miss_rach

All,

Thinking about a vacation to Roatan vs a cruise stop on the Island for a few hours.

This past trip we took a taxi out to Bananarama for the day and relaxed on the beach and took the water taxi to West End. We had a great time and as I mentioned are thinking about a week stay on the beach. We've heard that Mayan Princess does AI don't think Bananarama does but we're not sure if its worth the extra $$$.

Has anyone been to Mayan Princess? How was the stay I know its not far from Bananarama but want to see if anyone has stayed there and is it worth it. Also, are there restaurants on West Bay beach if we decide not to do an AI.

Any thoughts would be great, even it there's other places to stay.

Cheers!

Does anyone know of a small sort of grocery store a around that sells beer, snacks, etc...I'm not saying walmart but a place where I can get some basics. Or is that at West End?

Thanx for this info...we like to find good places to snorkel and might try this place when we get there next year.

We have the same Itinerary next year and a lot if this info will help me make my plans!

Cheers!

Maybe its not the AI but we loved West Bay and want to go and not just have a few hours there. We'd like to spend 4 - 7 days there and just relax. So maybe its not an AI per-say but a place that has places to eat and drink and offers things to do.

Well the wife and I loved West Bay beach so much that we are talking about doing an all inclusive there. Does anyone have any info on what resorts do them out there? I know this is the cruise forum but figured that there's someone else out there that's had to ask this question. We were at Bananarama for the day and it was great but would like to find out all the resorts that do all inclusives there.

Cheers!

Crewsweeper is correct. See my post here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1469343&page=16.

They have everything you want, even had a giant blow up water slide out in the water for the kids, I'm not sure who has that but would imagine that its Infinity Bay resort, we were at Bananarama but just walk down the beach to snorkel. You can also get folks that will pull you using a kayak out thru the coral to snorkel if you are not a good/strong swimmer don't know costs since we did it on our own. Its worth the trip out to westbay!!!

Fat Tuesdays is right in the port...not cheap....truth is that its not much cheaper than being on the ship....a beer was close to $5 (US) for a bottle of beer!

This is the area that someone pointed out to me in a thread months and months ago and where I plan on going in a few weeks:

 

We just returned from Roatan last week. We did the cruise package thru Bananarama ($30/pp) they picked us up at the port and brought us across the Island to the resort. Its an amazing place there on West bay beach. We had our lounge chairs and complimentary drink. Relaxed for about an hour then figured it was time to figure out how to get out thru the coral based on the pic above. We walked down past the pier to Infinity bay resort, the walk was less than 5 minutes down the beach. When you get down past the pier you will now see jugs out in the water. Someone has attached jugs as markers that guide you out thru the coral. Its impossible to miss. The coral even around the markers is the best I've ever seen and has all sorts of fish, conch, stingray, etc....We went out to the wall but it dropped off so fast that we were not able to see anything because it gets so deep so fast. You could spend the entire day snorkeling around the reef around the jugs/markers and see just about anything you want to. We loved it so much that we are planning on doing and an all inclusive at one of the resorts on the westbay beach in the next year or two.

If you dive catch a water taxi ($3/pp/way) to west end. I'd say that about every other shop was a dive store. We wanted to find some fresh conch and our water taxi driver (Big John) said to go to the Lighthouse restaurant. We found that and had some fresh conch sea food fritters. They were the best conch fritters I've had in many years, the fritters were the size of a baseball!!!! I have GoPro video that I'm still working on getting edited but will post up when I get done.

This is one place we will be back at for sure!!!!

We're going to be in Belize next week and want to find some pharmacies. Where are they located at not just in the port area but outside as well.

Do they carry Rxs much like in Cozumel?

Thanx Guess!

How is the shopping around the west end? Any good places to get authentic food and drink there?

Wife doesn't do much water stuff and has heard about the water taxi to/from west end. We will be at Bananarama for the day. I've heard its only a few minute water taxi ride over. From Bananarama where do we go to catch the water taxi to west end? Do they run specific times? What is the cost? Are they hard to find?

Cheers!

Just figured it out....here's the info you all need if you wish to book a package with them:

Thank you for contacting us!

for reservation you can call our reception office, because of the payment it has to be in advance once the payment is made i will send u a confirmation and the information where our driver will pick u up, you just give us a time to schedule your pick up.

Thank You,

Pamela Rankin.

