Sassy's Mom Posted February 7, 2012 #1 Share Posted February 7, 2012 On first cruise (4/2011), Roatan was on the itinerary but we weren't able to get into port due to the water conditions and the tenders weren't an option either. I recall sitting in HC and watching our approach to land. It seemed we stalled and then just spun around and left. In talking to other passengers, they said that Roatan is 50/50 at best to get into port (with or without tenders). We are doing the Western Caribbean again on the Crown in March (added Belize and took out Princess Cays) in hopes of making it ashore. Any thoughts or insights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avalong Posted February 7, 2012 #2 Share Posted February 7, 2012 On first cruise (4/2011)' date=' Roatan was on the itinerary but we weren't able to get into port due to the water conditions and the tenders weren't an option either. I recall sitting in HC and watching our approach to land. It seemed we stalled and then just spun around and left. In talking to other passengers, they said that Roatan is 50/50 at best to get into port (with or without tenders). We are doing the Western Caribbean again on the Crown in March (added Belize and took out Princess Cays) in hopes of making it ashore. Any thoughts or insights?[/quote'] We went on the Crown in March of 2010 and made it in to Roatan. I had no idea at the time that we were actually sort of lucky to have made it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephsschmoe Posted February 7, 2012 #3 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Mr and Mrs Joseph S Schmoe (representing the Schmoes of Tallahassee) have been there. We were on a Norwegian boat and things went without incident. Coxon Hole is not a tender port. The town itself has character. We didn't do any tours. Many of the shipmates rented atv's and took off for the beaches. A taxi at the pier would probably cost about $20. Some decent touring info on the web Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elkhorn20fan Posted February 7, 2012 #4 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We missed roatan two weeks ago to high winds, the ship has to back into the pier and it's really tight. The Captain said there will be making it bigger soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zahav1 Posted February 7, 2012 #5 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Please check under Roatan for port information. If you are a blood donor most likely you will not be able to donate blood for a year if you visit Roatan due to malaria possibility. Here in VA the Red Cross will not take your blood donation for a year, even if you have no symptoms and healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephsschmoe Posted February 7, 2012 #6 Share Posted February 7, 2012 BTW...when you visit Belize (which is a tender port)...the Schmoes can't speak highly enough of Alan Dawson at Experience Belize Tours. He guided us through the Mayan ruins at Alton Ha. Mr. Schmoe was disappointed at the cancellation of the daily sacrifice due to the scarcity of suitable virgins. When the Schmoes again visit Belize, we will seek out Mr. Dawson and join whatever tour he is leading. He is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roses2 Posted February 7, 2012 #7 Share Posted February 7, 2012 On two Western Caribbean cruises we had no problem either time. It is a tight docking proposition especially with 2 ships at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1025cruise Posted February 7, 2012 #8 Share Posted February 7, 2012 The entry to Mahogany Bay is a bit tricky. If there is any wind, it makes it difficult to enter the narrow channel, backwards. Only Carnival brand ships dock at Mahogany Bay. NCL will dock at Coxen Hole. I have heard that if its too tight to get into Mahogany Bay, that sometimes the ships will attempt to tender in to it, or to Coxen Hole. Unfortunately, the call to skip might not be made until they attempt to enter the channel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vie lee Posted February 7, 2012 #9 Share Posted February 7, 2012 That is way interesting about not being able to donate blood. I would have never checked that, but I do donate blood because I have a rare type and I am always getting calls from the local blood bank. I have been to Roatan a long time ago just after it became a port. I am on the same cruise as Sassy's Mom, so I believe I will not be getting off the ship there. Thanks for the heads up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putterdude Posted February 7, 2012 #10 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We made it in on the Crown last January....the longest back up that I have experienced ..... but later learned that if the wind had been a knot or two stronger we would have not stopped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovevacadays Posted February 7, 2012 #11 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We made it back in 2009 on the Crown. We were very lucky becausse we were the last Princess sailing scheduled to dock at Coxen Hole. The next week is when they opened Mahogany Bay. I would hate to miss this port if I traveled there again. It's my favorite caribbean port. I hope that what one of the posters here stated is true - that they will try and make the channel bigger. That sounds like a huge undertaking but I do wonder how much money the Carnival owned Mahogany Bay pier area is losing due to all the sailings that seem to not be able to dock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam Green Posted February 7, 2012 #12 Share Posted February 7, 2012 No problem getting to Roatan in December 2010 on the Carnival Valor. We enjoyed the visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepWaterMariner Posted February 7, 2012 #13 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We've been to Roatan three times and never had a problem. Those visits were on NCL and RCI ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
