nbsjcruiser

Thinking about grabbing a cab to West Bay when we're in Coxen Hole on February 6. Anyone do this before? Does it seem safe? What are the amenities in West Bay Beach like? Chairs/umbrellas how much are they? How far away from port?

Has anyone here tried this resort?: https://roatancruiseexcursions.com/excursion/roatan-resort-adventure-package/

Looks nice. I may book us there for the day.

1 hour ago, azbirdmom said:

 

I would doubt that they would still have that listed as an excursion if they aren't docking at Mahogany Bay.  I'm thinking that "port congestion" also means too many people at their private beach.  There are much nicer beaches elsewhere in Roatan, hopefully they will offer more of those options.  But yeah, you're missing the convenience of walking to or taking a chair lift to a beach with the ability to return to the ship at your leisure.

I think you're right. We're docking at CH for a reason - too many people at MB. If they were going to let us keep excursions at MB, might as well let us dock there.

1 minute ago, like2cruise said:

Since your excursion is booked with Princess, from the sounds of it in the letter, I am hopeful if you are still interested that they will now provide you the transportation to still get to your beach day/clamshell.  🤞🤞

hmmm, It's like 10 miles away though isn't it? Not that that's a huge deal but I guess I hadn't thought of that. Guess we'll see.

9 hours ago, like2cruise said:

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Please be advised that due to cruise ship congestion in Roatan, Honduras, Sky Princess will now berth in Coxen Hole for our call to Roatan on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, rather than in Mahogany Bay as previously scheduled.

 

For guests with Princess shore excursions booked for Roatan, tours will be automatically rebooked out of Coxen Hole. If your tour cannot be accommodated, a refund will be issued to the original form of payment. The revised itinerary displays in full at the end of this notification. Thank you for your attention to this notification.

We had a beach day/clamshell booked for Mahogany Bay so that will be cancelled. Our problem is, we switched credit cards last December, months after booking that excursion so there is no "original form of payment". I called Princess yesterday and asked them to put it on as OBC but the guy I talked to didn't understand what I was asking for. God, its getting challenging talking to Princess lately. Rarely do I get someone who understands English well enough to really be taking calls from customers.

12 hours ago, cujosmom said:

First of all, I am wondering why you even booked an "Excursion/Beach Day" at Mahogany Bay. The ship is DOCKED at Mahogany Bay and you can just walk off the ship and walk to the beach or pay some ridiculous price to take the sky ride which will be maybe 3 minutes long.  

 

Because the Bay is so narrow, the ships that go to Mahogany Bay have to "back in" to dock. If the weather is bad or too windy, they sometimes have to cancel because they are unable to dock. 

 

We've been to Roatan at least 6 times and the beach at MB "looks" nice but we prefer docking at Coxen Hole and taking an excursion from there. So much easier and much better options in my opinion.

Well, first of all, why we booked an excursion at Mahogany bay has zero to do with my post. I have no idea why people post such silly and irrelevant remarks.

Your last paragraph, despite lacking details, is a little more relevant to the topic. Thanks for that at least.

On 2/6/2023 at 1:29 PM, wolft927 said:

We do Little French Key each time...$69 per person does not include food and drink, but is very nice secluded small little island. We love it there, going for our 3rd time in April

 

Looking for suggestions for a beach day while in Coxen Hole. How far is Little French Key? How do you get there?

tks

4 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

 

Thank you!  That's the same one I was looking at but for whatever reason it wasn't showing the later dates.  I clicked the refresh link and it brought it up.  Good to see that the Enchanted is still on the schedule the 29th.

You guys should be fine - no other ship in port with you.

23 minutes ago, Tonsoffun44 said:

Wonder if other ports will be switched around like others have reported for this itinerary in December/January - Same port stops changed to different days.  Guess more will be making a quick trip off and back onboard without the beach nearby OR not getting off at all. 

I hope other ports are not swapped. We have an excursion booked and paid for on Belize from an independent tour operator.

So we were supposed to be in Mahogany Bay in February and now looks like we've been moved to Coxen Hole. I'm trying to find a nice beach day or resort day since we now can't go to Mahogany Bay. Has anyone used Roatan Cruise Excursions? I'm thinking of booking their Resort Adventure Package. Seems like a decent price or a resort day.

Their website is here: https://roatancruiseexcursions.com/excursion/roatan-resort-adventure-package/

Looks like it's Coxen Hole now. That's the second time we were supposed to go to Mahogany Bay and ended up at that hole. Never again will I rely on Princess to get me to Mahogany Bay. This is the first Western we've booked in probably 10 years. Back to eastern's from now on.

I get that itineraries change and I accept it. But to book me in a port that they had no intention on visiting is unacceptable. This really grinds my gears.

Got a strange email for our upcoming cruise on the Sky. It mentioned our excursion was incomplete. We had booked a beach day at Mahogany Bay. Looking at the itinerary (screenshot attached) it now says undefined. I know there's a huge Carnival ship in the same day we are. They've known for months that these two ships would be in the same time. I know they cancelled this port on the Regal not too long ago and to be honest, if they substitute a day at sea I'll be pizzed. I never would book this itinerary with 3 days at sea - not the Western. I'll make the best of it of course but it won't go down easy.

