-dinner dive , and then a night dive most nights.

Sometimes this order will switch depending on weather, locations, and other conditions.

At any point, you can choose to sit one or many out. You could even sit out all 19 dives and drink the entire time if that’s what your heart desires but probably not the best idea.

The dive sites were super interesting, ranging from shipwrecks, smuggler planes, a blue hole, and endless coral heads. There’s even a shark feed that they do where you sit a few feet under a shark feeding frenzy.

Blackbeard’s gives you the option to pursue the following certifications:

  • Openwater Checkouts
  • Night Diver
  • U/W Naturalist

Notably missing from this list is the rescue diver certification.

Unless you’re doing a course or certification, all of the diving is unguided.

You must go with a dive buddy, so make sure to make some friends if traveling alone.

A highlight of the diving was a shark feed dive where you sit a few feet under a shark feeding frenzy.

After the frenzy, you can scan the bottom of the ocean floor for loose shark teeth, as these reef sharks lose teeth upon feeding. Several divers found some!

Now let’s dive into the most important part, the food, and alcohol!

Food and Drink

Every meal is freshly made onboard and contains a variety of different bowls to serve yourself from.

Before the trip, you can even request accommodation for certain special diets like vegetarian, vegan , gluten free, kosher, etc.

Keep in mind that grocery shopping takes place on an expensive island, so they can only accommodate diets within reason.

Below is an example of a meal made on the boat, and how it was served. It was delicious (but to be fair every meal was).

Blackbeards Liveaboard Food Example

  • Sparkling water

Beverage options on blackbeards liveaboard

There’s also pineapple juice, orange juice, coffee, milk, hot chocolate, and more.

My favorite combination was soda water + pineapple juice which I went on to name Pineapple Seltzer.

As far as alcoholic drinks go, there’s unlimited beer, wine, rum punch, and a few other options.

Keep in mind there’s a strict policy on board relating to drinking and diving. After one sip of alcohol you are ruled out of dives for the day, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Pricing And Other Costs

As we stated above, the trip cost $1055 plus gratuity. Considering recommended gratuity is typically around 15%, that makes it $160, taking the total for diving to be $1215.

But as you probably guessed, the expenses do not stop there .

Food and drink is covered (we’ll cover this more below), but you’ll obviously need a flight there, and once you land on the island, a way to get to the harbor. We’re unable to give you a quote on the price to Nassau, given we don’t know where you’re coming from! 

That being said, you can organize a ground transfer through AllStarLiveaboards, for about $18 each way.

The only other expenses we could think of, is if you’re going to buy any Blackbeards merchandise, or if you’re renting any gear from them. 

Concluding Thoughts

The Blackbeard liveaboard experience is for divers of all skill levels who want to dive their brains out for less than $200/night.

If your goal is to be comfortable out at sea then this might not be the liveaboard for you. 

Like to move forward and reserve your spot on a future Blackbeard’s Liveaboard?

Book it here .

Have a question you’d like to ask us?

Feel free to leave a comment below.

Alex Lowe

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Blackbeard Cruises

Blackbeard Cruises

Type: Active , Adventure , Scuba Diving and Snorkeling , Water , Water Sports

Last updated on August 19, 2016

10Best Says

3700 Hacienda Boulevard Suite G Davie, FL, 33314

954.734.7111

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Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

  • 9 Bahama Divers
  • 8 Blackbeard Cay Stingray Adventure
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Blackbeards Morning Star Liveaboard Review

You’ll be telling friends and family about this life-changing experience for a long time to come.

Liveaboards are truly magical but finding the right one can be time-consuming, and more often than not, there’s no best option, but there’s always one that best suits you.

Blackbeard's Morning Star Liveaboard

  • Great for meeting like-minded divers
  • Incredible crew & captain
  • Tasty food & lots of choice
  • Affordable price
  • Back to basics
  • Not a lot of luxury
The camaraderie on Blackbeards Liveaboard is untouched – think camping at sea

Blackbeard’s Morning Star liveaboard is a favourite amongst divers, and that’s because although it provides reality-shifting experiences, it comes at half the price of most other fleets. Thus, the All-Star Liveaboard motto of “twice the fun, half the cost”.

If you’re searching for at least a week’s worth of scuba diving on a budget, then you’ll want to read on – you can also check out my full list of Bahamas liveaboards .

It’s worth noting that the Blackbeard’s Sea Explorer is the identical twin sister of this cruise, and they are interchangeable for bookings.

Table of Contents

Blackbeards Morning Star Overview

The blackboard fleet comprises the Morning Star and Sea Explorer, which are used interchangeably.

They are sailboats, often adding to the fun on windy days. There are 18 dormitory-style cabins on board that can sleep 22 people.

The famous budget cruise has a wealth of experience, hosting millions of amazing diver holidays and offering its service for over 35 years .

The traditional vessel is 65ft/20m and has 1 Ford Lehman engine size . It also comes equipped with all the safety features such as a radar, depth sounder, GPS and first-aid trained staff.

Read on for everything you need to know about your dive vacation.

Whether travelling by land or sea – the Bahamas is a beautiful place with no shortage of dive spots.

Here are some of the diving locations you can expect on the Blackbeards:

  • Bimini Islands

Experienced captain Jim and the other captains are known for their knowledge of the area and they often pick the best dive spots based on the conditions and weather at the time, thus, there’s no set itinerary. Poor weather means that the captain can call off dives.

You can expect to enjoy washing machine dives, blue holes, high-speed drift dives, shark dive spots, drift diving and much more – as the Bahamas liveaboard trips are known for being abundant in diverse scuba experiences.

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Marine Life

The Bahamas Islands are often celebrated because of the range of different species that can be seen on dives.

You can expect to see the following marine life during the Blackbeards Liveaboard:

Hammerhead Sharks

Nurse Sharks

Lemon Sharks

Bull Sharks

Caribbean Reef Sharks

Tiger Sharks

Grouper Sharks

Butterfly Fish

Whale Sharks

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

There are three dormitory style cabins on the Blackbeards Morning Star liveaboard, each room has either a single or double bed with your own privacy curtain. The cabins are compact, with a low ceiling and modest living space but all come with air-conditioning.

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

There are 18 bunks in total – sleeping a total of 24 guests. These berths provide accommodations for single travelers and couples alike.

All cabins come with air conditioning. Cabins 6 & 8 are lower double berth rooms, upper double berths are cabins 5, 7 and 9.

7,8 and 9 are the least private accommodations with dorm cabin. 1 & 2 cabins upper and lower berths are perfect for single passengers.

Cabin of Blackbeards liveaboard

If you were hoping for something a little more stylish, spacious and comfortable, then check out the double cabins on the Bahamas Master . 

Communal Rooms

  • Three shared bathrooms
  • Outdoor dining
  • Air-conditioned saloon
  • Separate rinse for underwater camera

On deck of Blackbeard's Morning Star liveaboard

Bahamas Liveaboard Comparison

Bahamas Master Liveaboard

Blackbeard's Morning Star Case Study -Q&A

Check out our case study – Neysa is a recent adventurer of Blackbeard’s Morning Star where the cruise catered for veterans on a dive including amputees. 

