Which port of call to choose on Conquest?

[hova]

I know this is subjective, but I am struggling with which ports of call to choose. We are sailing out of New Orleans in August, and have the choice of Belize, Roaatan, and Cozumel or... Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Pricing is close to the same, so its just a matter of which cruise to take.

As for excursions, we like to do our own thing, which is usually taking a cab or a boat to a nice beach.

 

Any recomendations?

 

hova

[golfadj]

I would choose the first one with Roatan.

[okgirl]

I know this is subjective, but I am struggling with which ports of call to choose. We are sailing out of New Orleans in August, and have the choice of Belize, Roaatan, and Cozumel or... Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Pricing is close to the same, so its just a matter of which cruise to take.

As for excursions, we like to do our own thing, which is usually taking a cab or a boat to a nice beach.

 

Any recomendations?

 

hova

 

I've been on both routes multiple times and I would always choose Belize, Roataan and Coz over the other........and occasionally throw in the Key West, Freeport and Nassau, just for KW........

 

A great beach in Coz is Nachi Cocum.....it's a private all inclusive $49pp and they only let 100 cruise passengers in a day........here is a link to check them out........

 

http://cozumelcruiseexcursions.com/cozumelbeachbreak.htm

[mikel24m]

I know this is subjective, but I am struggling with which ports of call to choose. We are sailing out of New Orleans in August, and have the choice of Belize, Roaatan, and Cozumel or... Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Pricing is close to the same, so its just a matter of which cruise to take.

As for excursions, we like to do our own thing, which is usually taking a cab or a boat to a nice beach.

 

Any recomendations?

 

hova

 

Another vote for Roatan

 

youtube west bay beach roatan :)

[cruzinlisa]

I would choose the Roatan/Belize/Cozumel itinerary. I am doing that one next month for the first time. My reasoning is that I have been to Grand Cayman and Jamaica 2x each but have never been to Roatan or Belize. That itinerary is more exotic and seems (IMO) to be a little less standard than the GC, Montego, Coz itinerary.

 

As far as excursions- last year in Cozumel we went to Paradise Beach, which was pretty nice. $2 each for chairs, cheapish beers, nice pool and beach. But we might do Mr. Sanchos this year.

[mikel24m]

I would choose the Roatan/Belize/Cozumel itinerary. I am doing that one next month for the first time. My reasoning is that I have been to Grand Cayman and Jamaica 2x each but have never been to Roatan or Belize. That itinerary is more exotic and seems (IMO) to be a little less standard than the GC, Montego, Coz itinerary.

 

As far as excursions- last year in Cozumel we went to Paradise Beach, which was pretty nice. $2 each for chairs, cheapish beers, nice pool and beach. But we might do Mr. Sanchos this year.

 

We did mr sanchos in October and it was awesome,you should check out victor bodden tours for Roatan we do "best of roatan"

[Out of Iowa]

Exotic - different.....cave tubing in Belize and beach in Roatan....

 

Grand Cayman is terrific and I love to go with Moby Dick's tour to Stingray City...but to be more adventuresome, choose Belize & Roatan.

[VacaLovers2]

I have done both...and LOVED the Jamaica trip very much!!! In fact we are doing this one again next year just on the Magic!

[2 cruzen]

I know this is subjective, but I am struggling with which ports of call to choose. We are sailing out of New Orleans in August, and have the choice of Belize, Roaatan, and Cozumel or... Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Pricing is close to the same, so its just a matter of which cruise to take.

As for excursions, we like to do our own thing, which is usually taking a cab or a boat to a nice beach.

 

Any recomendations?

 

hova

 

Belize vs Jamaica and Roatan vs G Cayman? Belize you tender, but I don't mind that. We cave tubed in Belize which was awesome (book privately...less $$) but it was a long bus ride. We river tubed in Ocho which was fun and only took about an hour so had time for other stuff. Go with http://www.knowjamaicatours.com for a great tour.

 

Roatan...we stayed at Mohagany Beach and zip lined but next time would definitely go with a private tour to see more of the island and experience the beauty of the natural beaches. Grand Cayman...the stingray city thing is fun, but once done wouldn't need to do it again. I've never been to seven mile beach but it sounds nice. Actually I'd go to Rum point if I ever traveled there.

 

You might want to check out the ports of call section before making up your mind, but I guess it's all about what sounds the most fun to you. Personally, I'd do Belize and Roatan. Enjoy the tough job of deciding.

[Cruiser 4 Life 66]

The first one. Although I can't guarantee you'll get to Belize. I booked a cruise for Belize and Carnival was fighting with Belize over tenders so they skipped that port.

[wbc12345]

Last year we were on the Conquest and we went to Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Cozumel. It was GREAT! I loved every port (we've been to Cozumel before). However, on our cruise I heard a lot of cruisers compare it to the Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel itinerary. Every passenger I spoke to who had done both recommended the Belize, Honduras, Cozumel itinerary over the other. This summer we're doing that itinerary!

[Sixtytwo]

We did the Jamaica/Caymem/Coz in January. Loved Caymen but was totally not impressed with Montego Bay! From the reading we did pre-cruise and what we say firsthand, I would prefer the first option. Had our cruise gone to Ocho Rios, I think we would have had a different opinion of Jamaica! We are also "on our own'ers" and found nothing to get excited about in MoBay.

[luv2trvlnow]

I have done both and would choose Belize, Roatan, and Cozumel. I really think Roatan is beautiful and has great beaches and snorkeling. In fact I would love to do this itinerary again.

Sharon

[nchikk]

I vote for the itinerary that does not include Jamaica, which in my opinion is a port where you do NOT want to do your own thing.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[meeda00]

I will be on the conquest on August 25th. 1st time to Jamaica and grand caymen

[hova]

Based on all the replies, Belize, Roatan ports won out. So... I have booked the cruise out of New Orleans for August 18th that includes these ports. I also got some great beach recomendations, that I will need to check out as well.