Bananarama Dive and Beach Resort

Roatan, Honduras, West Bay Beach C.A.

Tel. 504-2445-5006-5005/

Cell 504-94563382

USA Line 1-727-5649058.

Open from 7am to 10pm Everyday.

I called the 727 number and only got VM numerous times so I called the Roatan number: 011-504-2445-5006 and made my reservation with Pamela.

Does anyone know how to contact them? I've been to the webpage and called the local (US number) and only got voice mail, sent them a few emails from the webpage but nothing. We depart in a few days and I want to see about getting one of the cruise packages that they say they offer on the webpage but am sort of getting worried that maybe they don't exist....

We want to get the $30/pp package that gets round trip transportation to and from MB, lounge chairs, a welcome drink and use of the beach.

That package seems to be the cheapest the Victor Bodden tours seem to only offer round trip to and from no reserve chairs, etc.

Can anyone help?

 

I found this as I was searing for places to snorkel:

I was out snorkeling the bits of reef from Infinity to "the wall" past Black Rock daily for three of those weeks. I can tell you every day I saw something new, I followed a sea turtle for about an hour one day. I saw a thing like a cross between a lobster and an armadillo, I still have no idea what it was. There are nine zillion fishes of so many colors and sizes I stopped counting. Came upon two different kinds of jelly fish. I found a spot between the reef bits I started called my "field of stars" cause I could count over 100 star fish. I get a kick out of swimming out to the edge of the reef to watch the big fish appear out of the blue. This is my humble opinion of the sea life between Infinity and the wall.

 

Is Infinity close to Bananarama?

I found some info on the Bananarama, the article said that they have a package for something like $30/pp pick up, drop off, rental chair, welcome drink and use of the facilities.

Has anyone done that? How is the snorkeling there? Is it close to an access point out through the reef to the wall or deep water?

From what I've been able to find a taxi is $25/pp so it seems like a good deal.

Does anyone know how to contact this place (email or phone).

Cheers!

We arrive at MB on Carnival Valor at 0900 and depart at 6PM. We want to get out to Tabyana Beach to spend the day on the beach and swim and snorkel.

When we get off the ship how should we get to Tabyana Beach? I assume taxi? Once we get out to the Tabyana Beach area are there taxis for return trip or do I need to plan to have the same Taxi drive come and pick us up?

Thanx for any info we leave next week (11 July).

cavetubing with the cavetubing.bz folks

I found a copy of the Fun Times for the Carnival Valor. We DO NOT have ship excursions and the Fun Times says " Guests going ashore without excursions or on a private tour go to Eagles Lounge, Deck 5 Aft to collect your tender ticket starting at 7:45 AM"

My question(s) are:

A. They say 0745, what time do people actually start lining up?

B. Can I line up by myself and get this ticket or does everyone need to line up?

C. Whats this ticket thing? I've only tendered 1 other time and that was to Grand Cayman and there were no tickets. We lined up as a group and first come first served in getting on the tender.

All/any other tips would be great!

thanx for the info!

Typically we don't do any of the excursions offered from the ship. We plan to catch a cab up to Tabyana Beach. Are there lounge chairs/chairs on the beach for rent, first come first serve, etc..? If Tabyana Beach is just a place is there a hotel or a place to rent that stuff? Not looking for a place like Infinity Bay Resort that is very nice buy $$$ as well. If there are chairs to rent and food and drink that's what we are looking for to be able to spend a few hours on the beach and then go off and do other things.

Cheers!

If we go to Tabayana Beach Break are there chairs/loungers to rent? Food and drink? Or do we need to go to the place that has the one day passes? We don't want to make an entire day of it so not sure I want to buy a 1 day pass for the family and only spend a few hours.

Thanx for all the info! We'll be there in a few weeks and plan to head out there once we get off the ship for a few hours of snorkeling!

We've been researching that some of the best snorkeling on the Island is out around West Bay.

True?

If so when we get into MB how do we get out there? Are there buses that run out there or will we have to cab?

How long of a ride out there is it to West Bay from MB?

Cheers!

Arriving at MB 15 July on Carnival. We're there from 0900 - 6PM. WE are looking for some good places to snorkel, we'd rather bus/cab to a beach and go out from the beach. We have our own gear and are experienced swimmers. If there's a place with restrooms, a bar to get drinks/food would be better but if not that's ok.

Recommendations?