Belize Excursion, is it cheaper to book with someone at the port?

Anyhow know of local excursion operators that are reliable at that port in Belize? Wondering if it is cheaper to book at the port than through Carnival, or is it about the same? I know it would obviously be more organized and probably safer to book through Carnival, but wondered if there would be a significant price difference. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

What are you looking to do? We weren't overly impressed w/ the Carnival Excursions offered in Belize when we sailed April 2016. We were w/ friends who wanted to horse back ride and we are parrot lovers. We wanted something a little different. We booked independently w/ Banana Bank Lodge. It was WONDERFUL. In fact, we are sailing this Itinerary again April 2019 to revisit Banana Bank. The owners are from Montana and the trip was great. It was just our group of people (5 of us). They picked us up ... brought us back ... fed us lunch. It was great.

What are you looking to do? We weren't overly impressed w/ the Carnival Excursions offered in Belize when we sailed April 2016. We were w/ friends who wanted to horse back ride and we are parrot lovers. We wanted something a little different. We booked independently w/ Banana Bank Lodge. It was WONDERFUL. In fact, we are sailing this Itinerary again April 2019 to revisit Banana Bank. The owners are from Montana and the trip was great. It was just our group of people (5 of us). They picked us up ... brought us back ... fed us lunch. It was great.

We were thinking of one of the snorkeling or private island tours. Not so much the cave tours, didn't think about horse back riding. We are from Texas so we can ride horses here lol, but if they were to offer any other options that might be cool to look into. Do you have a link, I will google shortly. Thanks for the response.

In answer to your question about independent tours....it seems that CCL has 'cornered' the market in Belize. On our first trip we did a cave tubing tour independently...the next time back they were 'under contract' with CCL and wouldn't take reservations forcing pax to book thru CCL, which we did. Sadly, it was more $$ and just an awful excursion with the time spent tubing cut in half. On our most recent stop in Belize we wanted to do the River Wallace/Altun Ha excursion.....same story. No longer able to book independently as CCL has a 'contract' with the operators....so your choices may be limited in Belize!! You can try to contact the tour operators, but we found that they ask for cruise ship and once you say "CCL"....they tell you that you have to book thru CCL!! Ship excursions are RARELY even decent, and like 'cattle calls' in large groups....not our style!!

If the excursion is a half day and you are in port for 8 hrs, then any tour operator, including the cruise line will do. I prefer using the cruiseline for longer tours, say to Lamanai or Xanantunich ruins, since they are usually 7 hrs or so.

Anyhow know of local excursion operators that are reliable at that port in Belize? Wondering if it is cheaper to book at the port than through Carnival, or is it about the same? I know it would obviously be more organized and probably safer to book through Carnival, but wondered if there would be a significant price difference. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

It’s cheaper but you can always price match afterwards for obc( as I learned in another thread) We just got back 110% difference for an excursion in Belize. It pays to research.

there are plenty of independent shore operators in Belize. Yes, some tour operators or dive shops do have exclusive contracts, but not all. Just go to Trip Adviser and look for tours with good reviews. I completely disagree that it has anything to do with the length of the tour. They all have watches and cell phones. You WILL get back to the ship.

Check out King David Castillo!

It’s cheaper but you can always price match afterwards for obc( as I learned in another thread) We just got back 110% difference for an excursion in Belize. It pays to research.

Nice, so where did you end up finding the cheaper price? Was it once you arrived at port or online?

Nice, so where did you end up finding the cheaper price? Was it once you arrived at port or online?

And how do you do the price match?

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