Find out more with Blackbeard’s Morning Star’s case card

Name : Neysa

Liveaboard Activity : Scuba Diving

Facebook : Deep Sea Valkyries

Instagram : DSValkyries

About : Neysa reports back on her exciting liveaboard trip in Bahamas. Neysa works closely with a worthwhile veteran dive charity too – check out all the tabs for more.

Liveaboard Dive Boat: Blackbeard’s Morning Star

Date of Trip : 9/10/2022

Neysa’s Rating : 5*

“Absolutely outstanding food, from chicken curry to tacos, to steak with lobster sauce (which we caught) and key lime pie there was something for everyone .

We did have a couple of Veterans with dietary restrictions and the chef prepared individual meals for them which were also highly complimented.”

“The combination of this particular crew were probably the best we have ever had in our 12 trips on this boat.

Captains Chris and Drew found the calmest seas for great dives, Seb the DM did great briefings to make sure everyone understood what was happening and how to navigate the sites, Jake’s food was outstanding, and Morgan and Matt kept everything running smoothly in terms of engineering and dive support. They worked cohesively as a team and even our new divers felt completely comfortable and safe .”

“Favorite sites from this trip were ones we don’t visit all the often, Flat Rock Reef was teaming with life (sharks, rays, Jawfish, Queen angel, Damsel fish, Sergeant Majors, the list goes on), gorgeous healthy coral, and perfect conditions .

Madison Avenue we did as both a day and a night dive (lobster, crab, turtles, eel, shrimp, again the list goes on). And Smuggler’s Plane was our last night dive, we saw 2 octopus out in the seagrass surrounding the plane who put on quite the show.”

“ Bunks are dormitory style on this vessel and I was with the rest of our staff in the main galley section.

Bunks have a privacy curtain and a shelf at the foot of the bed to store clothes and hygiene items. Think ‘camping at sea’ but perfect for our group of Veterans. We love this boat and are already booked for 2 trips next year.”

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

What Impact Did the Blackbeards Dive Have on Neysa's Life?

“We chose this vessel for our program for very specific reasons. We take Veterans on week long trauma counseling/scuba retreats. This boat immediately generates a sense of camaraderie with everyone and a great group dynamic.

None of our Veterans know each other prior to arriving and the crew immediately puts them at ease. Their own love of life at sea is infectious and I love how they are all willing to teach and explain aspects of their jobs to those who ask. When we began our program I was AOW and am now a DM, I even worked as a DM on one of the other AllStar boats this summer. My knowledge, experience, and love of diving continues to grow thanks to this group and we will be diving with Blackbeard’s for years to come and it just keeps getting better!”

Do empty scuba tanks float

What is the Food like On-Board of Blackbeards Liveaboard?

The Blackbeards Liveaboard Dive Boat is renowned for its fresh, local food. They have a plethora of different foods and even catch some of their food during the dive expedition.

They catch fish and lobster for you to eat. They also have chicken, fresh fruit, dessert and more. Blackbeards is also famous for it’s delicious rum punch.

The cook only has a small space to prepare food but it’s unbelievable to see what they create in the kitchen and how they cater for all dietary needs.

There are vegan, vegetarian , gluten-free , kosher and all other dietary options. They have lots of drinks with wine, beers, tea, coffee, rum punch,, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Soda water and drinking water too.

What Types of Dives Can I Expect on the Blackbeards Liveaboard Trip?

The Bahamas is known for the variety of different dives – if you love scuba diving, it really couldn’t get any better. Enjoy shark dives , blue hole dives , wall dive s, smuggler planes , shipwrecks , deep dives and caves ; there’s so much fun to be had with a diverse range of days planned.

One of the most memorable dives during the dive trip was the shark feed dive – many shark teeth can be found on the ocean floor after a feed. Enjoy scuba diving at some of the best dive sites with lots of Exuma Cays and Bimini Island dives.

Our full guide will discover more about the best diving trip in the Bahamas.

What Dive Experience is Required for the Blackbeards Dive Cruise?

Those who wish to dive alone will be required to have a solo dive certification. To get the best out of the trip, you should have intermediate dive experience – meaning over 10 dives before booking onto this liveaboard.

There will be a dive guide on every dive.

Experienced divers will also enjoy lots of stunning and fairly challenging dives.

Specifications

  • Dorm cabins
  • U/W camera separate rinsing
  • All dietary requirements
  • Individual dive lockers

Blackbeards Liveaboard Covid

COVID-19 testing to enter the Bahamas has been eliminated. You can seamlessly travel to the Bahamas.

Divebooker is known for being easy to communicate with, although they’re not obliged to refund you or re-book your trip, if you message the travel provider as far in advance as possible, they have been praised for their helpfulness and even going out of their way to come up with a plan of action.

Is the Blackbeards One of the Most Affordable Liveaboard Boats?

The Blackbeards liveaboard diving boat is known for its affordability ; if you are on a budget, then this is your choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking for luxury, then you may wish to look elsewhere.

Check out the Bahamas Aggressor for something a little more lavish. You can also take a look at the Aqua Cat for other exciting liveaboards sure to promise an amazing time on a budget.

What About Single Travelers?

There are spacious berths for single passengers – the single space bunks allow for extra room, they aren’t as private, but it allows you to enjoy the camaraderie on board.

If you’re travelling alone – then fear not; there are plenty of single travelers that go on trips of this kind, in fact, the majority on board will be single travellers opting for the single space bunks. You will get to meet lots of like-minded fellow divers.

Each diver will need a dive buddy – so if you’re travelling alone be sure to make friends with other scuba divers on-board the Blackbeards Morning Star.

Dive Certificates & Courses on the Blackbeards Morning Star Liveaboard

You can enjoy specialities and certificates during the trip. Here are Blackbeards scuba diving courses you can take:

Advanced Open Water Certificate

Under Water Naturalist

Night Dive Certificate

How Many Dives a Day do you do on the Blackbeards Liveaboard?

The Blackbeards liveaboard provides 3 to 4 dives a day, including night dives. This is as long as the conditions permit. You can rack up almost 28 dives in a 7-day period .

Can Non-Divers Join the Blackbeards Liveaboard?

Non-divers can also enjoy the Blackbeards liveaboard – there’s snorkeling, sunbathing, fishing, land excursions, and visiting of beaches all as part of the diving package. But with that said, the trip revolves around the snorkel and diving activities and not necessarily island hopping.

There are shore excursions, but they’re at the captain’s discretion.

Junior divers of 10 years old and open water divers must be 12 years old. All children under 15 must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

The Blackbeard cruise departs from Nassau. It’s an easy place to get to, with many travellers flying to Nassau International Airport.

Blackbeards liveaboard is renowned not only for its diving but also for spearfishing. They provide the fishing gear and whatever’s caught will be cooked and eaten that day, the rest is used for shark feeding.

