Roatan, Honduras
 

We will be in Roatan in a couple weeks. This will be our first time at that port. We are looking for a sightseeing tour and have found two: "Best of Roatan Island Tour" and "Island Tour". Has anyone done either of these and would you recommend it? These are both Celebrity excursions.

One is a boat ride through Dixon Cove Harbour. The other is Botanical Gardens, shopping, etc.

Also, what is the Garifuna experience? I've never heard of that.

Thanks!

Nadine

Garifuna are Indigenous People of the area
We saw them at the dock doing traditional dances/music
Not sure what the tour would be about.

Thank you LHT! After I posted that, I realized I could have looked it up on the internet. I appreciate you saving me the effort!

Hi Nadine! You're going to love Roatan, they haven't "Americanized" it. If you port in Mahogany Bay, be sure to go over to the beach when you get back from your tour. They've done a great job there. We went to Tabyana Beach last trip and they dropped part of the bus off at the Botanical Gardens, so we got to see a little of it. It looked very clean and neat. I'll bet the "best of" would give you the most of the highlights. We've only done snorkeling excursions there, but one we did get to see some of the island. It's a poor country, but you can tell the cruise lines have helped improve their standard of living. Sorry I can't comment on the tours.

Thanks Penny. Hopefully we can check out that bay. It's fun to experience new ports.

I see you are leaving in three days. Have a wonderful cruise!

Nadine

Hey Penny, I guess I need to pay better attn to the cruise tickers; I do hope that your break from this nasty winter will be most relaxing and warm for you, ENJOY your cruise !!

Peterl

Thank you both so very much:) I'm just praying for something above freezing. I'm going to take my wet suit, just in case it's actually warm. I'm beginning to wonder if it's warm anywhere:D

It's just a short 4 day, but any break is better than none at all. I just pray I can get out of Atlanta. With all the snow up north, my luck would be having my aircraft stuck in a snowbank in New York or Chicago:rolleyes:

best of roatan
 

Just got back from Roatan and was mostly diving there but can answer some of your questions and offer my 2p's worth. Here is the best diving site for Roatan online Roatan Diving Packages : Roatan Scubadiving | Roatan Cruise | Roatan Tours you can find some info there on the best dive shops etc, and if you are cruising then you will need to book up in advance to get a free pickup at the dock ! So do that if you are interested in diving. And you should at least snorkle. This is the best of Roatan in my eyes. The garifuna experience is a dance and it might just happen in restaurants or like the other guy said at the dock. I don't think this is on my list. Apart from the diving or snorkeling I would head for doing some zip and dip or just go to a great beach for the morning and then mill around west end. There is an island tour which might allow you do snorkeling and the best beaches. If your not up for ziplining then you can go on a boat around the eastern end of Roatan.

I did the Island Tour the last time I was there....the countryside looks so much better if you can get out into it....Part of the tour was by a boat that took us to some shipwrecks.
They've upgraded the shopping area with a Diamonds International (of course) and some upgrades to the local shopping area.....you will have to run a gauntlet of drivers and kids begging for money.....but it's still a nice place to see and enjoy.....Happy Sailing...

Bob E

Last year...
 

We did a tour to see the butterflies and birds...and it was a very fun tour.

A lot of people book with Victor Bodden tours Victor Bodden - Bodden Tours - Roatan Tours and Roatan Excursions - Roatan Honduras where you can get several tours, including a visit to the monkeys. Prices seem pretty reasonable starting at $40 per person.

The big negative, is you have to walk out of the Cruise Terminal to meet your tours, so be prepared for some walking.