Belize 1st timer...so CONFUSED...HELP!!!

[moflojo]

My husband and I are going on our first cruise...Belize is the first port.

 

I have heard the most mixed reviews on what to do there.

 

What is your TOP suggestion for a wonderful day in Belize?

 

Beach? Ruins? HELP!

 

And, how would you book? I am on RCCL....any tips for that line?

 

Should I book ahead of time? If so do I need to try and find out what times my ship will be there at Port?

 

It all seems so very intimidating! Can you just tender to shore and walk around? Are you near a city when you port?

 

HELP!!!:eek:

[girlscruise2011]

I haven't been to Belize yet but am scheduled to go there on the Carnival Liberty for my Thanksgiving cruise this year. I work with a college aged girl that lived in Belize during High School and she says the thing to do there is visit Caye Caulker. So right now, thats my plan. Snorkel with the sharks and visit Caye Caulker.

 

There are lots of info on these boards and I'm sure others will come in to help you. Enjoy!

[Mom2B&Z]

We loved the trip to Lamanai, but we're big history buffs and loved the idea of a 1 hr + boat ride through the jungle.

Do get off the ship, it's a lovely country.

[ShellDil]

Belize is a beautiful country, but it's really not the type of place to just get off the ship and wander around. Most of the excursions are quite a distance from the port and the city itself isn't exactly welcoming. I would definitely have a plan in place before you get to the port. Either before your cruise or definitely before you tender!

 

Belize isn't really known for great beaches, but it is known for great snorkeling and amazing Mayan ruins. Very different type excursions, but you can't go wrong with either one!

 

I prefer independent excursions because they are usually less crowded, but if you can find a ship excursion that you like, go for it!

 

B & Z mentioned Lamanai, that would be my first choice. It's one of the ruins in Belize that I haven't been to yet and it sounds amazing. Our cruise didn't offer that tour and with the distance to get there and the length of time to get to that location I wasn't comfortable doing a private tour for that excursion.

 

I would just look around and see what interests you and then see if you can find a private one that is like it.

[Will in sunny FL]

You have two good choices : snorkeling the barrier reef or cave tubing/zipline combo tour. I would go for cave tubing/zipline, as you can snorkel barrier reef at other destinations. We booked the combo caves/zip with Major Tom at $85 each, with lunch and it was super. Get them at info@cave-tubing DOT net. Belize is spectacular.

 

We would suggest the snorkel trip stopping at Coral Gardens for snorkeling & then a swim with the rays & nurse sharks followed by a great local lunch on Caye Caulker with time for a walk around & look see & then a boat ride back to the Tourist Village for some shopping.

Look up the web site for Coral Breeze Tours for their trip info.

it is a fun time that we do twice each year.

Enjoy Belize.

Bill in FL

[larkwind]

We've done the cave tubing both times we've been there -- 10 yrs ago and a couple of weeks ago, both in january, both ship excursions. The first time it was just DH and I, so when we had the chance to take a couple of DS this year, we wanted them to have the great memory of cave tubing. They did enjoy it, although the 10yo wasn't thrilled with the very informative talk the guide did for us on the way to the river (plants, history, etc). Going down the river in a group (tubes hooked together) rather than individually might seem too protected, but it was a great way to relax and look at the cave, etc w/o having to steer the tube all the time. We broke apart near the end and it was fun but more work. Warmer this year, too.

Be sure to sign up for the one that has the lunch with it!

 

Snorkeling/diving is on my bucket list for next time in Belize. Do that in Roatan if you stop there -- absolutely beautiful!

[Mom2B&Z]

Belize is a beautiful country, but it's really not the type of place to just get off the ship and wander around. Most of the excursions are quite a distance from the port and the city itself isn't exactly welcoming. I would definitely have a plan in place before you get to the port. Either before your cruise or definitely before you tender!

 

Belize isn't really known for great beaches, but it is known for great snorkeling and amazing Mayan ruins. Very different type excursions, but you can't go wrong with either one!

 

I prefer independent excursions because they are usually less crowded, but if you can find a ship excursion that you like, go for it!

 

B & Z mentioned Lamanai, that would be my first choice. It's one of the ruins in Belize that I haven't been to yet and it sounds amazing. Our cruise didn't offer that tour and with the distance to get there and the length of time to get to that location I wasn't comfortable doing a private tour for that excursion.

 

I would just look around and see what interests you and then see if you can find a private one that is like it.

(I'm on the laptop not the iPad so typing is much easier lol!)

