c-leg5

https://www.galvestontx.gov/1209/Trolleys

Totally depends on the Captain. We have had it change one week and not the next on a B2B. Pay attention to the compass or app and sometimes they leave a card on your bed although not sure if that works now they are on once a day service. I always keep a manual watch on ship time like others but make mental note while in port of local time for opening/closing, excursions, Happy Hour etc. You don’t want to turn up 1 hour adrift for Happy Hour!

There seems to be a wide variation. Does it depend on day of the week?

For the Royal shuttle, one-way?

I am sure any of the multiple beach bars along the malecon will be able to arrange a water rental through a third party. Beach bars are elbow-to-elbow along the malecon and it is a matter of picking one - although many are asking for a minimum pp purchase or AI fee these days. Krazy Lobster is easy to PAYG and regularly suggested and will have rentals. I don’t think jet skis have been available for a number of years and I am not sure about windsurf-boards. Because of the off-shore baffles to prevent sargassum area for using the equipment can be very limited. ATV excursions are usually booked through the ships and go down the road out of town i believe, not sure if they go anywhere else. La Chilanganoense usually has an ATV excursion too and might be worth contacting and looking into for your needs, or base. They can probably arrange kayaks and paddle boards too. These activities are all along the malecon and within walking distance of anyone who just wants to stay at one beach location. Just pick a base camp. If you are going to Cozumel these activities are much more readily available there.

Palancar is another beach with sand but no pool, no entrance charge. I think there is a charge for loungers and umbrellas but we just have a table and chairs to eat and drink.. They have some water rentals and may have parasailing. https://playapalancar.com.mx/language/en/home-ingles/

https://thecabanabeach.com https://buccanos.com/en/activities There are recent reviews of both if these on CC or You-tube reviews. https://www.toursplaza.com/recommended-stops/

A few more details would be useful as to what you actually require. Do you need sandy beach, pool, activities (watersports), snorkeling, is eating/drinking important to any of you? Do you want to mainly settle in one place, or do you want to see what the island has to offer? what time of year are you going? If you want to go round the island, or Punta Sur with lighthouse and beach, you definitely need a driver. If you ONLY want San Miguel and ONE beach maybe a taxi would suffice. Have you considered Cabana Beach for your group at Chankanaab, or Buccanos? Do you just want to sit on a beach and relax, or some activities? Difficult to make recommendations without knowing what you require/expect from your day, mobility, age range. Not exactly sure what you mean by nearby beach - it is all ironshore around International but there are beach bars with sandy areas. I am not sure you will find more shopping in San Miguel than at the ports, unless you are looking for something specific, or are willing to go back away from the main road for some local cuisine. I wouldn’t pay for a taxi to San Miguel just for souvenirs.

Mostly man-made, raised sandy area as shown in photos above, since it is an ironstone shoreline but there is a small sandy cove within the park. Take a look at an aerial view on Google maps for layout and distances. Probably about 5-10 minute walk from entrance to Cabanas depending on your mobility (just under 1/2 mile).

Wow, that’s expensive. Did it seem to have been cleaned up and in good condition after shut-down? Did you pre-book or walk-in?

Is that a serious question?

Yes, that would be the going rate for 5 has always been a sliding scale in Roatan. More expensive for a solo or couple only.

Is this in a shared van? I have never seen s rate of $20 RT for a solo without negotiation.

Not sure where you are seeing 3? National Weather service shows 4 but two are too far out to forecast direction at this point. The one forecast to form in the gulf has 30% chance at this point of becoming a tropical depression or storm, but it looks like it iis more likely to be rough for the sailing before if it moves at the current forecast rate. Not sure where the rest of your group are coming from but you must realize this is a very real problem at this time of the year and they might want to consider insurance BEFORE there is a named storm in the gulf if they have any travel plans that maybe disrupted. The current systems don’t look like they will affect you at the moment but all bets are off for while you are away, or conditions while returning, just too early to tell. If you live in Texas and don’t already, you should consider following, https://spacecityweather.com for hype free forecasts.

