Legend 6/19 - 6/26

[gone_cruisin]

I rarely ever read or let alone comment on others cruise reviews, but this one has caught my attention. Looking foward to the rest of the trip.......

 

I bet it did! ;)

[DDFla]

Ok, Belize. I had wanted to go Cave Tubing, but got out voted. So I scrambled for something else. We had done stingray city in Grand Cayman belfore and the girls loved that, so I noticed a trip to Caye Caulker, an out island I had heard good things about. It was primarilly a snorkel trip that also included lunch and some time on the Island. I booked with Coral Breezes, which subcontracted Hammerhead water sports. You meet them just down the dock from the tender in front of the wet lizard bar.

 

Legend handles the tendering process different than I remember and you have to get assigned a spot and wait in follies. Unless you are on one of their trips, you are not a priority. In Belize, this wasn't too much of a problem as I think not as many people left the ship, but it was a wait.

 

We met the tour guides and gave them our lunch order and they gave us our gear for the day. If wasn't as good as we had the day before and Belize requires you use a flotation vest which is very awkward. I was concerned about the condition as it was fairly windy and the water near the ship wasn't good. But, one of the mates on the tender told me the trip to Caye Caulker was worth it alone and we would be fine. It is about a 45 minute boat ride to the island where they dock long enough to drop off the lunch menu and anyone who don't want to snorkel.

 

From there it is about a mile to the reef.

 

Here is where things drop off for me. Like I said the equipment wasn't great, the conditions a little rough, and you have a lot of folks who don't snorkel....not a good combination. The visibility was good for the condition, and the reef very good. Maybe not as much fish life as some places I been, but that could be due to the conditions and the amount of people in the water. Too many times I had to block my face or my daughters due to people not understanding where they were in the water.

I was ready to get back to the boat....that is saying a lot for me!

 

Here is where things start to improve. We move to shark and stingray alley, no fins allowed, in about four feet of water, and the crews starts feeding the locals.

 

My camera did not do justice to this stop, but it was a hit! Lots of rays, nurse sharks, and people of all ages acting like kids.

[DDFla]

We returned to the island for lunch and a little free time.

 

Lunch was ready as soon as we got off the boat. I opted for the local "Stewed chicken" with rice and beans and slaw. I thought it was good, sort of a milder jerk chicken taste. After we wandered down the street in front of the restaurant on this sleepy, beautiful, island.

Such posers....

[DDFla]

On the way back to the boat, one of the guides was working overtime to try and impress. The guides were very nice, very rasta, very fun!

Coconut milk had to be tried!

 

So, here again I have a mixed bag of feeling about this day, some good, some bad, some great. Bottom line, I'm glad I saw Caye Caulker!

 

By the time the tour returned to Belize city, it was time to board the tender back to the ship.

[sandi1967]

We returned to the island for lunch and a little free time.

 

Lunch was ready as soon as we got off the boat. I opted for the local "Stewed chicken" with rice and beans and slaw. I thought it was good, sort of a milder jerk chicken taste. After we wandered down the street in front of the restaurant on this sleepy, beautiful, island.

Such posers....

 

Hi,

 

My sister in law, bro-in-law and niece and nephew were on this tour with you too. The picture of the Tropical Paradise is three of them walking out. I am sure the kids all chatted. Christine said the same thing about the conditions of snorkling......the shark was also very cool she said.

 

Greg and I and our kids did this excursion three years ago and loved it....this time we just took a water taxi directly there and also had lunch at the Tropical Paradise. It was so delicious. We had about two hours to walk around. Kids loved the coconut tree right in front of the restaurant, the befriended this adorable dog who was playing the coconuts they got out of the tree.

 

I am still in North Carolina......need to get home to put pics up.

 

Happy Tuesday!

Sandi

[marshhawk]

Nice review- I love the Legend and did book one of your "ghetto" balconies for our next Legend cruise. I think I may keep the DH from reading this one, your girls are too cute! LOL

[DDFla]

This was the best room I've had. I really liked the location and couch/third bed. Sandi, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Caye Caulker, Glad we did it.

