Roatan Honduras safe?

[Gingee]

Not sure where to post this since there isn't a thread for Honduras.

Anyway today I mentioned that we are going to Roatan Honduras on our cruise and they gave me the look like "yikes that is a bad place to go". I kind of wondered about that myself but I thought it was just me. Has bad things happened there?

[cherylandtk]

Here is the thread for Roatan, Gingee:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=27

 

(It was under "R", not "H" ;))

 

And here is the latest consular information sheet:

 

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1135.html

[98Charlie]

Well, bad stuff happens anywhere. Roatan is very poor.

 

Having said that, we have been there 3 times and will return on the Valor later this year.

 

Go and enjoy. IMHO, it is no more dangerous than Mexico and probably less than Belize.

 

Click Here for the link to the Roatan Boards here on Cruise Critic.

 

Charlie

[LHT28]

We were there in March ..did an island tour & went to the beach.

No problems at all.

The people were friendly, DH even got a free cup of coffee from a lady at one of the tourist spots.

 

You just need to be aware of your surroundings no matter where you are even in your own neighbourhood!;)

[isujim]

We felt very safe there but took a ship's tour back in 2004..........it was one of our favorite stops.........at least then........commercialism and tourism hadn't taken over the island like say Cozumel.

[Gingee]

Thanks. The person who mentioned it is a police officer.

Maybe they are thinking of Columbia?

[Gingee]

What is Coxen Hole?

[98Charlie]

Coxen Hole is the main town near the port.

 

As you exit the port area it will be to the right. Basically one main street that runs for 6 or 8 blocks. There are local shops, grocery, school, etc.

 

Click Here for a map of Roatan. You will find Coxen Hole on the lower left side.

 

Most of your shipmates will probably head to the beaches on the west end. And, if you want beaches, that is the place to go. We have been by there (we're not much for any beach). The beaches didn't look as nice as at other ports of call, the streets were narrow (as are all that we have seen on Roatan) and very crowded with the ship in port.

 

The shops across from the beaches were similar to most that you encounter elswhere.

 

Charlie

[Gingee]

Thanks. From what I can see of the town, it looks kind of icky. Maybe it is better in person.

[98Charlie]

Thanks. From what I can see of the town, it looks kind of icky. Maybe it is better in person.

Roatan is, by all accounts, the way cruise ports of call were before all of the chain stores and major construction.

 

Even in person, you may find it "icky". (I like that expression:) ) If you are going to see glitz, glamour and "bling", it's not the port.

 

As we have said, it is one of our favorite stops. Part of the reason is that it does not have a bunch of cookie-cutter stores lining the streets near the port (or anywhere else on the island for that matter).

 

Charlie

[98Charlie]

..........Also Royal caribbean won a 30 year concession to take over the cruise pier. In their plans they're supposed to expand and create a nicer environment up to what some of the people on this thread is used to. ..........

This is kind of bittersweet for me. I would love to see the economy of the island and living conditions of the people improve:)

 

I really don't need to see another Diamond's International, Del Sol, etc. etc.:(

 

Oh well, you can't stop progress. We will be back there the week after Thanksgiving this year. I guess we take lot's of pictures to show the grandkids how it was "back in the day":rolleyes:

 

Charlie

[flowerchild]

I visited Roatan when it was a stop for the NCL Sun in 2002. We took a locally operated tour (not through the ship) to a beach (think it was Salt and Pepper) that included a lobster lunch and all beverages for $20 something. We loved it! That area of the caribbean is known for it's spectacular reefs, needless to say that the beach snorkeling was FIRST CLASS! I love cruising and "poorer" ports of call do not bother me. I've been to Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Caymen, Cozumel, Dominican Repulic, Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. Wanna talk about poor? Haiti and DR. A little scary? Bahamas and Jamaica...in fact, our experience in Jamaica was so tense that my husband swears never again! He said it was worse than any area he had ever seen in NY in his entire life... Mind you, we are both pretty adventurous and independant and not much fazes us! Speaking Spanish did help me feel more secure, but most everybody could speak limited English in Roatan. We even explored the local market and picked up some really nice local craftware. I saw the previous posts about crime, I know that there is crime everywhere, but like I said, it really did not seem scary to me at all. In fact, I found Roatan charming; very unspoiled, lovely, the people very friendly. My favorite memory of Roatan was exploring the beach area and beyond and finding a grove of plumeria (frangipani) trees, completely loaded with blooms in pinks, whites, reds and yellows. The perfume was intoxicating, as was the landscape. If you can get past the fact that it is a poor area (not too much so, land on the island is being bought up quickly and by wealthy foriegners) and that it is rather undeveloped, you will absolutely love its charm.