Tendering in Belize - cave-tubing.com

[reno3]

Any comment on what I hear about Yhony's guides embarrassing people at the end of the tour on the bus back about tipping with payment

 

Just returned from our Legend cruise.

We had a wonderful time with Yhony's people.

We had Richard, Sunny and Bernardo:D :D :D a smile for each of them because they were great.

We got off the ship a little late so we were next to the last group to go.

Richard said he would have us back at 2:00. More on that at the end.

We got on a bus (about 10:00) and some of the people were doing the cave tubing and the ATV. We dropped off the ATV people and picked up some of the people that had already done the ATV and were now going to the caves. It was about 45 min. to 1 hour ride (got behind a big truck and couldn't pass).

Richard told us alot about Belize on the way.

Got to the area were you get your tube and started walking, (Sunny stayed with the bus and our belongings) they gave us our head lamps on the bus, you could hear the birds and monkeys in the rain forest. You really couldn't look up a lot because you had to watch where you were walking. The walk was not bad (I have back problems and I was fine). We walked at a fast pase because Richard said if we did we could do two caves. We all (about 20 of us) said yes, we will walk faster to do the two caves, some goups only did one cave (Carnival did one cave). He carried a tube for an older woman. We passed a couple of groups on the path. Got to the river and you could either slide in on you butt or jump off a ledge about 10 feet high. We than linked together with our feet under the persons arm in front of you. We had two chains of people. We just floated and Richard and another one of Yhonys people that was already at the river did all the work. We did the two caves and saw alot of Carnival people just floating around bumping into us and others and the walls:eek: One young girl looked scared to death and she grabbed onto us. We were told when to do "butt's up". The caves were beautiful. Even saw bats in the second cave. At the end we got changed into dry clothes and headed back. We stopped at a spot at the side of the road that you could buy beer, soda, snacks and Belize towels and Butts's Up t-shirts. T-shirts $10.00. We bought all of the above. Then we got to try cashew wine on the way back also. Richard kept says "How we doing for time?" Got back to the port and Richard collected the money for the tubing itself and then said if we wanted to give a tip give it to Bernardo, who was behind him as he walked the isle of the bus to get to everyone. Nothing more was said about tipping

If you did you did, if you didn't nothing was said. I think everyone did. At the end he held up the money for the tubing that went to Yhony and then held up the tip money..he had quit a wad of money:D He said they were very happy and they must have done a good job, which they did. They deserved every penny they got. They worked hard. Also on the way back we stopped on the side of the road and Richards' wife had his little son so Richard got off the bus and brought his son on the bus for everyone to see. He was sooooo cute.

We got back to the dock at ....2:05:p

Richard had us laughing the whole time, Sunny you are a great driver, and Bernardo (age 17) stay single and enjoy live.

Butt's Up.

[LHP]

Yes, I just got an email from Yhony and the "tipping" issue has been "handled"!!

 

As long as I have been cruising and on Cruise Critic, Yhony is the operator who has been cave tubing with cruisers the longest. He has a great reputation.

Hubby and oldest son will be tubing with him in May!

 

Sorry if I was not clear. I was referring to the operator on Cruise Critic

(hence why I put the name in there) that was been referred to the most over the years.

 

I certainly have not combed the Belize Tour Operators License Bureau for "starting dates" of all the operators.

 

For as long as I have been on Cruise Critic....Yhony's was the name that was always talked about until recently. Hence why I said he had been the cave tubing choice for Cruise Critic the "longest".

 

Sorry for the confusion.

[LHP]

Just returned from our Legend cruise.

We had a wonderful time with Yhony's people.

We had Richard, Sunny and Bernardo:D :D :D a smile for each of them because they were great.

We got off the ship a little late so we were next to the last group to go.

Richard said he would have us back at 2:00. More on that at the end.

We got on a bus (about 10:00) and some of the people were doing the cave tubing and the ATV. We dropped off the ATV people and picked up some of the people that had already done the ATV and were now going to the caves. It was about 45 min. to 1 hour ride (got behind a big truck and couldn't pass).

Richard told us alot about Belize on the way.

Got to the area were you get your tube and started walking, (Sunny stayed with the bus and our belongings) they gave us our head lamps on the bus, you could hear the birds and monkeys in the rain forest. You really couldn't look up a lot because you had to watch where you were walking. The walk was not bad (I have back problems and I was fine). We walked at a fast pase because Richard said if we did we could do two caves. We all (about 20 of us) said yes, we will walk faster to do the two caves, some goups only did one cave (Carnival did one cave). He carried a tube for an older woman. We passed a couple of groups on the path. Got to the river and you could either slide in on you butt or jump off a ledge about 10 feet high. We than linked together with our feet under the persons arm in front of you. We had two chains of people. We just floated and Richard and another one of Yhonys people that was already at the river did all the work. We did the two caves and saw alot of Carnival people just floating around bumping into us and others and the walls:eek: One young girl looked scared to death and she grabbed onto us. We were told when to do "butt's up". The caves were beautiful. Even saw bats in the second cave. At the end we got changed into dry clothes and headed back. We stopped at a spot at the side of the road that you could buy beer, soda, snacks and Belize towels and Butts's Up t-shirts. T-shirts $10.00. We bought all of the above. Then we got to try cashew wine on the way back also. Richard kept says "How we doing for time?" Got back to the port and Richard collected the money for the tubing itself and then said if we wanted to give a tip give it to Bernardo, who was behind him as he walked the isle of the bus to get to everyone. Nothing more was said about tipping

If you did you did, if you didn't nothing was said. I think everyone did. At the end he held up the money for the tubing that went to Yhony and then held up the tip money..he had quit a wad of money:D He said they were very happy and they must have done a good job, which they did. They deserved every penny they got. They worked hard. Also on the way back we stopped on the side of the road and Richards' wife had his little son so Richard got off the bus and brought his son on the bus for everyone to see. He was sooooo cute.