[DDFla]

Roatan. I have read over and over about West Bay and knew I had to go there in case I never make it back. I did the reasearch and saw that it was cheaper for this group to take the Victor Bodden Tour than to get a taxi. He offered so many side excursions that I didn't commit until we got there. I had tried to ask the girls to look at what was available, but got little help until the last minute when the little proclaimed she would indeed like to see the monkeys. Victor charged $25 pp for my group of 7 this time. Taxi's to West bay run $30 - $40 pp from what I've read, the monkeys were $5pp more (we didn't ask about the wife and my mother who didn't hold a monkey but paid anyway..) That extra $5 turned out to be one of the hits of the cruise with this group!

Our driver was Ron, a very pleasant young man, who dearly loves his country, and went out of his way to make sure we had as good a time as possible. Never pushy, never tried to sell extras...Fine fellow, that there Ron!

Victor's Van's were in good shape and the A/C worked wonderfully! (Take note J W!) My only advise is let a smaller person sit in the seat right behind the driver due to leg room.

We walked off the ship into Mahagony Bay, very nice facility. Ron commented he heard Carnival spent over $60 Million building it, it looked like it. We did not spend much time here as it was a short port of call and did not see the beach area up close, but it did look nice from what we could see.

Anyway, Carnival discourages you from taking independent tours by not allowing those operators to pick you up inside the property. Now, if I were a rocket scientist and would have taken the time to read the email Victor sent me, I would have learned we could have got a ride over "The Hill" to where the independent operators line up outside the gate for about $2 pp. But, Nooooo! I didn't read that part until later! (It wasn't that bad of a hike, my 68 yr old Mother made it as well as my fat butt!)

Ron took us north to one of the villages and made a loop. This is a very poor area, but had some familiar retail establishments. The people are very friendly, and we were told crime is very low. Everyone speaks english and spanish, and they stress the spanish if you want to live there. After the fishing village (Lobster season was about to open), when went to Rons best spot for a view above the airport along a small dirt road the air traffic controller sue to reach the towner on the hill.

and the normal vendors who are always at these kind of spots.

 

After a few minutes it was time to move on.....

[DDFla]

Now, the side excursion that was the run away hit with the girls. We pull in to a normal looking residence, but notice the cables overhead. This is where Victor has the zip line and Monkey encounter. We paid the $5pp and walk behind the house to a couple of cages, nothing fancy, maybe a little depressing, but....these fellas got character!

 

This can't be a trained response?

As you can see the reactions were genuine, and when it was time to go, one little monkey didn't want us to leave and actually tried to bite the handler who tried to get it away from my daughter.

Now we're are finally off to West Bay!

[DDFla]

Ron stops again for another great view shot, and tells us about the healing powers of the Gumbilina (Sic) tree.

 

And then we were there. Ron ask if we wanted to go to the Mayan Princess which charged about $10 pp and included a chair, pool and use of facilities...the girls said no.

He took us to Banana rama, which he said was free as long as you bought something. I liked it! My photos do not do justice to this place, but I was right at home.

Ok, I will get my butt kicked for this photo...but..I'm telling a story!

[DDFla]

At the southern end of the beach is Tabyana. Here less than 20 yrds off the beach the reef starts, and oh what a reef it is!

 

I do not possess the vocabulary to tell you how much I enoyed this spot. I've dove and snorkeled all over the world. This is as good as it gets.

It's one of those places where you know, it didn't just happen by chance.

[sandi1967]

We were there too.......did we see you all? I think we left around 12:30 or so......I have looked at places there to stay for the week. I talked to someone from Florida there......their daughters are in college?? Was that you all??

 

Love reliving the week!!!

 

Sandi

[DDFla]

Next up, The Final Stop, Grand Cayman. If you didn't gather from my last post I be lovin' me some Roatan!

[DDFla]

We were there too.......did we see you all? I think we left around 12:30 or so......I have looked at places there to stay for the week. I talked to someone from Florida there......their daughters are in college?? Was that you all??

 

Love reliving the week!!!

 

Sandi

I feel the same way, I could go back here for a week in a minute! You didn't talk to me, but maybe Mom or my wife. My oldest daughter is a sophmore at Florida State (Captain of the Equistrian Team no less!)

[homeofthedogs]

Can't wait to read about Grand Cayman.... bring it on... :)

[Pooh72]

 

 

Wow........... I love these pictures.

[LovableGluttons]

I was on the Legend in March and fell for Roatan and Vic Bodden tours too.

[PixInAlbums]

Did you have your own snorkel equipment or did you rent from Tabyana or Bananarama? We're doing Bodden on the July 17th cruise and trying to decide where to fetch up after zipline/monkeys.

