ABQrobin

those independent websites are often wrong about who is in port where and specific ships sailings. I don't trust them at all.

We booked a group tour, just the 2 of us agreeing to share a tour with anyone else who booked. Ship got in a little early so meeting time was confusing I guess. They said meet an hour after ship docks. The other people who booked didn't show up on time so they took us on to start the tour with Rolan. The others showed up later and got their own guide for the day. Bodden tours is fantastic!

Here is my video from our day in Roatan Nov 2022.... we had a blast with Bodden tours and would recommend them highly! Great tours, great service, perfect adventure at your pace.

all the snorkeling boats will stay on the west side of the island. The east side is waaaay too far and expensive (gas money) and seas are too rough. Snorkeling by boat is almost always done at the same spots... either Paradise reef which is near Money Bar, or Chankanaab reef off that beach club, or father south it El Cielo lagoon. Some snorkeling boats go to places they list as "Palancar reef" but that really isn't very good for snorkeling as the water is deep and lots of current. I would steer clear of anything listing Palancar. A nice snorkeling tour from the ships is the Fury Catamaran and we can personally recommend it. They go to Paradise reef area which is nice and shallow and close to shore, then they stop at their private beach club for a few hours. I did a quick video of it a few years ago... hubby and son loved it, the snorkeling and the beach toys, as well as the flowing drinks.

most cruise lines have at least one tour that will take you to several spots and teach you some of the local history. Just driving around the island you won't get that as the majority is now recent development of hotels and such. There is one excursions called "Mayan ball game" or something like that, which I can recommend. My son and I did it a few years ago as he wanted to see them play the game. It was a great history lesson as well as fun to actually watch a real game played on a real court. After the game you can get photos with the participants.

We just got back from a cruise a few weeks ago and honestly it was crazy busy in Cozumel with 6 ships, so we did a cruise ship tour and it didn't go as we had hoped. Part of the problem was that our ship didn't arrive until 10am... Here's a video to explain:

hey everybody! we were on the Carnival Vista a few weeks ago and did a newer excursion... Cave tubing with dry cave exploration. It was an absolute blast and I put together a video:

We just did Victor's and we only got about 5 minutes each holding then got to visit the other ones (not holding) including the mom and baby another 5 minutes. Totally worth it. And they do bathe them, so no smell at all, very soft. This was a bucket list item for me and my hubby. I am working on my trip videos this week, hope to have them posted to our YT soon.

We just got back and we did the Victor Bodden Fun-n-Sun tour. They only take you into one enclosure with monkeys and the one we had did get on head or shoulders but very friendly and docile. You stood on the outside of the pens next to the other monkeys as our guide said they could get aggressive. Our guide asked us before we went into each enclosure so if you don't want monkeys he would skip those, no problem. The sloths were so amazing! I am working on my video of the tour, should have it up on our YT in the next week.

Cozumel is one port where I do not feel it is necessary to do a cruise ship sponsored excursion. Unless you are going over to the mainland (Tulum, Xcaret, etc) you can go anywhere on the island easily. So it all depends what you want. The best beach clubs are independent and you book straight thru their websites, then take a taxi.

Do a Discover Scuba. Of course, I am recommending this knowing that they will be hooked and you will have to get them both certified after this. Scuba is another world exciting.

Any updates? I read it was supposed to open back up yesterday(Nov 9th). We have booked a cave tubing excursion for next week and just wondering if things are good to go or not.

Ditto. We are both vets and have found that our platinum discounts and other specials are just as good if not better. Unfortunate, but true.

there were several groups, making the line over an hour long when he did stand in it. He did it and got to ride finally, but an hour wait! Other people were there complaining about it, also. So many kids just spending the whole day there, over and over. So yes, you could get in line, and ride it eventually, but a lot of people didn't as they had other things to do instead of stand in line for an hour.

I would recommend you make reservations though, they have a limit and if there are several ships in port they may sell out.

I am glad they are charging! We were on the Vista twice right before the shutdown and my hubby could never get on the skyride because the same teens/kids kept doing it then getting back in line. Constantly, same kids... if they had to pay then other people could have done it.

With the time involved, Money Bar would win for me. It is much closer, and no cover charge to get in, you just need to buy food there. It used to be our Go-to for lunch and snorkeling. No beach at all, but great snorkeling and food.

Check out some of the private companies that have great reviews. Victor Bodden tours has a big variety including make your own excursion option. Check them out. They pick up right outside of the port and you pay after you arrive. I would make reservations though.

thanks, hopefully everything recovers quickly. I know they depend on these cruise ships and the money. Uggh, I hate hurricanes.

Reminds me of when we got Platinum and took an 8-day for the first time, expecting to get on ship pretty quick. They called all the Diamond, wedding parties, suites, and FTTF people first.... half the waiting room stood up and walked to door. No kidding, it took almost an hour before they called us. So on your Journey cruise, expect something similar! Sorry.

Bridal parties and Suites are always first.

So incredibly horrible looking storm! I know lots of cruise ships are diverting to miss the area this week. Belize is a poor country that depends of tourism and this is going to hurt for awhile depending on damage. I know 9 yrs ago we were on a cruise a week after a tropical depression went thru there and all the land excursions were cancelled due to roads washed out making everything outside of Belize City unreachable. This looks so much worse. Fingers crossed that there is not much damage and Belize can recover quickly!

OMG.... good food.... yeah! Bonsai sushi.... everything! Ji Ji Asian... Everything! MDR.... soups, all of them are delicious MDR.... salmon is usually a good bet Blue Iguana... breakfast arrepas! My hubby is already talking about them. Love their lunch tacos, too, all flavors, great salsas. Some ships have a salad bar at lunch on the Serenity deck... awesome stuff. Our last cruise was Alaska on the Splendor and it is the only ship left with the Indian Masala Tiger... OMG... that place at lunch was INCREDIBLE! By Day 3 of the cruise everyone was eating lunch there, line wrapped around the deck. Wish every ship had that instead of some of the other crap.

Belize...Cave tubing or Mayan ruins... best port to do either. Lamanai is freakin amazing! All the tour guides are full of great information and teach you all about the jungle, different plants, Mayan history. Just can't go wrong with cave tubing or ruins in Belize. Mahogany Bay Roatan... gosh, the island of Roatan has a ton of great excursions, places to go. The reefs are right close to shore so if you want to snorkel, this the place. If you like white sand beaches it is the place to go. If you want to see monkeys and sloths, it is the place to go. And if you just want to stay in port there is a free beach next to the ship, you can pay for kayaking or ziplining right there at port...

I think you have 2 restaurants confused. Bonsai Sushi is a sushi restaurant with no reservations, very casual. Teppanyaki is a big grill where they cook food while you watch and needs reservations. Totally different food and atmosphere.