Exotic Western Caribbean - Recommendations?

Question

An upcoming "Exotic Western Caribbean" Cruise is approaching and the ports of call (not including the port of departure in the US) are:

1. Santo Tomas De Castilla

(Subject to change to Roatan per cruise line)

2. Cozumel

3. Belize City

4. Costa Maya

We have already been recommended and are scheduled to visit Mayan ruins in Cozumel. I am searching for "not to miss" recommendaitons for the other locations. I have heard STDC has beautiful waters. Please give specific names of places/tourist activities if you know them. Thanks!

Answer 1

I haven't been to Roatan, but the rest I have.  Here are my suggestions:

Cozumel - Nachi Cocom.  This is an all inclusive beach day.  They take no more than 100 people a day for this beach day and it's fabulous.  You can only book this excursion through Island Marketing and it's $50 pp for the day.  Totally worth it.  Second idea for Cozumel is the Mexican cooking class.  You can usually book that through the cruise line.  It was a great day!

Belize:  This one HAS to be cave tubing.  There are several places that you can use but we used cave-tubing.com.  We had a wonderful day and they took you to two caves, instead of one and they help you through the caves (and to carry your tube to the caves if you need it) and there's not zillions of other people in your excursion like they book through the cruise lines.  I believe the price was $45 pp.  We stopped on the way back for a $5 lunch of beans/chicken/beer and it was delicious.  Excellent day.

Costa Maya - this is just reopening after the hurricane, so I'm not sure what is there now.  BUT if the Cat's Meow opened again, then definitely go there.  Sit and eat/drink all day nice and cheap and get yourself a fabulous 45-minute beach massage for only $20!!  You can't beat it and the massage is wonderful.  I get regular massage here at home so I know what's good and what's not.  They were good!  When we did exotic western, Costa Maya was our favourite day.  There is also a pool/drink place right at the port if you want to stay there, but honestly take a $3 taxi and go to Mahujal Beach to see if the Cat's Meow and beach massages are back in business.  You won't be sorry.

I want to go again!!!

Answer 2

Go to CruiseCritic.com, click on "Boards", then "Ports of Call".  You'll find lots of reliable, current info from experienced cruisers.

Be sure and read about the trip to Tulum.  It is a very long trip and the ferry across to the mainland is a very rough trip sometimes, so if you're prone to seasickness, be sure and take some benadryl or whatever.  

I know a couple of people who have done the cave tubing [they arranged it independently] and they loved it.  However, it is a long bus ride and then a long climb to get to the starting point.  The CC people can give you lots of details.