[ChefChuck]

How awesome was that!! Would love to do the same thing, we will be there on the 5th, do you have the guides name?? or any other info??

Thanks we will be on our honeymoon!!:eek::D:)

[PerfectMatch]

We are going on the Legend on the 10th - loved looking at your pics - PLEASE tell me whatever you know about getting that ride from the ship put of the Carnival area in Roatan. I normally use a walker due to arthritis and I would prefer not to take it out that day because we are going on a sail/snorkle tour. Thanks so much for your advice!

[gtalum]

We are going on the Legend on the 10th - loved looking at your pics - PLEASE tell me whatever you know about getting that ride from the ship put of the Carnival area in Roatan. I normally use a walker due to arthritis and I would prefer not to take it out that day because we are going on a sail/snorkle tour. Thanks so much for your advice!

 

You just get in a cab and they'll take you over the hill for $2 per person.

[Indianaseadog]

Not to steal the OP's thunder. I was on the Legend 6/5-6/12 and went to West Bay and snorkeled the exact same spot. We rented equipment from a vendor on the beach for $10.00 each. Equipment appeared to be new and in excellent condition (assuming was well sanitized...didnt get sick anyway). As OP stated, the reef there is AMAZING.

[Honeyroastedmelnut]

Would you recommend the Caye Caulker and Shark/Ray Alley excursion? How did the reef area compare to Tabyana in Roatan. I've snorkeled Tabyana and loved it.

[DDFla]

Caye Caulker is worth the trip to me, just to see the island, even though you do not have much time there. The shark and ray encounter is fun for the kids, but if you have been to stingray city, you've seen about the same thing. The reef is very good in Belize, but the conditions that day and the amount of people on the tour were not. That said, it is a safe, guided tour and again, I have done a lot of diving and snorkeling, all over the world. The reef part of the trip is about 45 minutes, the rays and sharks another 30, the time on the island is about an hour including eating your lunch. The trip was about $80 pp, I used their equipment that day and I wish I would have brought mine, well let me try to clarify. I have a much better snorkel, theirs did not fit my mouth well, the mask and fins were adequate and some people had better snorkels than I ended up with. I had my own in West Bay. I heard you can rent gear there for about $10.

So what am I saying. If you are only going to snorkel one time, and you don't care about the stingrays and nurse sharks, I would make the trip to West Bay and rent something on the beach. You are not going to have people climbing all over you, you can go at your own pace, and the reef is amazing and right on the beach.

If you want to see Caye Caulker, you can get a water taxi, but, be careful with your time, it's takes almost an hour each way to get there.

If I go back to Belize, next time I will cave tube, or go to the ruins, now that I've been to Caye Caulker.

[DDFla]

Grand Cayman. This island will always be special, because it was the first place outside of the US I ever went to on a dive trip. That was about 100 lbs ago and 30 years. (Shout out to my high school chemistry teacher and dive instructor, thanks Dave!, He's still around and still diving!) Before the cruise lines found Grand Cayman. It was like visiting another world. It is also the first place out of this country my girls visited. It is the cleanest, safest, Island I have ever visited. Last trip we did Stingray City with Moby Dick tours and they were great. This time we settled for a very low key day.

Again, we had to get a "ticket" for a tender, and wait, in the Follies lounge, which to me, seemed longer than usual. We got off the ship and the girls wanted to go directly to Guy Harvey's store. If you are not a coastal / fish person, you may not have heard of Guy Harvey, but he is a Grand Cayman Icon. His work is on the tenders. Last trip he was in the store, very approachable, signed everything we bought, and stood for pictures with us....unfortunately, he was on one of his many adventures this day.

I like that shot...

Guy Harvey's

The Stingray fountain

Next, I had to try it, I read you can catch the bus from "Downtown" to the beach for $2 pp (Cayman). We walked about three blocks from where you get off the tender, ask one person, and boom, the "Bus" was there. They are actually vans and they stop frequently, but for $2.50pp US and about fifteen minutes we were at a public area of seven mile beach.

There are picnic tables, showers and restrooms, and a Calico Jacks restaurant/bar.

We spent the rest of our day right there. I had a couple beers and some Conch Fritters (Ok), and was a happy camper. The girls were antsy about the time and we headed back earlier than I would have liked, but it was the end of a very long week now.