Worried

We have been told by several people that Belize is not a safe port...should we even get off ship

We have been there twice...You should absolutely get off the ship but have a planned activity. Around the port area is just okay but the country has beautiful parts! Go cave tubing or plan a watersport of your choice!

We have been twice, back in about 10 days. I have read posts about being grabbed and mauled if you go out the iron gate, etc. Sure didn't happen to us . The people we spoke to were nice.

We have been told by several people that Belize is not a safe port...should we even get off ship

You hear that about a lot of ports. At a minimum, you can safely get off the ship and explore the terminal area without much hassle. If you feel unsafe even at the terminal area, then cruising is probably not for you. :p

If you want to go beyond the terminal, just book an excursion with a reputable operator. Our operator met us at the terminal gate and escorted us to their buses. We didn't feel unsafe at all.

You hear that about a lot of ports. At a minimum, you can safely get off the ship and explore the terminal area without much hassle. If you feel unsafe even at the terminal area, then cruising is probably not for you. :p

 

If you want to go beyond the terminal, just book an excursion with a reputable operator. Our operator met us at the terminal gate and escorted us to their buses. We didn't feel unsafe at all.

Agree, the terminal area is perfectly safe! :)

Also agree it's best to either book something thru the cruise line or with a reputable tour operator if you want to go beyond the terminal area.

LuLu

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If I had $1 peso for every post on this subject we could drink and eat free at the Lazy Lizard for a week! :p

You have to take these posts for what they are - many are from people who have never set foot in these destinations, and many are from folks who ventured out of the secure area for a brief period and felt unsafe for their own reasons.

If common sense prevails you will be fine. We feel safer in many of these "bad" places than in many smaller US cities we live in or visit.

First....never stay on the boat. Every island has something to offer.

I've been to many islands but I must admit Belize is the only island that ever made me feel a little unsafe outside the gate. With that being said don't wander around....just be sure to book an excursion. Enjoy.

If I had $1 peso for every post on this subject we could drink and eat free at the Lazy Lizard for a week! :p

 

You have to take these posts for what they are - many are from people who have never set foot in these destinations, and many are from folks who ventured out of the secure area for a brief period and felt unsafe for their own reasons.

 

If common sense prevails you will be fine. We feel safer in many of these "bad" places than in many smaller US cities we live in or visit.

First....never stay on the boat. Every island has something to offer.

I've been to many islands but I must admit Belize is the only island that ever made me feel a little unsafe outside the gate. With that being said don't wander around....just be sure to book an excursion. Enjoy.

BlueWater, I think you mean Wet Lizard.:D

Westbank, Belize is NOT an island.:eek: It is on the mainland, borders Mexico and Guatemala and Honduras (used to be British Honduras).

As far as venturing away from the Tourism Village (tender pier/cruise terminal), remember Belize City is a working city and as such it's not populated by nearby places that often attract droves or tourists. No high end shops and fancy restaurants and yuppie bars lining the streets. Thus many of the vendors who aren't privileged to be able to have a shop or place inside the Tourism Village, do work right outside its gates to obtain customers for their ventures. You see this in lots of ports, most aggressively in Jamaica. And since there is literally no where else to go, except perhaps take a walk along the promenade past the small lighthouse, or venture across the swing bridge into what is indeed the "downtown" of Belize City, (and then where?) many cruisers feel stuck. Additionally, just getting away from the Tourism Village on any excursion requires you to be driven through some of the poorer parts of the city. This doesn't add to favorable impressions of Belize City as a "fun" spot to go.

But, Belizeans, for the most part, are very proud of their country, and are very welcoming and polite. Most vendor hawkers take a simple "No Thanks" and go on to the next group coming their way. A block beyond the T.V. toward the water taxi stop and the vendors disappear. A dart to your right out of the T.V. toward the lighthouse and vendors miss you entirely. Coming back from your excursion, the roaming hawkers are no longer there. Head directly across Fort street to the crafts market and you'll meet some very honest, hardworking, friendly vendors.

But in the end, yes, to get a feel for the country and to have something memorial to do, since we all have to do something on our vacays, you do need to book an excursion.