No fishing will take place in prohibited areas such as national parks.

As well as spearfishing, there’s also lobstering. This is within the Bahamian laws and can only be done during free diving. No triggers or tanks allowed. Lobsters caught will also be cooked and eaten.

Feel free to take your underwater camera and housing on the Blackbeards liveaboard trip – you will even get separate rinsing and there’s enough space in your top compartment to keep your belongings.

One of the most anticipated dives is the shark dive – you can dive or snorkel during the shark feeding.

There aren’t many wreck dives around Exumas Cays, but you will get to visit Norman’s Plane and Austin Smith. You can’t swim through the wreck, but it’s on a great reef.

The Blackbeard’s Morning Star liveaboard has a fantastic crew – I asked other passengers who revealed how accommodating and caring the staff are on this Blackbeard’s cruises.

Blackbeards Liveaboard Reviews - What They're Saying

Here’s some of the reviews about the All Star liveaboards:

blackbeards liveaboard reviews tripadvisor screenshot

Source: Tripadvisor

Final Thoughts

Blackbeards is a sailboat and is one of the most affordable liveaboard options – it’s been described as camping at sea. Known for its camaraderie and overall spirit, it has forged many life-long friendships.

It’s a great way to dive and is awesome for those diving alone. You’re guaranteed beautiful dive spots and an all-around fantastic experience.

It’s ideal for those looking for a first liveaboard experience or those looking to enjoy basic living and great diving at an affordable price.

You’ll get a full board meal plan, soft drinks, alcohol, snacks and VAT in the price. Port fees, airport transfer and hotels are additional costs. The dive insurance will also be an additional cost unless you book with DiveBooker.

If you want dive insurance included from DAN then you’ll want to book through the Divebooker links .

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Thank you for reading. I started KatyJaneDives.com to share my passion for diving. I am an environmental educator, scientist and now an MSDT diver.

This platform has been made to create, connect and share my knowledge in the world of diving.

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Blackbeard's Morning Star Liveaboard Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Blackbeard’s Morning Star dive boat review

For more than 35 years Blackbeard’s Cruises have been offering fun, affordable cruises to the Bahamas Out Islands (all except New Providence and Grand Bahama). Their vessels – including Blackbeard’s Morning Star and Blackbeard’s Sea Explorer offer maximum enjoyment for minimum price! “Twice the fun, half the cost!” is their motto.

With great visibility of 24-30m, a water temperature of 24c in winter and 30c in summer and a huge variety of aquatic life – there’s something for everyone. There is a sub-tropical climate in the Bahamas which means almost year-round sunshine and great conditions. There’s an array of fish life; keep your eyes peeled for the national fish of the Bahamas – the Nassau Grouper. Coral life is good as you traverse undersea walls and reefs and, should you be lucky, you may find yourself in an encounter with a dolphin, ray, shark or turtle! There’s also variety to the dive sites. Secluded reefs, walls and even drift dives at the famous ‘washing machine’ all await you. The diving is suitable for all levels.

For the true Caribbean pirate experience, there couldn’t be a much more suitable vessel than the Blackbeard’s Morning Star and Blackbeard’s Sea Explorer sloops . Built in 2003, the traditionally styled vessel is 65ft/20m in length and 19ft/5.7m in beam. She has a powerful Ford Lehman engine and cruises between the islands at 8 knots.

Don’t be deceived, however, into thinking this pirate ship is lacking in safety features. She has everything from radar, depth sounder, GPS, radio through to a first aid trained crew should the need arise.

You can check the  availability and prices for this Boat here .

Cabins and Boat Layout

Blackbeard’s Morning Star is a fun vessel for those wanting to socialise and have a great time.

mv blackbeards morning star deck plan liveaboard review

There are dormitory-style cabins to accommodate 24 people in either single or couple berths. Beds/Berths are single upper and lower, or double upper and lower, each with its own privacy curtain. The cabins are air-conditioned and there are 3 shared bathrooms on the vessel.

mv blackbeards morning star indoor dining area liveaboard review

Relaxing in the salon/dining area

When you’re in-between dives there’s space to relax and take in the Caribbean sunshine at the bow of the boat. Or, alternatively, there’s a salon area where you might relax and share stories with your fellow-pirates! – all in air-conditioned comfort of course. This is also where you’ll settle down for buffet style food with the other divers each meal-time.

mv blackbeards morning star exterior stern liveaboard review

Soft drinks flow all day and snacks are available in the highly unlikely event you’re still hungry. When the diving is done there’s also complimentary beer and rum punch.

Diving onboard Blackbeard’s Morning Star

The English-speaking crew are there to make sure you have a fun and safe time on the up to 19 dives usually available on a week’s cruise.

mv blackbeards morning star dive deck area liveaboard review

There are approximately 250 dive sites to sites and a huge variety of different dive experiences to be had.

There are DIN/yoke adaptors should you have brought your own regulators.

The vessel also has a diving tender/dinghy to assist with logistics, take guest to the islands’ beaches and pick up divers as needed.

Itineraries

Blackbeard’s ‘Best of the Bahamas’ runs each week taking in the best the islands have to offer based on experience and conditions.

Expect to pay just EUR895 for a 7 day/6 night trip. This equates to only EUR127/day, making her an extremely affordable option. Please note that this does not include some extras such as port/marine park fees and crew tips. Please contact us for further details.

Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?

Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to. Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Jamaica is a great vacation and scuba diving destination in the Caribbean Sea!

Jamaica Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The island of Aruba is surrounded by outstanding reefs, and has a number of wrecks.

Aruba Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The marine protection programs in Cuba has resulted in pristine coral reefs.

Cuba Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The United States Virgin Islands – America’s Caribbean. Outstanding scuba diving in a vacation haven.

U.S. Virgin Islands Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

You can dive a different dive site every day for a year!

Cayman Islands Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Bonaire has been voted the Best Shore Dive Destination 22 consecutive times by the readers of Scuba Diving Magazine.

Bonaire Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

St. Kitts and Nevis has excellent scuba diving that is close to shore meaning short boat rides. Being a small island, dive boats can always find a sheltered dive site in poor weather.

St. Kitts and Nevis Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The Caribbean

The Caribbean is one of the most dived destinations in the world. A great destination for beginners as well as experts. With thousands of dive sites it offers something for just about everyone.

The Caribbean Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Saba offers Scuba divers site sites that are pristine and loaded with marine life.

Saba Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The Turks & Caicos Islands provides Scuba divers with a dive experience not easily matched.

Turks & Caicos Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

A great selection of wrecks and reefs for divers of all skill levels.

Saint Martin Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The Dominican Republic is a lessor known dive destinations with outstanding diving from both the north and south coast. It is also the kick off point to the nearby Silver Banks.

Dominican Republic Diving Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The Bahamas offer a wide range of diving sites. There are sites that are great for learning to dive and others for experienced divers. Cave divers will find many opportunities.