as19111 Posted February 7, 2012 #14 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We made it on the Crown Princess in February, 2011. No problems that I can recall, but I think the cruise before us (maybe after) skipped the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billie5 Posted February 7, 2012 #15 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Also been to Roatan three times -- and no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vexorg Posted February 7, 2012 #16 Share Posted February 7, 2012 At our meet-and-greet on the Crown Princess last week, Captain Nash talked a little bit about the determining factors for when a ship can or cannot make it into Roatan, and said that the widening of the channel at Mahogany Bay should be completed sometime by March. He said that this would provide a bit more margin for error on ships being able to get into port, but not a whole lot. Currently, they have to abort this docking if there are winds of more than 25 knots; with the widened channel this number will be increased to somewhere around 28 knots. Personally, I haven't ever had a chance to sail a Western Caribbean itinerary, so I don't know what the conditions here are normally like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windward1989 Posted February 7, 2012 #17 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I went on the Crown late January of last year. We had beautiful weather -- I guess we were lucky! I did the swim/snorkel/nature walk, and I would have to say that it is the best shore excursion that I've ever had. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindsayuw Posted February 7, 2012 #18 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We made it no problem on Norwegian Spirit a few years back. We didn't tender in, but pulled right up to the pier and it was a bit rainy and windy. Good luck on your next trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go-Bucks! Posted February 7, 2012 #19 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We were able to dock when I was there in 2003. Back then very few ships went to Roatan, the new dock wasn't built yet, and the island was very non-commercial. We had a fabulous time and so far it's my favorite Caribbean port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverdees05 Posted February 7, 2012 #20 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We sailed on the Carnival Legend out of Tampa on January 22, 2012 and did make it into Roatan on January 27th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDSue Posted February 7, 2012 #21 Share Posted February 7, 2012 That is way interesting about not being able to donate blood. I would have never checked that, but I do donate blood because I have a rare type and I am always getting calls from the local blood bank. I have been to Roatan a long time ago just after it became a port. I am on the same cruise as Sassy's Mom, so I believe I will not be getting off the ship there. Thanks for the heads up! That's really noble of you to donate blood, especially since you have a rare type. Since Roatan is not part of the mainland of Honduras,so I wonder if they have the same problem with blood donation. Roatan is by far my favorite destination in the Western Caribbean. The island and people are wonderful. I haven't been to Mahagonay Bay yet, docked at Coxen Hole both times. You need to take an island tour to see the true beauty. You'll be missing a great port- I'd think I'd donate right before going and then wait till you can donate again (but I admire your dedication!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sassy's Mom Posted February 7, 2012 Author #22 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Thank you so much for your posts. At the time, the child we were sponsoring lived in Honduras so I really had my heart set on it. I will definitely keep an eye on the wind conditions to see what our chances are. It would be disappointing to miss it twice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compozer Posted February 7, 2012 #23 Share Posted February 7, 2012 WE were just there at Christmas. Our favorite port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 5:00_Somewhere Posted February 7, 2012 #24 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We were there for the first time in December 2010 and enjoyed it very much. As others have said, the island is beautiful and the people wonderfully warm and open and friendly. We liked it so much, we booked our upcoming Western Caribbean cruise partly because it included Roatan (and Belize, which will be new for us.) Looking forward to it, and hoping we get in. On the other hand, if we can't make it, we also like sea days. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolmama_1 Posted February 7, 2012 #25 Share Posted February 7, 2012 We were able to make it in on the Crown in 4/10 and 2/11 with no trouble. We also love Roatan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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