Is everything smooth sailing at your grocery stores now - fully stocked, at good prices? As usual i think the complainers are more vocal than those that may be just be temporarily going with the flow. When the decline is too much for too long, bookings will dry up and new marketing tactics will be instigated and possibly upper management replaced. As the airlines always say, “we know you have a choice, thank you for flying with us today”. Same holds true for cruising. Maybe time to branch out, test the waters and see if the grass is greener elsewhere.

Not sure anyone actually knows that for fact but I was curious as to why you brought up removing auto-tips from one of the double bookings? One would be refunded automatically - why would you remove the other from the package? Tip extra if you don’t think they are getting enough. Maybe an attempt at humor, lost on the internet?

Correct. If you want to make a short term loan to get your own way that is the way to do it. Debatable who is the actual winner.

Aren’t there tips on the UDP.

How can it get repriced if you have paid for the package?

They are through third party and probably negotiable. You could probably email and ask.

No beach or snorkeling? West Bay is renowned for snorkeling. Personally we find it too busy but if this is your first time it is probably worth a stop.

Yes been to both! Ernestos is just a bar/restaurant. Fine for snack overlooking the water but not somewhere you can really linger. I think they have some FB postings but i don’t do FB . Lots of photos and reviews on TripAdvisor. Long, narrow dark bar with small outside seating with little shade. Sunset is much bigger, street level and downstairs water level.Fundamentally a diving/snorkeling operation. Fun to do, or watch but very busy with cruise ship excursions. I enjoyed people watching - I did not appreciate the lady at the next table who felt it necessary to subject us all to her Bluetooth speakers (that is a pet peeve of mine and wish people would use individual listening devices). My husband wasn’t impressed with Sunset but I wouldn’t mind giving another try but would sit upstairs next time - again just a quick stop. Just beyond Del Mar is Tikila Bar which i would probably recommend over Ernestos. I have only been once for a quick drink. They also have an outdoor seating upstairs but also have a downstairs area with some loungers which i didn’t realize until later. If you aren’t booking you would pass this en route to Sunset and could look in and decide depending how busy it is on the day. If you are just looking for lunch and a drink and are up to walking, i would suggest checking out Sereno, rooftop restaurant a little further along from Sunset. This one i haven’t tried but is definitely on my to-do list. (You do have to climb three flights of stairs above Albatros Suites.) They do have website but I can’t get it to open at the moment. Again reviews on TripAdvisor. Not sure how long you intend to stay, but I would give Del Mar a try if you just want somewhere to hang out on a lounger and relax in a safe place. As I have said before there really isn’t any “beach”, just rocky entrance for snorkeling. It has been 18 months since we were there but unless things have changed a lot I have always felt secure and no hassle with charges. I just relax and read on lounger or dip in small pool to cool off and have snacks and drinks brought to me! It is small, and not much to do but being hassle-free counts for a lot to me. I can see the ship and there are no transport issues.

Was the balance paid on arrival and was that cash, or credit card? It would be normal at AI day pass to pay on arrival and tip in cash at the end but I wondered how it worked at Paradise these days considering all the extra charges for water pass, jet skis, braiding etc. I suppose you pay each of those separately since some are sub-contractors? It makes for a very expensive family beach day. I have heard of people running out of cash not realizing about the extras. I just wondered if they were adding the gratuities on automatically if you paid the balance by credit card? They used to for menu items but now you are only paying half the cost on site. On the other hand the AI fee does in theory includes $10pp entrance fee. I haven’t heard any discussion about it since AI but I know people used to double tip previously not realizing it was already added. Not sure I have heard of $100 tips unless you have a really big group.

Sounds like you are set! After numerous visits to all three ports I have only been to the rum factory from all your choices! Enjoy!

It used to be written on the old menu, 20% was added if you paid by credit card. I haven’t been since AI was introduced so I don’t know what they do about the balance.