Lamanai was amazing. It does take time to get there: early disembarkation from ship, 1+hr bus ride, 1.25h boat ride through the jungle with some amazing wildlife (we saw crocodiles, birds, spider monkeys), then amazing ruins at Lamanai. You can climb the pyramids and temples, which is a big attraction since this is something you can't do in Mexico. The ruins were excavated by a Canadian from the Royal Ontario Museum, so it has particular interest to us as Canadians from Ontario ;) Our guide Simone was amazing, she had extensive historical knowledge of the site and answered all of our questions, even though we had done some research on the site before we went.

We went with our two boys who are 6.5 and 4 yrs old respectively, and for that reason we did a ship tour. I'm not usually keen on booking things through the ship, but with a tour going that far away from port, multiple forms of transportation and thus multiple opportunities for error, we felt safer with this option.

However, we are history and museum buffs, our boys are very comfortable travelling on buses and boats for extended periods of time, and we had "beach days" planned for other ports. I would do this tour again in a heartbeat, the site is really quite amazing. If your not much for history, then snorkelling might be a better choice. I just get upset by people on these boards saying things like don't get off the ship in Belize etc, yes the port area is not a place where you can just get off and roam around, but it is an absolutely beautiful country.

[Colorado Kat]

I loved the cave tubing.

[ShellDil]

I just get upset by people on these boards saying things like don't get off the ship in Belize etc' date=' yes the port area is not a place where you can just get off and roam around, but it is an absolutely beautiful country.[/quote']

 

I totally agree. I have been there on a totally land vacation where we spent about 12 days there, as a split between the inland jungle area and the cayes and it was one of our favorite vacations ever. I couldn't wait to go back on our cruise! It's a shame that it gets such a negative reputation on the cruise boards because once you get out of the port area the country has so much to offer.

[Banditswife]

I totally agree. I have been there on a totally land vacation where we spent about 12 days there, as a split between the inland jungle area and the cayes and it was one of our favorite vacations ever. I couldn't wait to go back on our cruise! It's a shame that it gets such a negative reputation on the cruise boards because once you get out of the port area the country has so much to offer.

I 3rd this statement w/shelldil & B&Z's mom---Belize is a beautiful country. I get upset about all the negatives on this board concerning Belize. It is true that near the tourism village or downtown would not be a place to wander around unescorted. But with a tour, I felt safe & thouroughly enjoyed the country. I too prefer independent tours because of the smaller group & personal service we recieve with them. Happy planning, enjoy your cruise.

[Warmer Climes]

My husband and I are going on our first cruise...Belize is the first port.

 

I have heard the most mixed reviews on what to do there.

 

What is your TOP suggestion for a wonderful day in Belize?

 

Beach? Ruins? HELP!

 

And, how would you book? I am on RCCL....any tips for that line?

 

Should I book ahead of time? If so do I need to try and find out what times my ship will be there at Port?

 

It all seems so very intimidating! Can you just tender to shore and walk around? Are you near a city when you port?

 

HELP!!!:eek:

 

I HEART Belize! (But I wouldn't just go walk around Belize City.)

 

We have been twice and did cave tubing the first time and Lamanai the second. Since it's your first cruise, maybe you should book through the cruise line so you can relax about it.

[KristyM79]

I wouldn't recommend just walking around once you get off the tender. The people that did that or just did a Belize City tour were very disappointed. I did the Lamanai tour and loved it. It's a long day, but very worth it. The jungle cruise was great because we saw a few howler monkeys in the wild. The lunch was good and I love seeing the ruins, masks, and the mini jungle hike. Also, book the excursion through cruiseline even if it's a little more money. If there is a delay of some sort (we were the last tender back), the cruise will wait for you. If the excursion is made through a private company, you'll be left at the port.

 

If you're not interested in ruins, I've heard that the snorkeling opportunities are great. While I'm not visiting Belize on this upcoming cruise, if I ever go back, a snorkeling excursion will definitely be on my agenda.

[skyfire53]

My husband and I are going on our first cruise...Belize is the first port.

 

I have heard the most mixed reviews on what to do there.

 

What is your TOP suggestion for a wonderful day in Belize?

 

Beach? Ruins? HELP!

 

And, how would you book? I am on RCCL....any tips for that line?

 

Should I book ahead of time? If so do I need to try and find out what times my ship will be there at Port?

 

It all seems so very intimidating! Can you just tender to shore and walk around? Are you near a city when you port?

