Western Caribbean Excursions

[Hiipy]

We are cruising on the legend to the western caribbean (exotic) in Nov. From suggestions of read here on cruise critic, it sounds like most people book from independent tour companies. We are looking into the cave tubing in Belize and zip and dip in roatan. Has anybody booked separate-have suggestions as to which companies are best? Also, do you book ahead of time or just get off the boat and find a company?

 

Thanks!

[BeccaBecca1713]

I don't have personal experience but folks on here very frequently mention Victor Bodden Tours. Maybe google him and search his name on the threads.

[CasinoQueen]

The best place to find information about the different tour guides is on the boards for each of the ports you will be visiting. However, I have used and do know that Victor Boden is considered the best in Rotan.

[EMc&DrS]

Definitely book with Victor Bodden in advance. Your car and driver will be waiting when you get off the boat. Otherwise, you will be swamped by vendors trying to get your business.

 

Didn't go cave tubing, but my CC friend Crewsweeper did two weeks ago. He used a private company and seemed happy with the excursion. Check out his review for details.

[Irishlinny]

Definitely Victor Bodden in Roatan. You can look at his website (boddentours dot com) for ideas on what you would like to do, and you will get your own driver for the day. Marty was excellent (you can request certain drivers). Definitely hit the West End beaches...gorgeous! If you like to snorkel, go to Tabayana and you can snorkel from the shore.

Major Tom is one of the most popular ones for cavetubing in Belize (we haven't done that)..

Grand Cayman...definitely go to Stingray City...amazing! We have used Moby Dick and Nativeway...both good but preferred Moby Dick.

Cozumel has so many options. We have done Nachi Cocom ($49 all inclusive). Includes alcoholic drinks, full lunch you order from menu (very good), chairs under palapas. They only allow 100 people per day, so you'd want to reserve ahead.

We have also gone to Chankanaab Marine Park. They have dolphin swims, sea lions, They also have a pool with swim-up bar, good snorkeling right from the beach. reatuarant/bar, and some areas to walk through. Both of these places are a quick taxi ride from the port.

We've also done the Cozumel Bar Hop bus, which was a blast! They meet you at the port and bring you to 4 or 5 beach bars on the Eastern side (more undeveloped) of the island. The beaches are beautiful over there, you get a free drink at each of these unique bars, and the guides are great!

You can find more suggestions for each port in the Ports of Call section of these boards. Have a great time...we LOVE the Legend!!:)

[KCMarie]

Definitely Victor Bodden in Roatan. You can look at his website (boddentours dot com) for ideas on what you would like to do, and you will get your own driver for the day. Marty was excellent (you can request certain drivers). Definitely hit the West End beaches...gorgeous! If you like to snorkel, go to Tabayana and you can snorkel from the shore.

 

Major Tom is one of the most popular ones for cavetubing in Belize (we haven't done that)..

 

Grand Cayman...definitely go to Stingray City...amazing! We have used Moby Dick and Nativeway...both good but preferred Moby Dick.

 

Cozumel has so many options. We have done Nachi Cocom ($49 all inclusive). Includes alcoholic drinks, full lunch you order from menu (very good), chairs under palapas. They only allow 100 people per day, so you'd want to reserve ahead.

We have also gone to Chankanaab Marine Park. They have dolphin swims, sea lions, They also have a pool with swim-up bar, good snorkeling right from the beach. reatuarant/bar, and some areas to walk through. Both of these places are a quick taxi ride from the port.

We've also done the Cozumel Bar Hop bus, which was a blast! They meet you at the port and bring you to 4 or 5 beach bars on the Eastern side (more undeveloped) of the island. The beaches are beautiful over there, you get a free drink at each of these unique bars, and the guides are great!

 

You can find more suggestions for each port in the Ports of Call section of these boards. Have a great time...we LOVE the Legend!!:)

 

I will second Major Tom in Belize. It was the highlight of our cruise last year. Minor Tom was our tour guide, fantastic!

 

Also, we make it a point of always going to Nachi Cocom in Cozumel. We've always had wonderful service and they will go out of their way to hook you up with the parasailing and scuba folks.

Little tip on that...we were the first customers to ask about the parasailing package the morning we arrived last March. We got a tidy discount to be the first to go out in the boat and go parasailing. They love to get folks up in the air so that other potential customers see and want to go too. I have no problem being someone's free advertising and getting a really nice discount!

 

Oh, and always book ahead for whatever excursion you are going to do if possible. It hasn't happened to us since we always reserve in advance, but the boards have many people who have reported about excursions that were canceled due to not enough demand.

 

Have a great cruise!

[wack001]

We are cruising on the legend to the western caribbean (exotic) in Nov. From suggestions of read here on cruise critic, it sounds like most people book from independent tour companies. We are looking into the cave tubing in Belize and zip and dip in roatan. Has anybody booked separate-have suggestions as to which companies are best? Also, do you book ahead of time or just get off the boat and find a company?

 

Thanks!

 

There are a number of companies, you also need to go to the port board and do a little homework, this is not the board for your post. I never take ship excursions, in Belize go with Riggie, he is the original and HONEST. If you go to my blog I list a ton of information.

cruisinbob

[TakeMeAway1001]

We are cruising on the legend to the western caribbean (exotic) in Nov. From suggestions of read here on cruise critic, it sounds like most people book from independent tour companies. We are looking into the cave tubing in Belize and zip and dip in roatan. Has anybody booked separate-have suggestions as to which companies are best? Also, do you book ahead of time or just get off the boat and find a company?

 

Thanks!

 

Welcome to CC~ Here is a link to the ports boards :)http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587 there is a ton of info here you just need to visit each port thread and you'll get some great feedback.

 

I have used Victor Bodden and I have also used Cave-tubing dot net. I always book ahead of time since I like to have a plan before we arrive :)

[antarctic penguin]

We are cruising on the legend to the western caribbean (exotic) in Nov. From suggestions of read here on cruise critic, it sounds like most people book from independent tour companies. We are looking into the cave tubing in Belize and zip and dip in roatan. Has anybody booked separate-have suggestions as to which companies are best? Also, do you book ahead of time or just get off the boat and find a company?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Which cruise are you on in November? Four of us will be on Legend on the Nov. 27 sailing from Tampa...

 

Re Roatan--- we did the tour with Victor Bodden including ziplining and a bit of a tour and a stop at his home to see the anteaters and monkeys and also stopped at an orphanage (for which we had brought colouring books, crayons etc. for the kids). Would highly recommend him--- we all (about 11 of us) had a great day.