Bahamas Diving Review

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Our Blackbeard's Morning Star Review

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

The Curious Adventurer

  • Mar 11, 2022

Blackbeard's Revenge: a Pirate Ship Tour in The Bahamas

Updated: May 21, 2022

Pirate ship! I spy a pirate ship!

Hanging out harbor-side, I was wowed by what I saw. A stunning 500-ton pirate ship fashioned like a Spanish galleon was gliding right in front of me.

That’s really cool!

It’s called Blackbeard’s Revenge , a pirate ship tour in The Bahamas. What a perfect way to explore Nassau Harbour and become a “Pirate of the Caribbean” for a day!

The glorious 18th century pirate ship replica is named after Blackbeard, history's most famous and feared pirate. When in between cruise ships, it looks dwarfed in size but don’t let that fool you. This ship is no tiny thing.

Spacious with three decks, two bar areas, and an enclosed lounge, it’s quite impressive. Pre-pandemic, this ship at one point carried up to 350 passengers for a charter tour. It’s a smashing hit with adventurers, no matter their age.

Pirate ship replica on turquoise waters

Just like the sailing vessel, the crew is decked out in pirate gear, luring passengers into an adventure world. You'll likely find one of them climbing the rigging, bravely scaling the ropes towards the tall ship's masthead.

The main deck, decorated with gunpowder barrels and cannons, is the center of swashbuckling activities. A large bar area sits near the bow. Right above it is a small open space equipped with a DJ's Booth for party cruises. Towards the aft is a mini museum/souvenir shop and restrooms. (Yes, they have restrooms!) Directly above it is an air-conditioned VIP Captain's Lounge where you'll feel like you've entered Blackbeard's saloon. Moving up to the 3rd deck is yet another sizable gathering spot, complete with a figure of Blackbeard and an imitation ship's wheel.

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

*Photos courtesy of Blackbeard's Revenge

For its tours, Blackbeard's Revenge makes an eastbound sail from the Nassau Cruise Port, passing by points of attraction along Nassau Harbour and Paradise Island before circling back. Important landmarks include Junkanoo Beach , The Pointe and Margaritaville Beach Resort , the former British Colonial Hilton, Fort Montagu , and of course, the massive Atlantis Resort .

View of Atlantis Resort from Nassau Harbour

I've seen Blackbeard's Revenge pirate ship sail by during different parts of the day. Apparently, they have several tours to choose from: the Daytime Voyage, the Sunset Voyage, and the Bootleggers & Barrels Voyage (for adults 18+).

Daytime Voyage

This daytime tour features the family-friendly Pirate Mutiny Adventure.

Excitement launches the moment passengers are met at the gangway by the pirate crew. As passengers come on board, each child is given an eye patch to wear. Buccaneer-themed background music pumps them up for a thrilling voyage aboard Blackbeard’s Revenge.

Pirate costumed crew interacting with a boy with eye patch

Once on board and after a safety briefing, everyone is given a tour of the ship plus some historical facts about the Golden Era of Piracy. Throughout the sailing tour, the animated crew captivates passengers with entertaining skits, swashbuckling duel re-enactments, games, dancing and merrymaking. A favorite of the children is the pirate mutiny activity when they are “recruited” to overthrow the captain.

A group of passengers with pirate costumed crew on a ship's deck

The adventure comes complete with refreshments. Everyone gets a free drink (fruit punch for kids and rum punch for the adults). Bottled water and other beverages like beer and wine for adults are also available for purchase.

Pirate crew interacting with two boys

"The kids get really fired up on this daytime voyage," said John Clarke, the GM of Blackbeard’s Revenge. He explained that they offer this family fun adventure via an exclusive port excursion for select cruises like Disney . The best part is that cruise passengers don’t ever need to leave the Nassau cruise port. So they remain in their “safe bubble” when they select this tour.

I happened to be on board the pirate ship during a private children’s birthday party before the pandemic. The kids were having a blast and I couldn’t tell who was having more fun— the children or their parents living vicariously through them. Here's a video clip courtesy of Blackbeard's Revenge.

Sunset Voyage

Just like the tour name suggests, this is a romantic sunset cruise. During the golden hour, the sun touches everything with a magical glow. Imagine going on this relaxing sail along Nassau Harbour, taking in the surrounding views, and capturing a Bahamas sunset while sipping on a complimentary glass of wine. I can just picture an incredible wedding party on this gorgeous ship while on a sunset sail.

Pirate ship at sunset

Bootleggers & Barrels Party Voyage

This one is the ultimate party cruise. Where else can you party the night away while cruising the waters of the “Pirate Capital of the Caribbean?” There's much more than just pirate rum to drink while grooving to music beats by the hottest DJs of Nassau. It’s a barrel of fun for adults 18 years and older.

Pirate ship at night

The Blackbeard’s Revenge sailings don’t end there. They also offer so many creative possibilities for private charters like pirate-themed birthday parties, weddings, and other group events.

If you’re in The Bahamas looking for an entertaining time in Nassau, check out this great grand attraction. Brush up on your pirate speak and hop aboard Blackbeard's Revenge. Only then can you claim bragging rights that you've sailed the Caribbean waters like Cap'n Sparrow.

For more information, visit their official website at blackbeardsrevenge.com .

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Arrr this looks like a lot of fun. Definitely not just for kids. I hope that rum punch was free flowing. Nobody wants to be a sober pirate.

Sure is a fun sailing tour. I haven’t been on the party cruise for 21+ year olds, but I’ve seen them sail by. You can hear them having a fun time on that ship!

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

Blackbeard’s Cruises

blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

About Blackbeard’s Cruises

Blackbeard’s cruises diving, attractions and activities, diving activities.

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Blackbeard’s cruises - nassau, bahamas.

6 Nights’ Dormitory-Style accommodations with Shared Bathrooms and Showers, All Meals and Snacks Including Unlimited Soft Drinks, Lemonade, Beer, Wine and Rum Punch, Up to 19 Dives (Not Included Port Fees and Transfers To/From Dock) Travel Period: 2024 Price: $1095 Travel Period: 2025 Price: $1145...

Climate: Air Temperatures in summer range from 24 – 33°C / 75 – 91°F. June till October (summer months) is considered Hurricane Season. November till May is dry seasons with temperatures at 18 – 25°C / 65 – 77°F

Water Temperature: 24 – 31°C / 75 – 88°F

Time: UTC -5:00 (ET)

Language: English

Currency: Bahamian dollar is on par with US$ and is freely interchanged. Credit cards and travelers checks are generally accepted.

Electricity: 120 volts. U.S. appliances are compatible and converters are available at most hotels.

Marriage Requirements: Please contact the local tourism board for instructions and requirements.

