Belize & shoping

[MooNGaTe27]

We booked a beach break trip with rccl, will they tender us straight from the ship to the beach then back again ? We are hoping on the way back we can get to town with out 1st going to the ship then tender back to town.Does anyone know?

[ubdkjrb]

The dock that you get tendered to/from has the only safe shopping right there. No problem.

Peter

[Barbiegator]

Lots of imitation designer handbag shops and souveniers.

[pamcdon]

Can you bring imitation designer handbags back into the US?

I read in another thread that they were taking them at customs!

[cb at sea]

Just because they take you back to the tender, you don't have to get on...you can wander, then head back to the ship (assuming you have time!!!)

[yogimax]

We always enjoy walking around the towns we stop at. There is nothing, however, in "downtown" Belize of interest. We did buy some things from a woman and her daughter who were selling on the street between the port and downtown.

[novalab]

Where the tenders let you off is the best/safest place to shop. They have a little of everything including the usual Diamonds International shops. There is a pharmacy, lots of specialty shops, mom & pop type bars & eateries all in a very nice colonial Caribbean-type clean setting. You are sequestered from the locals by a tall wall/fence & you will leave & return through a guarded gate. We used the main gate by Diamonds International. All of your tour operators will be waiting for you on the other side of the gate.

We were there last summer & at that time, you were not allowed to bring the imitation handbags back on board with you (we were on the CCL Valor) If I recall correctly, they had a sign up with a list of prohibited items posted at the gangway as you leave. We found out the hard way about disallowed items when my Sister bought her son an imitation antique pirate pistol in Grand Cayman. The shop owner told her it was perfectly legal to board the ship with the gun as it was not capable of firing anything & was just a wall-mount type replica. The ship security stopped her when she showed it to them but were kind enough to allow her to go back to town to mail it back to the States. The pistol cost her $25 & the Overnight FedEx shipping to Phoenix (only option she could find before we set sail) cost her $75.00!!!

[hcat]

Were there any locally made handicrafts for sale?

[novalab]

Originally Posted by hcat

Were there any locally made handicrafts for sale?

My sister found a few small shops with local Belize items (scarfs, skirts & similar). They were located in the shops on the far left as you face the port. If your trip includes a stop in Roatan, be sure to check out the beautiful local wood carvings & pine needle baskets. Some of these were amazing! Belize is a rather large city as you will see if you take a tour. They are famous for their Belican beer. I am not a beer lover but I did try one & found it to be really good (esp. on a hot day). I tried to find it back home for my DH but couldn't.

If you go to Altun Ha, the Myan ruins tour, there was a small local craft group of shops located there. The wood carvings were quite nice but we felt the Roatan ones were more refined. There were shell items & local died fabric items too as I recall. We left this port without buying much, just the usual t-shirts with 'Belize' printed on them.

[05mak05]

Look for the handwoven, handmade Indian baskets made by the locals. Baskets are quite expensive and very collectible.