We got back to the dock at ....2:05:p

Richard had us laughing the whole time, Sunny you are a great driver, and Bernardo (age 17) stay single and enjoy live.

Butt's Up.

 

 

So glad you had a great time.

 

Hubby and oldest son have a reservation booked in a couple of weeks.

 

Our youngest son has Autism, so he and I will just do something around the port (inside the fence of course).

 

I know hubby and oldest son will have a blast. Thanks for the report!!!

[driftwood]

. . . "walk softly and carry a big stick," eh? :D

[brodie]

I had a great time with Yhony on my trip. Be careful at the restrooms at the cave tubing site. The floor is a slick tile and my poor wife busted some serious tail on the way in. Yhony ran over to make sure she was all right, as she was with the exception of her pride. You can leave any valuebles in his bus/van and all will be good. I can seriously say that the only way you could not have fun is if you are a square individual. This guy has yet to grow up and made this the best excursion that I have ever been on. I look forward to repeating the trip in the near future. If everyone in your group has a good sense of urgency you will have time to hit 2-3 caves as well as time to stop and get a yummy lunch at Cheers(restaurant) on the way back. Do not hesitate to book this with Yhony. It was seriously a great value. I loved Belize so much that I am driving down from Mexico later this year to spend a few days there. Enjoy!;)

[gday12345]

Thanks for great reviews for Yhony!! Possibly as reported about the "fact" that he has "Only" had his license since 2004, this is from his website:

 

"Yhony Rosado, who has over 13 years experience as a tour guide in Belize is your Belize Cave Tubing specialist and tour organizer."

 

Thats good enough for me! I've booked the atv/cave tubing with them for our Legend cruise on Sept 14th.

[Maryunit65]

This is a copy of the email that I sent to major Tom as soon as I came back from my cruise on the Glory. I took his tour while in Belize and I think you can read for yourself that in my book MAJOR TOM is top notch.....As a matter of fact, a lady from Cruise Critic (sorry I can't remember her name and I think her daughter) was on the excursion with us with Major Tom.

 

Tom, I just wanted to drop you a line and give you kudos on our tour that we took while we were visiting your area. My name is Richard XXXX but our group was booked under the name of Brian XXXX. We were off of the Carnival Ship Glory there on Wed May 21. Our guide was George and another young man ( I think it was your son). I don't know if you remember our group or not.

As police officers here in the states we always hear about it when we screw up but very seldom when we do good things or do a good job. With that in mind I wanted to drop you a note to commend these young men that took our group on the tour. I have cruised with Carnival many times (13 to be exact) and I have visited many places. In my travels I have also taken many shore excursions. Your group was so professional, pleasant, and entertaining that it was well worth the trip, the hike, and the heat. It was fun yet educational, entertaining yet captivating. The caves were incredible and overall experience a pure treat. I will recommend all of my friends that are traveling to Belize your company. I had heard before traveling that the cave tubing there was a "MUST DO" but I didn't realize how nice it would be. I don't know why Carnival does not use you but they should. I felt completely safe at all times and truly felt that your group had our safety as their prime concern, second only to us having fun and getting the true "cave tubing" experience. With some of us being (shall we say Large) individuals George really earned his money that day. He had to assist our group in many of the "low water" areas where we were dragging bottom. He never complained and was still nothing but pleasant and jovial even though you could tell that we wore him out dragging us across those rocks. I just can't say enough good things about him. He is a credit to your company. Once again I will recommend you to my friends as well as Carnival when I speak to them. Thanks for a great time. Keep up the good work!

Richard Dean :D ;)

 

As for the tendering over we got to the lounge where we were suppose to wait early. We were the first tender to leave after the Carnival groups and Major Tom was waiting on us at the docks. We waited a short time for the rest of the people that had booked to arrive and then we were off. We were a bit concerned because Carnival had changed our arrival date to Belize by one day. When we arrived Major Tom informed us "No problem, I keep well informed on these things and I probably knew of the change before you did". He was very pleasant to deal with. They were also very in tune with the ships times and with getting us back in plenty of time for the tender but at the same time not cutting into our excursion time or time in the water on the tube. We did have to skip lunch on the way back but most people didn't mind. We had a great time.

[NCTribeFan]

Hmmm. Yes, we were on that excursion.

 

But perhaps you meant to post this in the Major Tom (dot net) thread and not the Yhonny (dot com) thread? :o

[x-cruiser]

Just returned from the Legend cruise and we used Cave-tubing.com; We had a great time and enjoyed the guides. They did ask or say tips were welcomed but did not do it in a way that was uncomfortable. I was planning on tipping them anyway, they worked their butts off and made sure everyone

had fun. Our group never had to get out of the tubes while other groups were left to go at it alone. I would use them again.

[jem782]

For watershoes...are crocs ok for this excursion? I wondered if they would not be sturdy enough for the walk to the river. Please advise.

[sag1804]

:mad: We did cave tubing and the guy said he was going to send us the video. I emailed him and he never emailed me back or sent it to me! It only cost us 35 each. Was a great time!~:D

[savannah2117]

crocs will be fine. My 2 DD wore them. I wore water sandals, my SIL wore water shoes. My son wore his expensive tennis shoes, (this was NOT a good idea) He took them off when we got to the river and held them. They still got wet and now they stink!