Airport(s): Abaco:  Leonard Thompson Airport (MHH)   Eleuthera: Rock Sound International Airport (RSD) Exuma: Exuma International Airport (GGT) Grand Bahama: Grand Bahama Airport (GBIA)  Nassau: Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)

Hyperbaric Chambers: Nassau: Lyford Caye Hospital Freeport Grand Bahama Island: Centre for Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine

700 islands, so little time! Beginners and advanced divers alike are thrilled by the Islands of the Bahamas’ world-renowned walls, blue holes (the Bahamas has the only known tidal blue holes in the world) wrecks and aquatic life. Topside, catch some much needed R&R on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

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Blackbeard's Cruises

Blackbeard's Cruises Liveaboard

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Primary Port Of Departure: Celery Dr, Nassau, The Bahamas

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Liveaboards, Caribbean – Blackbeard’s Cruises

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Blackbeard’s Cruises

Bahamas, caribbean.

Does the real-world craziness make you feel like you are at the end of your rope? Try hanging out with Blackbeards Cruises instead! You will spend a week diving and relaxing in the warm waters of the Exuma Cays in the Bahamas! Do you love an adventure? Is meeting other like-minded travelers up your alley?   Shipmates are usually a motley crew of interesting folks from all over. You won’t know if the diver sitting next to you is a CEO or an average “Joe.” And the best part is … no one cares.   Divers enjoy sharing their stories, each other’s company, and the stunning views while cruising from one great dive site to the next…Blackbeard’s Cruises is known for the high camaraderie on board and  the great diving!   If you like the outdoors, you’ll love the atmosphere on Blackbeard’s sloops!

By the end of the week, divers have usually logged 20 dives that are all unique and memorable in their own special ways.  The incredible variety of diving offered is unparalleled!  Dive on colorful reefs, walls, wrecks, flying drifts, and even experience a thrilling shark dive- all on one vacation!  Divers with all levels of experience are welcome.  The easygoing and relaxed attitude on board makes this diving cruise more than just a dive trip, it’s an adventure and life experience no one should miss!  Spend the week swashbuckling the Exuma Cays with our crew! It’s a no-brainer — all-inclusive format with dormitory-style cabins, picnic-style meals, all beverages (beer, wine, and rum, too) and all the diving will make this a trip to remember.  

Blackbeard’s liveaboard sailboats accommodate singles and couples in 4 air-conditioned cabin areas. Berths are single upper and lower, or double upper and lower, each with its own privacy curtain similar to a sleeperette on a train. She does not have private accommodations, all berths are dormitory style. Berths are 74″ in length, with doubles 48″ wide and singles 24″ to 36″ wide.  

Blackbeard’s 65 ft sailing sloops, the Morning Star & Sea Explorer have 18 bunks in dormitory-style cabins. Single & double berths in fully air-conditioned cabins will ensure a peaceful night’s sleep. Each sailboat is crewed with two captains, a dive instructor, an engineer, and a cook. The incredible variety of diving paired with the camaraderie you will develop among your fellow passengers combined with the low price are why Blackbeard’s slogan is “Twice the Fun, Half the Cost”.  

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Turks & Caicos – Liveaboards – Explorer II

The Turks & Caicos Islands, located 575 miles southeast of Miami, were first populated by the Lucayan or Arawak Indians. Columbus claimed the islands for Spain in 1492, which then in 1670 ceded them to Britain. Dependencies of the Bahamas until 1874, the islands were subsequently controlled by the Jamaican government. In 1962 the islands became a British Commonwealth Colony, which they remain today.

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Turks & Caicos – Liveaboard – Aggressor II

The luxurious Turks and Caicos Aggressor II offers her pampered guests two exciting aquatic adventures. January through March, snorkelers have the rare opportunity to swim, not watch from a crowded tour boat, but actually enter the water and swim with majestic humpback whales. Humpback whales fulfill an instinctual migrating ritual before the inquisitive eyes of visiting snorkelers. It’s incredible!

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Liveaboards, Caribbean – Aqua Cat Bahamas Liveaboard

The Aqua Cat is one of All Star Liveaboard’s luxury liveaboards that travel from Nassau, Bahamas to the remote islands of the Exumas & Eleuthera.

Much of the northern Exumas have been part of the National Underwater Park for more than 30 years. As a result, the abundant marine life there is thriving and is a sight to be enjoyed by scuba divers and snorkelers alike.

There are more than 100 dive sites in the Exuma Cays and, weather permitting, near Eleuthera. The 26 dives featured each week are designed to give you the greatest variety of dives possible – reefs, wrecks, walls, a blue hole, and a drift dive. 4 dives a day are offered on the 28’ launch called the Sea Dog. Experience exceptional scuba diving like no other place in the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean. The variety of dive sites in the Exuma Cays is truly unique. Because it can only be reached on a dive liveaboard, this underwater world is pristine and filled with an abundance of colorful fish, macro-critters, corals, sponges, fans, lobster, and sharks.

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review of Blackbeard's Cay

sixgun8

By sixgun8 , October 8, 2009 in Bahamas

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ok, we decided to do the treasure hunt on Blackbeard's Cay through carnival. There was also just a beach day, or a stingray experience or a booze beach thing.

Lemme start by saying when they tell ya to be outside the ship at 9 AM please be on time the rest of us get ticked when YOU are late. We then took the half hour walk around the pier to the double decker transport we took to the cay. The ride was nice and smooth and it offered some nice views of the ship for pictures. The pilot of the boat was polite and did an excellent job from what I can tell. He was also a brother in the dark as well as the light.... some will understand. The transport took about 20 minutes to get to the cay. It was very visually appealing and we anticipated a great day.

Now, they gave you different colored wristbands to wear depending on your excursion. We went to our designated spot for our treasure hunt and were quickly offered a lifevest type thing, snorkel and masks. Disappointed that no flippers were offered as we had ourt own masks and snorkels but didn't bring flippers. After finding a spot to store our things, a practical beach chair, we quickly donned our equipement and stepped to the beach for our instructions. Swim until you find a little bag of treasure in the water...simple enough. Now the concern about my lack of snorkling skills. When I had tried this in graqnd Cayman, I found the mustache I sport causes a horrible leak and made it impossible to snorkel. After discussing that problem with an accomplished snorkler I learned the secret of vaseline on the mustache.

Into the water we go. There's something to be said about the ability to make yourself breath with your face underwater. It's not a simple task. make yourself relax, and take deep breaths. In no time I realized that I was snorkling and having a great time. with the waterproof camera attached to my wrist I lethargically made my way around the roped off area and searched for little golden colored treasure. To be honest, I expected to see more fish, but there weren't many. I did first spot a teeeny lil blue fish swimming in and out of a hole in a rock. It was being stalked by another fish that was a little bit longer and very bland in color. I have NO IDEA what kind of fish these were. Quickly snapping pictures hoping to get one of these things in my image. How exactly do you look through a viewfinder with a swim mask on? before I knew it my search for treasure was long forgotten and replaced by my search for fish.

