kat4282

Hi Katie-

I have NOT brought supplies to Roatan before (we've delivered supplies in Costa Maya and will do so again this cruise). My research on Roatan indicates you can contact Lynn at Roatan Children's Fund and they have a list on their website of several locations and their on-going needs, etc. According to their site, you can drop supplies with Yancsy at Playa Miguel located at CoCo View Resort in French Harbor or at the Rotary Booth located at the Cruise Ship docks.

 

There are also a few different missionaries I found online that you can coordinate a drop-off to. I also think you can visit the schools and/or childrens home if you want to and personally deliver items. I believe I had also heard that Victor Bodden collects items and distributes them thru his church. Could ask him about that if you want.

 

Hope that helps! :D

 

 

Counting down...

Amy

Great Info. Thank you so much :)

I have only been to Roatan once (Jan 2013). I do ToNS of research before cruising or vacationing (for me, that's a BIG part of my fun ... I vicariously vacation for months before my actual vacation!! :D HEY - DON'T CALL ME LAME PEOPLE!! LOL)

 

Last time we booked private Bodden tour and did a little bit of an island tour, Southshore for ziplining, shopped in West Bay Village and ate some baledas, then went to the FREE (my favorite word!!) public beach access located next to Banarama Resort. We strolled down the alley past the little "guard" booth (pull up other posts by me for detailed explanation) and turned left onto the beach and walked towards Infinity Bay Resort and Tabayana.

 

Dropped our towels on the edge of the water, strapped on our snorkels and had a BLAST. We did NOT use a resort. Had no need. I was NOT there to sit in a chair and look at the ocean (we do that in Costa Maya --- another favorite port). Roatan was all about snorkeling. The guys in the kayaks are WONDERFUL and helpful and worthy of your TIPS. One kid kayaked alongside of my son and I and took us out to the "wall" ---- OMG OMG OMG. What a beautiful world the Lord created. It was a memory I will ALWAYS cherish and look forward to repeating!

 

That being said, we visit Roatan again in December 2013 - I will come back and post what we do this time. I plan to allow more time for snorkeling (I think we had about 1 1/2 hours last time). My husband is disabled (has a Traumatic Brain Injury) and we may see about renting a lounge chair for him to use while we are at the beach. My research indicates several resorts will rent them for about $10 per chair (this also entitles you to use their restrooms). Personally, I will NOT pay $10 for a chair -- I'll throw my towel down on the sand and plunk my cheap butt down. lol :D Our game plan is to zipline first, then snorkel for as long as we want to. When we get hungry we'll pop up to a resort and buy something to eat (thus utilizing their chairs WHILE eating and their restrooms as we will be PAYING customers). Wanna try the lobster nachos at Infinity Bay for sure.

 

If you are looking for a resort only (and since you ASKED me for a name to keep me outta the naughty corner lol) -- I read Banarama will provide transportation to their facility, give you a lounge chair and a drink for something like $40 per person. Pretty reasonable IMHO. Other resorts do that too -- google it or search the CC boards for more info. I am not interested in that because we want flexibility to zipline, sightsee, drop off some school supplies and do some grocery shopping while there (vanilla, coffee, etc). My driver (Frankie with Victor Bodden) even came in the grocery store with me and carried my stuff around!!! My teenagers LOVED that part!

 

Hope that helps... Man, I'm getting excited bout going again!

 

Counting down...

Amy

Hi Amy, Quick question. Did you take your supplies into town or hand them out at the pier? I have purchased almost 200 school supply items and have some people donating on the ship too. I am doing a private with Rony's tours but want to make sure and have as much beach time, so the plan is to find a place close to WB Beach or stop on our way back to port. Love the idea of giving back when visiting their beautiful island.

Katie

I would do the best of tour. When you get done with your zip you can leave and go to the beach or wherever else you would like to go. We are going mid Nov and doing a private one too. If you do the group and it is a large group you are stuck waiting around. I want to be able to go and see as much as possible. Have fun!!

We will be taking the water taxi for the first time to Caye Caulker in just over two weeks. We stopped at Caye Caulker on a snorkel tour last time we cruised to Belize. I'll report back afterwards if you're interested.

I am very interested in your experience. We are going mid November and debating on Caye Caulker or Goffs Caye. With the water taxi schedule I am just not sure of how long we would actually have at the Caye. It looks like we would have to take the 130 trip back and don't know if that is enough time by the time we get out there. We leave port at 5 pm. Have fun!

Everything I see is 2 at Mahogany not Coxen :( I bet my husband just told me that so that I would quit worrying. I have been convinced we would be okay either way, and I stopped asking questions/worrying. I'm going to get him :mad::mad::) Disregard my wrong information and hope for calm wind so all our cruises can dock.

We looked it up and it seemed that on many days there are two boats at Coxen at the same time. This reassured us that if we miss Mahogany on Crown Princess then with only one other boat in port that day they could try Coxen. Am I incorrect? It was a while ago so I could be wrong. This is my most anticipated port. :)

I heard they miss b/c of winds and size of the channel.

Has anyone used Rony's Tours for the South Shore Zip and Dip? I am noticing some price discrepancies on the website when trying to book. It shows one price and then when you go to book it asks you what beach access you want and it would add 10-30.00 more per person. I am going to email tomorrow but wanted to see if anyone has had recent experience. We are either going through Rony or Victor and it looks like the Southshore zipline is a little bit better. We do want to stay close to west bay and I thought the beach price would be worked into the excursion. Or I figured they would drop you off at a free entrance. Both seem to have the same base price. Any tips would be appreciated as I continue to research more before making our final decision.