zydecocruiser Posted November 17, 2005 #1 Share Posted November 17, 2005 Taken while on Nov 6, 2005 sailing of the Sun. The early morning tour sold out and they added a second one that left at noonish. Price was $69 and lasted about 3 1/2 hours. There was a good assortment of live coral at the snorkel location, but not a lot of fish. They said we would snorkel for 45 minutes, but it was more like 30. Snorkel vests were required, but you didn't have to inflate. You did not have to play follow the leader, but were sort of herded into a somewhat confined area by the tour company. They used kayaks to keep an eye on the snorkelers and would politely tell me (several times) that I was out of bounds. Oh well. ;) I will preface with I'm not a beach person, but Bannister Caye did not appeal much to me - perhaps to others it would. The included rum punch on the catamaran was good enough for me - make sure they float some additional rum on top! The pharmacy at the tender dock doesn't have generic Tamiflu, but may in about 6 months. zydecocruiser is presenting zbelize - zy - 2005 (164 pictures) Click on the link above to view the pictures in this album. As the recipient, you can download, re-share and order prints and merchandise containing these pictures. Please do not use the owner's pictures in an unexpected way. If you are having trouble seeing the View Album button above, copy and paste the link below into your browser. http://pictures.aol.com/ap/viewShare.do?shareInfo=esv4e%2b9w77l1NZ4g0g5ICRg7K02VcgiP0P6ykdfaGPBWGd%2bBXiXp6w%3d%3d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabloverinCa Posted November 18, 2005 #2 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Did you take this tour with the ship's excursions or a private company ? We are doing the Bannister Island excursion through Coral Breeze. It includes a Manatee preserve, snorkeling the reef and beach time. Each stop is short, but the ship isn't there that long, so it's understandable. How was the water for snorkeling ? Was it pretty smooth or did you find yourself fighting a current and waves ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted November 18, 2005 Author #3 Share Posted November 18, 2005 I went through the ship. Didn't feel like loosing sleep to stand in line for tender tickets. This trip left directly from the ship and returned us directly to the ship. No tendering :) If Coral Breeze takes you to the same snorkeling area, the water was fine. Also the depth was maybe 15 feet, so you weren't going to accidently brush against the coral. A different area than the shark ray tours go to and one that I liked better. No snorkeling an Bannister. You could, but you won't see anything in the designated swimming area. I did find the employees on Bannister to be friendly and not pushy at all. Don't know anything about the manatees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizinrican Posted December 1, 2005 #4 Share Posted December 1, 2005 I loved the pictures of of Belize and Bannister Island, thank you for posting them. I can't wait to take the kids to this excursion! Cruizinrican:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozumel-Ian Posted December 2, 2005 #5 Share Posted December 2, 2005 Hi Zydecruiser Do you know the name of the tour you took? I know a tour that takes 65 ft catamarans to Turneffe Reef and Bannister Caye, but I think they have more snorkeling time: www.belize-paradise.com Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted December 7, 2005 Author #6 Share Posted December 7, 2005 Hi Zydecruiser Do you know the name of the tour you took? I know a tour that takes 65 ft catamarans to Turneffe Reef and Bannister Caye, but I think they have more snorkeling time: www.belize-paradise.com Ian Looks like the same boat, same company, basically the same tour. We were supposed to have more snorkeling time, but didn't. The early morning tour got back late so the second shift lost out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisegirl29 Posted December 11, 2005 #7 Share Posted December 11, 2005 Hi, I'm wondering if anyone knows the times that this tour is available? I know they have one in the Morning & Afternoon but would like to know what the morning time is! Thanks, Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozumel-Ian Posted December 12, 2005 #8 Share Posted December 12, 2005 Hi cruise_girl These tours are ONLY offered to cruise ship passengers and they pick up from the ship direct, so the arrival and departure times will be timed to fit in with your ship's itinery - probably best to book it with your cruise line in advance and they ought to be able to confirm the exact times that way too... Hope that helps... Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted December 13, 2005 Author #9 Share Posted December 13, 2005 One huge advantge of these trips is that you leave from the ship and are returned to the ship. No need to waste time standing in line for tender tickets going in or in line coming back. If you do want to go ashore after a tour and there is time - can just wait at the gangway for the next tender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IScubaSlo Posted December 13, 2005 #10 Share Posted December 13, 2005 Question for you NCL just posted excursions online for our cruise on the Sun leaving 2/25. They have two snorkel excursions: 1. Catamaran & Barrier Reff Snorkeling 3.5 hr 69.00 2. Shark Ray Alley & Beach Lunch 7.5 hr 99.00 Which one did you go on and which would you recommend? Thanks Cheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozumel-Ian Posted December 14, 2005 #11 Share Posted December 14, 2005 zydecocruiser may be able to recommend one from personal experience, or you can see the full descriptions on the tour operators website too: www.belize-paradise.com Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted December 14, 2005 Author #12 Share Posted December 14, 2005 Question for you NCL just posted excursions online for our cruise on the Sun leaving 2/25. They have two snorkel excursions: 1. Catamaran & Barrier Reff Snorkeling 3.5 hr 69.00 2. Shark Ray Alley & Beach Lunch 7.5 hr 99.00 Which one did you go on and which would you recommend? Thanks Cheryl I went on the one titled in the thread, so I guess 1) would be the closest., but not exaclty. It was about a 3.5 hour tour. What was offered on the ship was not exactly what was listed in the pre-cruise excusions list. We snorkeled a reef and then went to Bannister island. Two of our ports were impacted by Wilma (Playa and Cozumel), so that changed a few things including lots of people wanting to do shore excurions in the only two ports we had left. There was only one snorkel trip/beach offered, but it sold out so fast they scheduled a second one which quite possibly resulted in the reduced snorkel time. I've been to Shark Ray alley a couple of times before, but not through a ship's tour. I did ask about that one off of the Sun, but they seemed quite certain that I woud not have time to do anything else (like hit the pharmacy) if I took that tour. The tour company NCL used was Belize Paradise, but not sure for the shark ray alley tour. The one listed on Belize Paradise can't be a 7 1/2 hour tour - it says 3 hours 50 minutes, and doesn't list lunch. it is also Stingray Village - not Shark Ray alley. All things considered (including I'm not much of a beach person), I would sign up for the Sting Ray Village/Horsehoe Reef one off of the Belize Paradise page, but that doesn't seem to be one of your choices? Probably doesn't really answer your question, and if so, try asking again? Oh yeah - I am an experience snorkler, so what I am looking for probably would not be what a beginner or weak swimmer might be happier with. Just an FYI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IScubaSlo Posted December 14, 2005 #13 Share Posted December 14, 2005 My husband and I are both Scuba Divers. My husband has been having ear problems the last couple of months so he is not allowed to dive this time. Thats why we will be snorkeling this time......wish we could dive in Belize, but it will have to wait till another time. Thanks for all your info it has been very, very helpful. Cheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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