Finally I decided that I better come up for air so to speak and raised my head out of the water to see where I was. To my surprise I was about 100 yards down the beach and no longer in front of "our area". Remembering what i was there for I started swimming back to our location and keeping my eyes open for the booty! After seeing a couple more of these small, colorless fish I almost forgot my goal again, then I saw the little white ribbons of the bag that my treasure was held in. Now a problem....the treasure is down about 6-7 foot deep in water. Diving down I snagged my booty from the floor and returned to the surface, my snorkel now filled with water. I tried my best to blow the water from my snorkel, but the half breath I had was not enough. Trying to take another breath led to disaster. my mouth filled with water and I then gasped and sputtered. Surely I was shallow enough to touch ground and right myself? This is the point where I determined the depth of the water. Now, attempting to get myself to shallower ground and not draw the attention of a life guard wannabe(none were to be found anywhere) I flailed and finally found footing. Readjusting my equipment and regaining my composure, I again set out to find more treasure or underwater life.

Finally tracking down my wife after a good hour in the water, I find her holding onto a piece of booty herself. How she got it I'll never know as she hates going underwater. Swimming with her now we explored the beach area together. One small complaint is the jet ski rental right next to the beach tended to stir up the sand and make it a little bit cloudy to snorkel. The stories from shark week about swimming in murky waters didn't help my mindset any. but I am assuming that the beach was netted and that's why we saw so few fish swimming with us. We did finally come across two fish, both about a foot in length and 6 inches near the dorsal. Good sized fish, again bland in color and we have NO IDEA what they were. Finally deciding we had been in the water long enough, we headed to the lunch shack for a bite.......

more to come later.

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SheriNtexas

Great so far, Six!!:):)

stitchnfool

Good job, Six!!! :)

tootsiebit

I like it Six...and I am now picking myself up off the floor from laughing at the image of you during your ummm..."struggle"...I am not laughing at you I am laughing with you, because you just described me on my first snorkel at Chakanaab in Cozumel....but unlike you I can be a bit of a drama queen when I am paniced soooooooo, practically everyone on the beach was out of their chairs when my BIL got to me and then told me I was only in about 5 1/2 feet of water.....whatever...I couldn't touch and I was flooded and and and you know!!!!LOL:D

Bring on the rest of it...I am entertained for sure!!!!:D

This would be the only real complaint I would have of Blackbeard's Cay. the lunch shack looked well equipped to deal with the 100 or so folks that were captive on the island, but yet they were poorly planned. As we made our way into the lunch line we were about 35 people back. On the ship this wouldn't seem too bad, but as there was only one cook, I could see this was going to be the trail of tears. We luckily were under the shade of the ample building and were not waiting in the sun. Many of my line compatriots were shuffling back and forth on what was still hot pavement, but my water shoes kept me insulated from the hot temperatures that I was concerned would not be reflected in the food. Lunch menu said we would have a choice between a cheesburger, a hot dog or a chicken sandwich, with chips and a drink. menu on the shack also listed a pizza. As you got closer you could see the only choices were a hamburger or a cheeseburger. Foo, But I could deal. The drinks were canned sodas or bottled water. I immediately chose a icy cold Coca cola. There is something to be said of the Cokes you can get in the caribbean and Mexico. They are drastically different than the US versions and are SO MUCH BETTER. I hear it is real sugar and not syrup, but I don't care what it is. They taste darn good. After a 30 minute line wait we got to see the grill area. Our cook was shuffling precooked hamburgers from a tray of water to the grill. Now I know of this trick so it didn't bother me, but others seemed surprised. I did see the cook go into a back room at one point and ask for help. She was supplemented with a very rude and obviously upset lady who came out and opened a few bags of buns, dumped a box of chips on the counter and then walked away again.

Cheeseburger in hand we dressed them up with all the possible sides and condiments and went to eat. we were joined by a couple from the ship and had a pleasant conversation. it seems as though my accomplishments on the ship were somewhat known as all I had to do was mention we were with the crazies and I was the guy with the funnel hat. Immediate smiles and chuckles saying they saw me either in person or on the TV would follow.

After our lunch break it was time to make our way back to the ship. we looked for a place to wash our feet of the powdery sand from the beach and found one....next to a building....in the middle of the sand??? We washed off our feet and tip toed back to the pathway. We stopped to buy a conch shell from a stand. Same prices as we were quoted in freeport and figured why not. Pick your own shell though, we let him pick one for us and got one that was damaged and fixed with a pink putty. Live and learn, and we still enjoy the souvenier. As we walked back on the ship one of the crew was spraying off people's feet to get the sand off.....OK, shoulda expected that one.

Right next to the dock was the stingray area. We took a few pictures of the rays we could see from the dock. They were pretty darn small. Talking with friends that booked the stingray event, they said theyhad ample food to feed the rays but the interactions were not anywhere near the calibre of stingray city. They stood in two rows and the guy blew a whistle and the rays came down through their guantlet feeding from their hands. Cool nonetheless, but I would have been disappointed in the price and what not.

Back on the transport, we comfortably made our way back to the pier. I slept a bit as the rocking was gentle and relaxing. When we got back we noticed the Carnival Pride had slipped in beside us and provided some great photo opportunities for the passengers of our shuttle.

Overall we were happy with the excursion. It provided a great beginners chance to snorkle with much less concerns of being too deep or have too much motion in the water. I would recommend this for any newbie trying to learn, but if you are an avid snorkler looking for a challenge or an amazing experience, this isn't for you. However, being my first successfull snorkeling experience, I will always remember it and smile as i think about it.

RickyandLucy

RickyandLucy

Thanks for the review and the laugh Six. We are booked for the same excursion and now really looking forward to it. My questions: so what was the booty? and did you have to bring a towel from the ship or was one provided?

Ah the booty, looks like I still do need one more installment. Long story short, just go to Senor Frogs with your "coin" Everyplace else was just a discount on buying something bigger.

we found ourselves to be relatively dry after waiting for our lunch, but they do not provide towels.

Booty in hand we took off through the streets of Nassau looking for what we could get. Now they gave us a map of shops that will redeem the lil coin and the ship gave us a map of shops they recommended and then gave flyers for freebies at specific places, so we overlayed the maps...ok, we compared the maps. Off to Diamonds international to see what they will give us and to get the charm bracelet charms....easier said than done. To say crossing streets in nassau is difficult is like saying nuclear physics is slightly tougher than high school science class!!! Yeah, there are lights and they do sometimes say walk, but that's usually at the same time the BIG BUSSES are plowing through intersections. It's more of a run when it's clear scenario. Also, there are only a FEW Diamonds international that we found and it was the furthest away that we needed to be. Of course. I will say if you want to buy liquor buy it a couple blocks off the beach front. It was cheaper there by at least 10%.

