“You are going to Bahamas? Will you swim with the pigs?” was one of the most common reactions I got when I told people about my upcoming Royal Carribean Cruise. Admittedly, I had never associated the Bahamas islands with swimming with the pigs before. But upon learning about how this was a bucket list item for many people, I of course had to do it.
Speed Boating to the Pig Beach
We booked the excursion with Royal Carribean and did the first tour early in the morning.You are picked up at the little boat dock at the shore excursion area where you can use lockers free of charge to leave your stuff. A speedboat which seats about a dozen people will take you to the pig beach on Treasure Island. It is a short, but fun ride and will give you a fantastic view of Coco Cay.
Arrival: Safety Instructions and Pointers
Once you arrive, you are led to a deck area where you can leave your personal belongings (like rucksack, smart phones). You are greeted by some of the pigs and can already take some pictures. Before you head down to the pig beach, you are given some pointers and safety instructions from the staff. As the pigs are wild animals and some of them are fairly large, interacting with them comes with its own risks and it is good to know about them beforehand.
Experiencing Pig Beach
On the beach, there are plenty of pigs, from piglets to full grown hogs. You can take pictures with the pigs on the beach and in the water. As for swimming with the pigs, only a handful of people opted to do so. Those who did were rewarded with great pictures. I loved the fact that there was no rush, and we could really enjoy our time there to interact with the animals and take in the gorgeous view. I really loved holding a cute little piglet!
As for the swimming part, these pigs swim fast, so if you want a decent picture, you have to keep up with them. Quite a challenge, but worth it!
Back on Deck
Once back on the deck, you can have a drink at the bar and take some more pictures with your own phone. As for the pictures that were taken with and for you, there is a sign with a QR code/website link near the bar where you can download the pictures for purchase. Prices were quite okay for digital files.
While swimming with the pigs was awesome, it was more a once in a lifetime experience. I am glad I did it, but it is not something I need a repeat performance of.