Thoughts? Anyone get note that there cruise changed?

We were on the Caribbean Princess in Nov - here's my review:

I'd go back on the ship for sure.

We're on the Sky on February 3. Hoping the old app will still be in use then. I'd prefer for the rest of you guys to be the test bed not me 😁

10 hours ago, annmarz said:

Many years ago, my husband, son, and I went to the upper level of the theater for a show. There were about 5 people in the whole level. There were tons of empty seats.  I had placed my evening bag on the empty seat next to me.  A couple entered the room, and in a huff the woman came right next to me and sat on top of my bag, saying  "You are not supposed to save seats!"  To this day I do not know how I restrained myself.

Hilarious and reminds me of a trip the local gym one night when there was literally nobody there. I picked a locker near the wall, in the corner and along comes the only other guy in the gym, puts his bag down on the bench where my bag is and moves my bag. I couldn't help myself - "are you kidding me? 100 empty lockers and 10 empty benches and you have to pick the one right beside me?".

People.

10 hours ago, donaldsc said:

 

Are you suggesting that Kinkade's works are not hideous or maybe that they are worse than hideous.  For me it is the latter.

 

DON

My wife likes to tell the story of a show she saw on TV once about an art dealer who was telling the story of a couple who broke up and were fighting over the multiple pieces of art work they bought on cruises over the years. They spent thousands of dollars on these pieces and in many cases he evaluated the frames higher than the art work itself. They're basically worthless for the most part. Mind you, I've seen a few I liked and I'd hang them up in my house but I'd suffer under no illusions regarding their worth.

9 hours ago, 1412p0oi said:

I’m a bit susceptible to the idea of a “great deal” and I know that, so I should just stay away before regretting a purchase that has no value to me. Besides, I’m bringing one small suitcase that I had to sit on to close so don’t think I can fit even more air in there! 

Smart to stay away then. We once went on a cruise with my sister who was as thin as a rail in those days. She went to one of those "free" body analysis things. She came back with 2 more appointments (not free of course) so he could help her reduce her body fat. If she had any body fat it was hidden somewhere I couldn't see.

The other thing to note is that in some cases these people do not work for the cruise line, especially in the spa. Why does that matter? Well, oftentimes you'll hear about people going for things like acupuncture. If they mess up (and they have in the past) the cruise line is going to shrug and tell you that they don't work for the cruise line and that you'll have to take it up with them.

Cruising is one of the best things there is, I love it but you have to remember, they're goal is to make money. Just have a bit of skepticism when you're on the ship. That will help you enjoy a wonderful vacation to its fullest.

8 hours ago, MissP22 said:

I pride myself in keeping my final bill under the $10 mark. 

Well done. We budget ourselves for the entire cruise and put what we deem appropriate on as OBC and leave the cruise with $0 owing on the bill.

You will learn that cruise ships are experts at the upsell and enticing you with great deals that require you to buy something first. So to answer your question, yes it is an upsell event. They don't give you anything for free. If you're not careful you'll nickel and dime yourself to death on a cruise ship.

On 1/11/2024 at 11:08 AM, Tonye60 said:

I take great pleasure in moving peoples stuff, disappointed sometime when there are free chairs 

You know what's even more fun? Take said items off their chair, leave it on the deck and move the chair far enough that they dont know who took it if they return yet close enough to watch the fun should they return. The confusion is worth it.

So I was just watching a video on cruising and in it the person mentioned that it is illegal to vape or smoke in public in Cozumel. How strict are they about the vaping? My wife has successfully used vaping to quit smoking. Are they that strict that she should leave it on the ship?

1 minute ago, Tonsoffun44 said:

Same cruise - I keep checking our schedule for such changes. IF they happen I hope we see it before boarding. Not that we can do anything about it. 

That would be a disappointment for sure. Its the beach day we're looking forward to.

hmmm, we're in on the Sky Princess on Feb 6 along with the Carnival Jubilee. That's 10K people all together. From what I've read, Mahogany Bay can take 8000 people. Now I'm wondering if they're not going to pull the same stunt that day and claim "port congestion" and skip it. I hope not.

We'll be in on the sky Princess the same day the Carnival Jubilee will be in port. We have a clamshell reserved for a relaxing beach day but I'm wondering if they over-book the clamshells? We lost out on one at Princess Cay last year even though we had it booked months ahead of time. Total passengers for the day will be over 10000 and I've read Mahogany Bay can accommodate 8000. The Jubilee is in at 8 and we are in at 9. My thought was to be off the Sky the minute the doors open and hustle over to get a clamshell before the big rush.

Any experience what its like with two large ships in at the same time? Overcrowded? Do they overbook clamshells?

tks in advance

10 hours ago, sparky321 said:

I have been following this blog, my new app seems to work well most of the time but still logs out once in a while when I try to open dining. 

 

I have a question about dining booked at the specialty restraunts, if you book and pay for say the Crown Grill and then cancel at a later date do you hat you money returned?

I haven't done this but if you cancel on board you will get your money back I'm sure. In the app? Not sure but I bet if you cancel before boarding you will but it may take time to get back to you.