CandyCruiser1106 Posted October 6, 2015 #1 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Debating between these two excursions - Tabyana Beach Break or Maya Key Private Island? Which one would you choose? They're both offered by Carnival! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandyCruiser1106 Posted October 6, 2015 Author #2 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I forgot to say "Thank you in advance" for all answers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXASMUNK Posted October 6, 2015 #3 Share Posted October 6, 2015 be sure to bring bug spray that contains DEET. The island has little tiny sand fleas that bite and this will totally stop that from happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7upp Posted October 6, 2015 #4 Share Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) My family did zip lining and Tabyana beach. Both were nice. Edited October 6, 2015 by 7upp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Ocean Lover Posted October 6, 2015 #5 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I vote for Tabyana Beach Break. This was my first ever excursion and probably the best snorkeling I've ever done (and have done quite a bit). It's a bit of a drive from the port but well worth it. I'm not a fan of pool swimming when you have an ocean right there but I know there are others that feel differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torwa Posted October 7, 2015 #6 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Tabyana Beach, best snorkeling ever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelwoj Posted October 7, 2015 #7 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Maya Key, hands down. To this day it's one of our top 5 excursions. Best shore snorkeling ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ja_martin Posted October 7, 2015 #8 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Debating between these two excursions - Tabyana Beach Break or Maya Key Private Island? Which one would you choose? They're both offered by Carnival! The sand fleas ate me alive. Was in the water and on the beach and paid for it dearly. Tiny little red marks all over my arms and legs. The itching started a day or two later and lasted a week or so. I've never had itching like that before. I wanted to pull the skin right off of my body. I won't use a bug spray because I don't want those chemicals on my body. If you go to a beach, good luck. You can't see the sand fleas. Their nickname is "no seeums". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitbat Posted October 7, 2015 #9 Share Posted October 7, 2015 We loved Maya Key. Gorgeous beach, lots of room, good snorkeling. We didn't have any problem with bugs. We enjoyed walking around the island and seeing the animals, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ship2Shore41 Posted October 7, 2015 #10 Share Posted October 7, 2015 We were just at Tabyana Beach this last February and we had a great time. The weather was just right for that time of year. Great snorkeling and they have several of the locals out in kayaks, in case you want to venture out to deeper water. As far as the sand fleas go, neither myself or my wife had any issues with them. Trust me my wife is a magnet for anything that's looking for a meal:) Hope you have a great time and it's a beautiful island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare nydney1 Posted October 7, 2015 #11 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Avon makes a bug spray that is all natural. I think it is called Skin So Soft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea0517 Posted October 7, 2015 #12 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Maya Key was by far the best excursion we have ever done on any cruise ever! You get to snorkel for as long as you want & as many times as you want. We felt like this was so much nicer than being forced for everyone to do it at the same time. We felt like we were swimming in mountains of coral & there was many places to explore. We saw many different species of fish but that is just the luck of the draw. One thing we really liked was how calm the water was which made for a relaxing snorkeling adventure. There was a pool but that was not why we went. Enjoy which ever one you choose & make the most of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Nancy Posted October 7, 2015 #13 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Maya Key was by far our favorite excursion EVER on any cruise! 20 of us went and we were ages 8-70!!! The kids talk all the time about snorkeling there and playing with the monkey!!! We loved it! Worthy every penny and more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbmsmile Posted October 7, 2015 #14 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Maya Key, hands down. To this day it's one of our top 5 excursions. Best shore snorkeling ever. I agree! We have been here many times and love to snorkel here...good food too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QtbuggMom Posted October 7, 2015 #15 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Maya Key, hands down. To this day it's one of our top 5 excursions. Best shore snorkeling ever. I couldn't agree more! We had the most amazing day at Maya Key! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evandbob Posted October 7, 2015 #16 Share Posted October 7, 2015 (edited) The sand fleas ate me alive. Was in the water and on the beach and paid for it dearly. Tiny little red marks all over my arms and legs. The itching started a day or two later and lasted a week or so. I've never had itching like that before. I wanted to pull the skin right off of my body. I won't use a bug spray because I don't want those chemicals on my body. If you go to a beach, good luck. You can't see the sand fleas. Their nickname is "no seeums". I'm usually a magnet for mozzies and no see ums, but the two weeks (1 wk in Feb, 1 wk in May) I spent on Roatan at Infinity Bay resulted in no more than 2 or 3 bites total, and I was there at 4PM and at dusk and walking the West Bay beach at night to go to different restaurants. Some evenings I used a DEET spray on my ankles and calves, other nights I didn't. Sorry you got eaten, but glad I didn't. I would return for another week's stay in a heartbeat. Edited October 7, 2015 by evandbob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfjock27 Posted October 7, 2015 #17 Share Posted October 7, 2015 My vote is for Maya Key! We did this excursion in 2012 and still talk about it. The beach is gorgeous, snorkeling is amazing. My favorite part was the animal sanctuary/zoo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfjock27 Posted October 7, 2015 #18 Share Posted October 7, 2015 There is a point at Maya Key when snorkeling, that it drops into the ocean. It is the deepest color blue and SO beautiful. It literally takes your breathe away to see the huge drop and schools of hundreds of fish swimming in colored packs. Amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raxter54 Posted October 7, 2015 #19 Share Posted October 7, 2015 There is a point at Maya Key when snorkeling, that it drops into the ocean. It is the deepest color blue and SO beautiful. It literally takes your breathe away to see the huge drop and schools of hundreds of fish swimming in colored packs. Amazing. Same thing at Tabyana. They call it the Deep Blue, and may cause a Nemo moment when you swim over it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaiTaiMary Posted October 8, 2015 #20 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Are there vendors on the beach at Maya Key? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfjock27 Posted October 8, 2015 #21 Share Posted October 8, 2015 The best snorkeling we found was on the Jolly Roger Catamaran Sailing and snorkel. It was among the best snorkeling I've ever done, even better than Hawaii in my opinion. It was a really nice day aboard the catamaran, snorkeling, rum punch and lunch included. We had a blast. We did the private island in Belize, Starfish Island, which we loved. We paired that with a morning snorkel, then they bring you straight to the island after the snorkel. Whatever you decide, enjoy! No vendors!! It's an 11.5 acre private key. You have the beach with some of the best snorkeling. A pool. Huge lounge deck. Animal sanctuary/zoo. Gardens. Art Museum/Exhibit. We paid extra and did a one on one interaction with sea lion and sea turtles. It was a blast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1928 Posted October 8, 2015 #22 Share Posted October 8, 2015 We've done both and I would recommend either. The snorkeling in both places is excellent. The West Bay (Tabyana etc.) locations will have vendors (though less aggressive than some other places we've been) and have been fairly crowded (on shore) when we've been there, they're also a longer drive, but these options also tend to be a bit less expensive with more options for alacarte food/drinks. Maya key has the animal exhibits/encounters, some additional educational materials, more shade, and no vendors. They also have a dock that runs most of the way out to the reef so you can get to the first drop-off pretty quickly and a marked path through the coral channels to get to the "outside" of the reef. That's not a particular concern for me, but I've been on tours where inexperienced people struggled to navigate through a reef without hurting it or themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzget Posted October 8, 2015 #23 Share Posted October 8, 2015 No vendors!! It's an 11.5 acre private key. You have the beach with some of the best snorkeling. A pool. Huge lounge deck. Animal sanctuary/zoo. Gardens. Art Museum/Exhibit. We paid extra and did a one on one interaction with sea lion and sea turtles. It was a blast. No vendors is a good thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pirate4me2 Posted October 8, 2015 #24 Share Posted October 8, 2015 I recommend Maya Key. We did it in March and it was fantastic! There was so much to do, the water was amazing, and it was just a perfect relaxing day. I would go back again in a heartbeat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mabones Posted October 8, 2015 #25 Share Posted October 8, 2015 I would not go to Maya Key. They have been accused if stealing/illegally removing animals during an evening raid on Little French Key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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