Those that want a tattoo and aren't scared of being led into a back alley, well here's your place. We saw a sign for tattoos at the corner and stopped. The Crazies have always joked about us getting a tattoo of yosemite Sam on our right elbow kinda like the mudflaps, well I asked the lady at the sign if they could do that and how much. We are talking a two inch tall tattoo. In Oklahoma City and Wichita, they wanted $120 and above to do it. She told me $40 but she is sure they would do it for $30. She led me down the street, my street smarts started pinging that trouble was abound. She then went through a metal gate on a ddorway, Now this is not a normal gate. This gate was halfway solid so that there was about 24 inches of usable entryway. This lady, who was not small slithered right through like it was nothing. My street radar was now pinging non stop. Still i went on,"just turn sideways," she says to me. Those who know me know that I am BIGGER sideways than I am straight on! I told her so. add the fact I was wearing a backpack and I was barely getting through this doorway. I half expected it to be shut and locked when i tried to flee moments later. Now up a staircase and around a hallway we came to a counter where several young men were crowded around a computer. She told them what I wanted as I started feeling for my billfold and passport and sail and sign card, anything I would need to get back on the ship. One of the men led me through a beaded curtain, which I didn't even know were around anymore, and into a room laden with neon Purple drapes on every surface you can imagine. Tables, windows, counters all adorned with neon purple. how Strange. Add to this the other 5-6 men standing on ladders and chairs drawing M-16s on the wall in pencil and I almost looked for the hidden cameras. If there hadn't have been 2-3 actual customers getting tattooed i may have started laughing. So, now to the computer. Yosemite Sam, we all know him. Simple, right? WRONG. The guy begins searching through his database of files. Looks through cartoons, NOPE. then he clicks on file "Gangsta", he looks at me seriously and says,"Yosimite Sam? He's a gangsta right?" I looked my wife in the eye with a look that said," I don't wanna tattoo no more!!!" The guy ended up pulling every file up on the computer in a search mode and wanted me to scan through every image in the computer. he told me if it didn't come up he would free hand it. NOT A CHANCE!! We quickly and discreetly headed back the way we came, hoping and praying that dang gate would still be open. i am happy to report it was.

We trudged on with our booty and headed for Del Sol. finding that the lil booty coins we found got us less of a deal than being associated with a cruise ship we quickly exited and kept going. The road that goes right beside the Britich colonial Hilton is a curvy road(if I am thinking the right spot). It also goes right beside the straw market. This is NOT a place to try to cross as you are basically taking your own life into THEIR hands and simpy hoping those that look over you didn't BLINK. Good lord, I think driver's licenses of bus drivers in Nassau come in cracker jack boxes. add to the fact that half the cars have steering wheels on the right half on the left and you get a whole plethera of opportunities for death!

walking through the straw market was a dreadfull experience. Not because of the people, they were fabulous. Slightly pushy, but no where near the pushy of Jamaica and cozumel. we made a few purchases and saw Senor Frogs!! Beer sounded good. Beer I didn't get. The wife wanted yard drinks. Cool! The waitress asked her what she wanted in hers, she decided on THE Senor Frog?? For the Lady the waitress asked? Sure my wife replied. I took a margarita on mine, We also asked about our coins and they would redeem them for shots! BINGO!!! Two shots of Sex on the Beach!!! When our yards arrived, mine was as to be expected, a chain margarita, with nothing special, nothing lacking. my wife's yard, the FROG, was a deep green color and should have had pineapple juice somewhere in it. Where it went we aren't sure, but the amount of alcohol in the drink may have scared the juice off. It was STRONG!

We visited another liquor store, bought our liquor at a premium because we weren't crossing those streets again!!! And then hit the tortuga shop for rum cakes. Now my wife had suddenly burst out into a fit of sweating. not sure what was going on, but she was sweating like a fat man. I would know this. The ladies in the tortuga place thought she was about to die. They were fanning her and giving her paper towels. We bought cakes. LOL we also bought fudge at the wife's urging and paying....when we got home, she wondered when and where we got the fudge...thank you senor Frogs.

Time to head back to the ship. I now know why our tour guide led us on a 30 minute jaunt across the pier, it was to take us through the building of shops at the pier, so we would know it was familiar and we would blindly go back through it again!!! Uh DUH! Back into it we went. Now I was thirsty and didn't care what I was gonna get, but when we saw the cute little palm tree cups we had to get one....when we actually saw the cute not so little and oh so obscene shape of the base of the cup we had to get two!!! The base of the cup is well.....you just gotta see it and you'll understand. I wont post it here. it's hilarious and I had just the thought for one of hte cups. You are welcome Teri!!

Overall we did enjoy our time in Nassau and we liked the island and the excursion will always be rememberable to us as my first success in snorkling.

silverfoxcruiser

The ladies in the tortuga place thought she was about to die. They were fanning her and giving her paper towels. We bought cakes. LOL we also bought fudge at the wife's urging and paying ....when we got home, she wondered when and where we got the fudge...thank you senor Frogs.

This whole segment had me laughing out loud, but when she wondered when and where.........I lost it. Laughed so hard, if I still wore contacts, I would have had them wandering down my cheeks!! I am still "hard giggling".:D:p

You're a good writer!! Silver

The ladies in the tortuga place thought she was about to die. They were fanning her and giving her paper towels. We bought cakes. LOL we also bought fudge at the wife's urging and paying ....when we got home, she wondered when and where we got the fudge...thank you senor Frogs. This whole segment had me laughing out loud, but when she wondered when and where.........I lost it. Laughed so hard, if I still wore contacts, I would have had them wandering down my cheeks!! I am still "hard giggling".:D:p   You're a good writer!! Silver

I am no where near as good as Mach, but I do enjoy trying. He is right on, when he says that writing about it gives you a chance to relive it. Of course, My comedic style is different than his artistic style.

great reveiw, we did just the beach break at Blackbeards & enjoyed it too!

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blackbeard's cruises bahamas reviews

COMMENTS

  1. Blackbeard's Cruises Has DVD Player

    3 bedrooms. 3 bathrooms. 24 guests. 6 nights minimum. Yacht. This is a Saturday-Friday All Inclusive Scuba Diving Cruise Blackbeard's Cruises is the ultimate diving adventure! This all inclusive scuba diving vacation offers up to 19 dives including a blue hole, wall dives, high speed drifts, wrecks, reefs and a thrilling shark feed.

  2. Blackbeard's Cruises Dive Liveaboard Bahamas Reviews & Specials

    3. Marine Life. 3. Food. 3. I really enjoyed my Blackbeard's trip, especially considering the price--under $1000.00 for a week of liveaboard diving. Blackbeard's is especially good for those on a limited budget, and for those who want to see sharks and go on a great shark dive.

  3. Anyone done Blackbeard's Revenge?

    Ports of Call. Bahamas. Anyone done Blackbeard's Revenge? I have three kids, 14, 12, and 5. We did a pirate adventure in the Outer Banks when my older ones were little which is no longer there, but it was one of our favorite experiences ever, so when I saw this pirate ship in Nassau I thought it would be similar and that we'd have a great time.

  4. Blackbeard's Cruises

    1. Blackbeard's -- Morning Star/ Nassau Harbour Club. Exumas and Eleutheras. "Great trip, fantastic crew, and tons of fun on the Morning Star!" This was my first liveaboard, and I really looked forward to this trip with Blackbeard's. I read just about all of the reviews on... Full report. 5/2017. Nancy Boore.

