Belize Port Area questions

[juniperia]

Hi all,

Our ship NCL Getaway, is stopping in Belize City. Since we have a 2 yr old toddler in tow, we are thinking of simply tendering into the port and exploring the port area.

Can you tell me how long that would take to explore (within port)?

Should we bring a stroller?

What types of stores/shopping can be found within the port?

Recommendations of where to eat?

For those who say that the shopping at the flea market just outside the gated area is cheaper than within the gated area - what kind of shopping are you talking about? Do you have an example of how the prices differ for the same item?

Outside the gates, are the sidewalks/flea market stroller-friendly?

Sorry for all the questions! Thank you in advance!

[BrotherCraig]

Not much of a port area at all there. There are a couple bars/restaurants but nothing great. The shopping is mediocre at best. We are taking the small kids this time and going to stay on the ship and enjoy it OR we are going to to go back to Caye Caulker island for a few hours. They would be bored at the port. Just my opinion though.

[juniperia]

Not much of a port area at all there. There are a couple bars/restaurants but nothing great. The shopping is mediocre at best. We are taking the small kids this time and going to stay on the ship and enjoy it OR we are going to to go back to Caye Caulker island for a few hours. They would be bored at the port. Just my opinion though.

 

Thank you! We decided to stay on the ship this time. We spent the entire day before out in Roatan, so we were pretty exhausted and decided to chill out on the ship instead of tendering into the Belize City port to wander around the shops. Maybe when our toddler is a little older we will consider cave tubing! :)

[BrotherCraig]

Thank you! We decided to stay on the ship this time. We spent the entire day before out in Roatan, so we were pretty exhausted and decided to chill out on the ship instead of tendering into the Belize City port to wander around the shops. Maybe when our toddler is a little older we will consider cave tubing! :)

 

Very nice! We just decided we are going to stay on the ship in Belize in Sept so we can spend quality time onboard with the small ones.

 

What did you do in Roatan? We love Roatan a lot.

[juniperia]

For Roatan, we booked a private tour with Victor Bodden. Calvin was our driver. We stopped at Victor's Monkey Business (fun!), drove through West End (didn't stop), got dropped off at Paradise Beach Club.

We asked for a recommendation for a resort on West Bay with good food, and Paradise was suggested.

The water was beautiful, which can be said of all the resorts on that beach.

The food at Paradise was poor and the drinks were warm. When we pointed the warm drinks, they suggested putting ice in our drinks (soda is fine, but beer?!?). A ceviche, club sandwich, local beer and soda came to $34. If it tasted good and was served at the right temperature, fine. But room temperature food and drink was very disappointing.

The bathrooms and change rooms were one and the same. Two bathrooms for women (long lineup) and one of the two had a broken unflushable toilet so it stank if you decided to change in there.

Haven't tried the other resort on the strip but we would not go back to Paradise in Roatan again.

Sorry if that was a bit of a rant lol!

Next time, we'd probably do the same thing in Roatan, just a different resort. Overall, a lovely time in Roatan and just amazing water!

Do you have an alternate recommendation for a resort?

[JawjaFatBoy]

We went to Little French Key last year and absolutely loved it! Gorgeous water, nice beach, friendly staff, not crowded, a good many animals to see, and great food and drinks. We had our 13 month old daughter with us and we couldn't get her out of the water! She even fell asleep in the float we had brought along! She also loved the lion and the birds and monkeys. We will definitely go back!

[ABQrobin]

Belize.....I would take the stroller and go into the port area for an hour or so. No biggie, it is free, and the people are friendly. The tender trip is also easy, as the ships are all anchored out in a harbor inside of barrier islands, so seas are fairly flat, its like a free boat ride excursions, at the very least.

Not a lot of places to eat, we were disappointed with that. But there are some shops to check out with local vendors as well as the regular cruise ship shops.

[BrotherCraig]

For Roatan, we booked a private tour with Victor Bodden. Calvin was our driver. We stopped at Victor's Monkey Business (fun!), drove through West End (didn't stop), got dropped off at Paradise Beach Club.

We asked for a recommendation for a resort on West Bay with good food, and Paradise was suggested.

The water was beautiful, which can be said of all the resorts on that beach.

The food at Paradise was poor and the drinks were warm. When we pointed the warm drinks, they suggested putting ice in our drinks (soda is fine, but beer?!?). A ceviche, club sandwich, local beer and soda came to $34. If it tasted good and was served at the right temperature, fine. But room temperature food and drink was very disappointing.

The bathrooms and change rooms were one and the same. Two bathrooms for women (long lineup) and one of the two had a broken unflushable toilet so it stank if you decided to change in there.

Haven't tried the other resort on the strip but we would not go back to Paradise in Roatan again.

Sorry if that was a bit of a rant lol!

Next time, we'd probably do the same thing in Roatan, just a different resort. Overall, a lovely time in Roatan and just amazing water!

Do you have an alternate recommendation for a resort?

 

 

Very nice! Private Driver is the way to go. We love West End Village and West Bay. WE usually hang out at Infinity Bay so will probably do that again. We did the Fosters thing as well once and we had fun.