I have been to Belize. It is safe as long as you stay in tourist areas or with excursion guides. Not the richest country, but everyone was nice and pleasant. Definitely leave the ship. If you are worried. Take an excursion. These people rely on the cruise industry and have your safety in their best interest.

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BlueWater, I think you mean Wet Lizard.:D

 

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Actually no crewsweeper, I meant Lazy Lizard. We much prefer the views from there over the port.

We were just looking to take a taxi to a beach to relax at, one with a bar if possible. Should we set something up with a tour company or just get a taxi at the dock.

Any suggestions? Not into snorkeling or diving.

I would consider a water taxi to Caye Caulker and relaxing at the Lazt Lizard. Not a proper beach but cheap drinks and good food and amazing water views.

Belize was great! I agree, have an excursion planed. We went to Xuanantunich (or however it's spelt). It's by Guatemala, so we booked through the cruise line. Beautiful country. A coworker went w friends a few months ago & they just walked through the city. They felt safe, but said that there wasn't much to see. Hope you have fun. I would go back soon if I could.

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I second Caye Caulker! Just went there last week at our Belize stop and it was lovely. Nice ride over on the water taxi, little beach area at the split (they say its not a typical beach but my girls sure found places to play in the sand!), and Belikins at the Lazy Lizard... Not too shabby! My husband saw starfish and a stingray while snorkeling too. I would definitely go back again!

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They have don't have beaches on the mainland so you would either have to book a beach excursion or take the water taxi to one of the islands.

We decided to do ATV and zip line with a company that also does cave tubing. Cave-tubing.com. Will save the beaches for our other 2 stops.

We booked a ship's excursion private island beach break and we tendered directly from the ship to the private island and then directly back to the ship. It was awesome! It was beautiful and one of my favorite beach breaks.

I'm looking to book Goffs Caye for my cruise in Sept with island mktg....anyone have experience at Goffs? Trip advisor had some good reviews.

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I'm looking to book Goffs Caye for my cruise in Sept with island mktg....anyone have experience at Goffs? Trip advisor had some good reviews.

 

 

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We enjoyed our day there, but we booked through the ship so we could be picked up at the ship and avoid tendering and lines. The crew was excellent and we loved the beach too.

Is malaria, etc a concern when going into the jungle for cave tubing?

Will have bug spray, but still...

I had to book the same cruise twice because of the cave tubing. I had my heart set on it and our stop there was canceled due to weather. The next year I booked again and have never regretted it. Cave Tubing is pretty cool. Spent a day on Cay Caulker on trip number 3. Nearly missed the last water taxi before last tender.:eek: Ginger D was not happy. Cay Caulker is pretty nice with a laidback atmosphere. Snorkeling was good. Food was very good and the water is gorgeous. Trip 4 took us to Bannister Island. Neat little place, but once was enough. They did have a good boat snorkel though. Last trip was on the cheap, so we just shopped and loafed around the tourist village. If you go outside the village you get the usual vendors in your face. Had the same thing happen in Nassau, Jamaica, Progreso and Roatan. In fact Roatan on our last visit was the worst that we have seen.

Don't let the bad reviews keep you on the ship. Research the tours, pick one with a good following on these boards and book it. You can get mugged or shot at home.

We were in Belize last week. We went out the gate and did some shopping. We also went on a horse drawn carriage tour of the city. The tour was 1/3 the price of the one at the terminal. We picked up some good bargains. We felt safe and the people were friendly. Afterwards. we stopped at the bar by where we boarded the tender (Princess Cruise). Had a nice time there also.:)

Cave tubing is great; however, I recommend taking a tour outside of the ship to avoid the crowds. I thought the only bad (unsafe) area we saw was around downtown.

what is available right at the cruise terminal as far as shopping and any restaurants? TIA

what is available right at the cruise terminal as far as shopping and any restaurants? TIA

Lots of shops ranging from pharmacies to jewelry. Food and drink is no problem. You might want to read the labels on the clothes. Ginger D found a pretty little Latina looking dress and found that it was made in China. She could probably find one at Walmart.