Thanks for all your help, it helped me make up my mind on something that I couldn't decide on... I guess I should have done this days ago.

hova

[kingoftheicedragons]

My choice would be the Belize and Roatan one. We're doing a similar itinerary next winter. Belize is a hot travel spot right now which is probably why so many cruise ships are going there. Snorkeling in Belize is one of the top trips that Budget Travel says that you should make sure you do in your life time. However, many people won't like Belize for one of two reasons...1) the long tender in, and 2) Belize City is outside the comfort zone of the vast majority of travelers, particularly those from the US.

 

Roatan also seems to get good marks from people who have been there.

[cruzinlisa]

We did mr sanchos in October and it was awesome,you should check out victor bodden tours for Roatan we do "best of roatan"

 

We are booked with victor bodden in Roatan. I am excited about that. :cool:

[mikel24m]

We are booked with victor bodden in Roatan. I am excited about that. :cool:

 

If I were you I would email him and request Tex ,he was awesome and I requested him based on CC friends.We loved west end village ,alittle dive community with little stores and restaurants /bars really nice to walk around and get alittle snack. Then he took us to see the dolphins (the ones they use for excursions) and after a tour of the island we wound up at a resort(he will know which one) on west bay beach ,incredible snorkling in waist high water.When we were done we had 3 lobster tacos for I think $5 or $6 bucks full of lobster.If he doesnt seem to know where I mean its all the way at the end of west bay beach (its a resort but free to use the beach and the little tiki bar that has good food and drink)

 

OP I would check this out too.You will fall in love with the island especially if you get away from the cruise terminal :)

[Sargent_Schultz]

I know this is subjective, but I am struggling with which ports of call to choose. We are sailing out of New Orleans in August, and have the choice of Belize, Roaatan, and Cozumel or... Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Pricing is close to the same, so its just a matter of which cruise to take.

As for excursions, we like to do our own thing, which is usually taking a cab or a boat to a nice beach.

 

Any recomendations?

 

hova

 

If you haven't done either, then toss a coin. Without a doubt, a boat visit to Stingray Sandbar on Grand Cayman is one of the best shore excursions, ever. That can easily be combined with a beach.

 

All of the ports have nice beaches.

 

Both have a tender port, but Belize City is a longer tender ride than Grand Cayman.

 

Both can sometimes miss a port normally and any Caribbean cruise can have an itinerary change because of hurricanes. August is getting near to peak hurricane season.

 

My vote would be to do a back to back cruise (b2b) and catch all the ports! :D

[Sargent_Schultz]

I have done both, On Carnival Conquest and would be happy with either unless there is a specific activity I had in mind. Both go to Cozumel, so that is a wash.

 

I did a picture review of Carnival Conquest after the 2.0 upgrades last November and you can find it here:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1760811

[okgirl]

I have done both, On Carnival Conquest and would be happy with either unless there is a specific activity I had in mind. Both go to Cozumel, so that is a wash.

 

I did a picture review of Carnival Conquest after the 2.0 upgrades last November and you can find it here:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1760811

 

I loved your review......I've been on the Conquest 8 times but not since the 2.0 upgrades, so I was especially happy to read your review and we're cruising on her in just 28 days......

 

Sadly our Conquest cruise will be for the last time on the Conquest since she will be moving to Florida and I have the remaining 2013 cruise already booked. I'm really going to miss having a Conquest class ship within driving distance. I like the Magic a lot, but it's so much more expensive than the Conquest for the same itinerary.

[Sargent_Schultz]

I loved your review......I've been on the Conquest 8 times but not since the 2.0 upgrades, so I was especially happy to read your review and we're cruising on her in just 28 days......

 

Sadly our Conquest cruise will be for the last time on the Conquest since she will be moving to Florida and I have the remaining 2013 cruise already booked. I'm really going to miss having a Conquest class ship within driving distance. I like the Magic a lot, but it's so much more expensive than the Conquest for the same itinerary.

 

Thank you. That was probably our last Conquest cruise (maybe), but Carnival Sunshine will be replacing her!

 

 

Another comment on Belize - many people love the pharmacy in the tourist village but there aren't any nice beaches near the port on the mainland. There are lots of islands off the coast and some have nice beaches, but you need to take a ship tour or one of the local tours to get to them. Shark/Ray Alley is a great snorkel!

[LHP]

Since you have already booked, I am a little late to the game...but while I would have definately chosen Roatan, Belize and Cozumel....be aware that sometimes Roatan gets skipped because it is a difficult port to get into...

 

winds that do not seem all that bad can cause issues since it is a very narrow entrance way to the port....

[okgirl]

Thank you. That was probably our last Conquest cruise (maybe), but Carnival Sunshine will be replacing her!

 

 

Another comment on Belize - many people love the pharmacy in the tourist village but there aren't any nice beaches near the port on the mainland. There are lots of islands off the coast and some have nice beaches, but you need to take a ship tour or one of the local tours to get to them. Shark/Ray Alley is a great snorkel!

 

I never sailed on the Destiny but plan to cruise on the Sunshine for BC7.....but Galveston is my homeport with NOLA being a few hours further away, so I'm hoping that the Triumph comes home soon......

 

However, since I'll be Diamond by the end of the year I may start to try other ships that sail from Galveston just for the change and experience...though I don't ever see us doing a Disney ship if none of them have casinos....

 

My sister doesn't like to tender so I don't often get off the ship in Belize unless I need something from the pharmacy....though I much prefer the tender experience in Belize to that of Grand Cayman......the crowds at the tender dock in GC are just crazy, so it's another place that I no longer go ashore unless I just have to.