Remote Rose Island is a sliver of land poking out of the sea northeast of the Prince George waterfront docks of Nassau. Shelling is one of the lures of this little islet. If you want to escape the crowds of Nassau, you can take a boat, the Robinson Crusoe, which leaves Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 10am from Nassau and returns at 4:30pm. The cost is $50 (£27) for adults, $25 (£13) for children ages 2 through 11, and free for kids under 5. You can relax in a hammock, snorkel among the coral reefs, and enjoy the white-sand beach before and after your sizzling barbecue lunch with unlimited white wine (included in the price). Bookings for this island retreat trip are available through Majestic Tours (tel. 242/322-2606; www.majesticholidays.com).
If you want to see the Exuma island chain on a daylong excursion, try the Fantastic Exuma Powerboat Adventure. The name may sound silly, but the trip provides an excellent overview of the area. The boat departs Nassau Harbour at 9am and arrives in the Exuma Cays about an hour later. There are several stops, with snorkeling at a private cay (Ship Channel), visiting the iguanas on Allan's Cay, feeding stingrays along the shore, and enjoying a barbecue lunch. A full bar is available all day, and the drinks are free. The cost is $190 (£101) per adult and $120 (£64) for children 2 through 12. Transportation from a participant's hotel to the port of embarkation is included in the price. The experience comes to a conclusion around 5pm. For more information and prices, contact Powerboat Adventures (tel. 242/363-1466; www.powerboatadventures.com).