 

HELP!!!:eek:

 

My DD and I took an excursion last Dec. through coral breze...did the snorkel and Caye Cauker....it was opperated by Hammerhead Water Sports and it was the most incredible day we have ever had...in fact, that is the reason we are going on the same cruise this Dec so we can do it again..if you get a chance to do it, go for it...its awsome. We snorkeled and then got to swim with the rays and sharks...after that we went to Caye Calker and rented a golf cart....it was great!

[QUIGONATOR]

My DD and I took an excursion last Dec. through coral breze...did the snorkel and Caye Cauker....it was opperated by Hammerhead Water Sports and it was the most incredible day we have ever had...in fact, that is the reason we are going on the same cruise this Dec so we can do it again..if you get a chance to do it, go for it...its awsome. We snorkeled and then got to swim with the rays and sharks...after that we went to Caye Calker and rented a golf cart....it was great!

How deep is the water approx. when you swim W/ the sharks & rays? Is there any shade on this excursion?

[bobhsv]

We loved the trip to Lamanai' date=' but we're big history buffs and loved the idea of a 1 hr + boat ride through the jungle.

Do get off the ship, it's a lovely country.[/quote']

 

 

Re Lamanai...does this tour involve a lot of steps and climbing...not that we are incapable, but DH has had a knee replacement and steps are slow going for him nowadays, even though he is physically fit and still able to do everything....like I said just a bit slow uphill:) He would be embarrassed to hold up the rest of the group.

[Carmelita]

My DD and I took an excursion last Dec. through coral breze...did the snorkel and Caye Cauker....it was opperated by Hammerhead Water Sports and it was the most incredible day we have ever had...in fact, that is the reason we are going on the same cruise this Dec so we can do it again..if you get a chance to do it, go for it...its awsome. We snorkeled and then got to swim with the rays and sharks...after that we went to Caye Calker and rented a golf cart....it was great!

 

We had the totally opposite experience with Coral Breeze so would not recommend them at all. Not very well organized, 48 people on board, too little time in the water, mandatory lifejackets, no lunch, very rushed once we finally got going.

[Maxpilot]

Re Lamanai...does this tour involve a lot of steps and climbing...not that we are incapable, but DH has had a knee replacement and steps are slow going for him nowadays, even though he is physically fit and still able to do everything....like I said just a bit slow uphill:) He would be embarrassed to hold up the rest of the group.

 

A moderate amount of walking is required to see the entire site. You can go at your own pace if you can not keep up with the group. Just be back to the boats at the right time.

 

I walked up the main pyramid so that was a lot of steps, but I enjoyed it. I do not recommend it if you are not in shape (I'm 53... so in shape for a 53 year old).

 

The boat ride is FANTASTIC and worth the trip just for that. We had some monkeys jump in the boat when the driver saw them and pulled up by them. They were very cute and walked up and down the aisle and looked at the people as much as we looked at them.

 

The bus ride is a little long however. It is a long day. We were the last tender back to the boat. Get it though the cruise line so if anything happens (flat tire, break-down, etc) the ship will wait for you.

 

Lamanai is a very worth while excursion. 5 stars.

:)

[Mom2B&Z]

He may not be able to climb the ruins, as many of the steps are well over a foot high, but the rest of the tour is similar to hiking trails. There were some uneven patches, but I saw many older (ie in their 70 or 80s) people managing it fine. There was a fellow who looked to be in his 50s who,slipped and fell on the tour, his head was bleeding but the tour guides carry decent sized first aid kits with them at all times.

If you are concerned, I'd practice walking on some uneven ground now and see how the knee feels. Or talk to his physiotherapist and see if they can up the ante on his rehab ;)

[bobhsv]

He may not be able to climb the ruins' date=' as many of the steps are well over a foot high, but the rest of the tour is similar to hiking trails. There were some uneven patches, but I saw many older (ie in their 70 or 80s) people managing it fine. There was a fellow who looked to be in his 50s who,slipped and fell on the tour, his head was bleeding but the tour guides carry decent sized first aid kits with them at all times.

If you are concerned, I'd practice walking on some uneven ground now and see how the knee feels. Or talk to his physiotherapist and see if they can up the ante on his rehab ;)[/quote']

 

Thanks. This is exactly what I needed to know. The knee thingo was done years ago, way past the rehab stage, and is all ok. We didn't wish to pay for a tour if it ALL involved climbing these steps, all day. Was hard to tell from the pics available. It would make his leg ache somewhat (and then he whinges:D). Sounds like the trails will be fine. He is completely healed, and leads a normal and very active life, so it is not really an issue....just being careful I guess. Good to know we will still see sights from below.

Again, thankyou.:)