  5. Blackbeard's Cruises

    Blackbeard's Cruises, Nassau City, New Providence, Bahamas. 23,380 likes · 4 talking about this · 3,183 were here. Scuba diving liveaboard to the Exumas from Nassau. 19 dives/week for only $995....

  6. Information and Review of Blackbeards in the Bahamas : r/scuba

    Breakfast is at 7:30 sharp. For each meal the bell will ring, its quite loud so you will likely hear it even inside the cabins. You will likely dive 4 times a day (except for the first and last day), and expect an estimated total of 16-17 dives (not 19). As things come up.

  7. Exploring the depths with Blackbeard's Cruises Dive liveaboards: A

    BlackBeard Cruises is well-established in the business. Blackbeard Cruises was established 40 years ago and operates a whole fleet of boats that sail worldwide. The home port where they port four vessels is Nassau, Bahamas. Two are liveaboard sailboats, The Morning Star and The Explorer.

  8. Tripadvisor

    3 bedrooms. 3 bathrooms. 24 guests. 6 nights minimum. Yacht. This is a Saturday-Friday All Inclusive Scuba Diving Cruise Blackbeard's Cruises is the ultimate diving adventure! This all inclusive scuba diving vacation offers up to 19 dives including a blue hole, wall dives, high speed drifts, wrecks, reefs and a thrilling shark feed.

  9. Blackbeards Liveaboard Review (Sea Explorer and Morningstar)

    The Sea Explorer and Morningstar are 65' Sailboats with a spacious deck, and a below deck arrangement as seen below: From what I could tell, bunks 5-9 are the most spacious, whereas 1-4 were the smallest. On top of that, the top bunks (see the pun), were even less spacious. They do the best they can to place people according to their size ...

  10. Blackbeard Cruises is one of the very best things to do in Nassau

    Blackbeard Cruises: Those who appreciate long dive trips should consider Blackbeard's live-aboard scuba diving travel vacations to the Bahamas. Trips include shark dives, walls, high speed drift dives including the Washing Machine, night dives, blue holes and the beautiful coral reefs. Explore the secluded "Out Islands" of the Bahamas were on e the hideout of pirates and privateers.

  11. UPDATED 2023

    This is a Saturday-Friday All Inclusive Scuba Diving Cruise Blackbeard's Cruises is the ultimate diving adventure! This all inclusive scuba diving vacation offers up to 19 dives including a blue hole, wall dives, high speed drifts, wrecks, reefs and a thrilling shark feed.

  12. Blackbeards Morning Star Liveaboard Review

    The camaraderie on Blackbeards Liveaboard is untouched - think camping at sea. Blackbeard's Morning Star liveaboard is a favourite amongst divers, and that's because although it provides reality-shifting experiences, it comes at half the price of most other fleets. Thus, the All-Star Liveaboard motto of "twice the fun, half the cost".

  13. Reviews

    Scuba-diving liveaboard cruises depart Nassau, the Bahamas. 65' sailboats dive remote reefs, wrecks, walls & with sharks. Departs Saturday for weekl... menu. Destinations North America ... Bahamas. Accommodations (98) Bed & Breakfasts (4) Hotels & Resorts (84) Vacation Rentals (8) Youth Hostels (2) Adventure Travel (2) Sailing (1)

  14. Blackbeard's Cruises Bahamas Liveaboard Diving Official WS

    Blackbeard's Cruises take place on one of two 65′ dive liveaboard sailboats, the Sea Explorer & the Morning Star. Think summer camp for scuba divers! Dorm-style bunks with AC below deck. Shared baths and shower. Buffet meals with picnic-style dining. Sailing. Pirate antics with fun and games.

  15. Blackbeard's Morning Star Liveaboard Review

    The diving is suitable for all levels. For the true Caribbean pirate experience, there couldn't be a much more suitable vessel than the Blackbeard's Morning Star and Blackbeard's Sea Explorer sloops. Built in 2003, the traditionally styled vessel is 65ft/20m in length and 19ft/5.7m in beam. She has a powerful Ford Lehman engine and ...

  16. Blackbeard's Cruise Bahamas

    May 31- June 06, 2025 $1350 PP/DO Dive Club Pays $1300 Deposit $300 A week of adventure aboard a 65ft sloop just like the pirate days. Blackbeard's Cruises are billed as "camping on the water". Dormatory style bunks, great food and incredible diving. Diving includes wrecks, drift dives, deep walls and sharks! There are a couple of land excursions to explore some unihabited Caribbean Islands ...

  17. Bahamas Dive Liveaboard Blackbeard's

    204 Hospital Dr NE. Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 USA. [email protected]. U.S. and Canada: 800.327.9600. Worldwide: 954.734.7111. Our dive trips take place on two 65' diving liveaboard sailboats, the Sea Explorer & Morning Star. They are packed with fun, friendship & camaraderie.

  18. Blackbeard's Revenge: a Pirate Ship Tour in The Bahamas

    The glorious 18th century pirate ship replica is named after Blackbeard, history's most famous and feared pirate. When in between cruise ships, it looks dwarfed in size but don't let that fool you. This ship is no tiny thing. Spacious with three decks, two bar areas, and an enclosed lounge, it's quite impressive.

  19. Blackbeard's Cruises Liveaboard

    Blackbeard's Cruises has 2 (twin) 65ft long scuba diving sailboats based out of Nassau in the beautiful, bountiful, Bahamas. These sail yachts, Sea Explorer & Morning Star, have dormitory style guest accommodations with 9 upper and lower guest bunks. So, 4 of the double bunks are single space width and 5 are double space width.

  20. Blackbeards Beach Break Review

    Just got back from our cruise on the Sensation. We did the Blackbeards Beach Break Deluxe and enjoyed it very much. The stingrays are so tame they want to be petted and played with. In fact you go into the water and they come right up to you swimming around you and in between your legs.

  21. Blackbeard's Cruises Liveaboard Dive Boat for Scuba Diving in The Bahamas

    Information about Blackbeard's Cruises Liveaboard Dive Boat operating from Celery Dr, Nassau, The Bahamas, The Bahamas. Boat Information, Pictures, Dive Logs, Reviews, Articles & Trip Information.

  22. Liveaboards, Caribbean

    Berths are 74″ in length, with doubles 48″ wide and singles 24″ to 36″ wide. Blackbeard's 65 ft sailing sloops, the Morning Star & Sea Explorer have 18 bunks in dormitory-style cabins. Single & double berths in fully air-conditioned cabins will ensure a peaceful night's sleep. Each sailboat is crewed with two captains, a dive ...

  23. review of Blackbeard's Cay

    Garden City, KS. #1. Posted October 8, 2009. ok, we decided to do the treasure hunt on Blackbeard's Cay through carnival. There was also just a beach day, or a stingray experience or a booze beach thing. Lemme start by saying when they tell ya to be outside the ship at 9 AM please be on time the rest of us get ticked when YOU are late.