Bahamas safety reports

Broadcaster reports jet-ski operator freed of rape charge

Eyewitness News reported in May 2025 that a jet-ski operator had been freed of a rape charge involving a tourist. The accessible source does not provide enough detail to identify the case or explain the legal disposition. It should not be treated as proof of an acquittal, a false allegation, or an outcome in any other report on this site.

Original video: https://vimeo.com/[phone number removed]

Source: Eyewitness News Bahamas · May 2, 2025.

News report covers charge concerning an elderly tourist

Global reported a charge concerning an elderly tourist. No final case outcome was established in this review.

Source: Global News · March 3, 2024.

Two travelers alleged sexual assault during a Grand Bahama shore visit

ABC reported that two American travelers said they were drugged and sexually assaulted during a Grand Bahama stop in February 2024, and that police arrested two staff members. Pirates Cove disputed their account, saying surveillance footage conflicted with the allegations. Inside Edition’s follow-up includes that response. These reports do not establish a conviction.

Source: Eyewitness News ABC7NY · February 8, 2024.

Additional source: https://www.insideedition.com/media/videos/nurse-practitioner-who-helped-bahamas-alleged-assault-victims-speaks-out-85996

Canada warns travelers about sexual assault and drink spiking

Canada’s Bahamas travel guidance describes reported sexual assaults near hotels, in rooms, on beaches, on cruise ships and involving jet-ski operators. Some reported incidents involved drugging. The guidance advises caution, avoiding isolated places after dark and being careful about drinks or transportation offered by strangers. These are general travel warnings, not allegations against every hotel, cruise line or excursion provider.

Official Government of Canada guidance checked September 20, 2026. Open the source for current advice.

A “free” bracelet became a donation demand, parent says

A parent says a street vendor placed a bracelet on their child without asking and described it as free, then requested a donation. When the parent said they had no cash, the vendor removed it. The post describes an uncomfortable sales encounter near the cruise-port area. It does not identify a tour operator or establish that a nearby restaurant was involved.

Source: Reddit post “Bracelets.”

Free facial ended in a $9,897 purchase and a failed refund dispute

A couple says a short Nassau shopping stop became hours of sales pressure, alcoholic drinks and almost $10,000 in purchases. They later tried to return the products, but the merchant relied on final-sale terms and their card dispute failed. Consumer Rescue reviewed their documents and found no evidence proving drugging or fraud. It also clarified that the purchase included three expensive devices, not just ordinary creams. The couple remained unhappy, but the article did not substantiate their claimed scam.

Source: Consumer Rescue, August 26, 2024, updated July 14, 2025.

Guest reports rough seas and a loose fire extinguisher; operator disputes details

A visitor on the January 2, 2025 Pink Sand Beach and Swimming Pigs trip says rough seas frightened passengers and a fire extinguisher narrowly missed them. Born Free responded that the crew had assessed conditions as safe and disputed the stated extinguisher weight, saying its units are three pounds and mounted near the floor. The operator also disputed the guest’s conduct during the trip. The source records both sides; it does not establish a safety violation or an injury.

Source: TripAdvisor review of January 6, 2025, and operator response of January 7.

Paid pig-photo lines instead of a swim, CocoCay guest says

A March 2024 visitor says the excursion felt more like waiting to hold pigs for paid photographs than swimming with them. The couple paid about $265 and were disappointed by restrictions on personal photos and an additional photo charge. They also describe pigs defecating in the water and staff removing the waste. Those observations do not establish a tested water-quality violation or resulting illness.

Source: Reddit review of a Royal Caribbean CocoCay-area excursion.

Missing-wristband dispute delayed Blue Lagoon ferry for over an hour

A report about an Easter 2025 excursion describes security removing a guest from a Blue Lagoon ferry after a dispute over a missing wristband. The article reports a lengthy delay and passenger concerns about the heat, including an asthma episode. It does not resolve whether the removed guest had paid for the excursion or simply misplaced the wristband. The linked coverage includes the circulated video and differing accounts.

Source: Cruise Mummy, May 5, 2025.

Pearl Island guest alleges unwanted sexual touching during excursion

A separate lawsuit described in The Tribune alleges nonconsensual touching by staff in a cabana during a May 2025 excursion. The guest also alleged drugging and distress from witnessing her companion’s severe boating injury. These are allegations in a civil complaint, not a criminal conviction or established finding. The article reports jurisdictional challenges by the island operators in the related injury case.

Source: The Tribune, May 26, 2026.

Little beach time and no pig swim, guest says

The family enjoyed parts of the day but felt the trip fell short for the price. Their December 2024 review describes roughly 20 minutes of snorkeling in rough water, a brief turtle sighting and waves making the Rose Island landing difficult. They fed the pigs rather than swimming with them and had little beach time.

Seas ’n Cays responded that, if this was the December 24 trip, it provided boat transport for another company, not the tour. It said the photographed location was not one of its stops and offered to relay the feedback.

Source: TripAdvisor review, ‘Good but not great. Not worth the cost.’, December 24, 2024, and operator response. Source-linked summary, not a firsthand submission to this site.

Shortened pig tour, rude guides and dirty-water concerns at Goat Cay

The visit felt much shorter than advertised, according to this guest’s one-star review. They described rude guides, belongings left unattended and pigs that looked unhappy. They were also concerned about dirty water around the animals. The review describes what the guest saw and felt; it does not provide water-test results.

Source: Google review aggregate.

Embassy warning urged visitors to avoid Bahamas jet-ski rentals

Reported sexual assaults, crashes and injuries were behind a U.S. Embassy warning covered by Local 10 on June 15, 2026. The coverage described concerns about regulation of jet-ski rentals and advice to avoid them. It concerns the water-sports sector, not a finding against every operator. Check the original warning for subsequent updates.

Source: Local 10 News.

CBS Chicago also covered the warning on June 16, 2026. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2claKfpfvo

Operator response: Our News reported jet-ski operators’ objection that the alert was inaccurate and threatened their livelihoods. Read their response: https://ournews.bs/jet-ski-operators-the-alert-is-not-only-inaccurate-it-threatens-our-livelihoods/