We did not plan anything to do in Roatan so I blame us for not having much fun there. We just got off to go shopping in Roatan. There was a little market right across from the sip. Lots of local crafts there. If you like wood art they have some beautiful stuff!! I got a large wood vase that is gorgeous for $28! I wish I had got a couple more sizes and a few for gifts! But that was as exciting as it got for us!

I only blame us for not having a great time in Roatan. We heard about great snorkeling and beaches we just did not get to them. So we look forward to going back to really enjoy Roatan! So my advice is take an excursion in Roatan!!

I have been scared out of getting off of the boat in Roatan. I went the US govt's travel website, and there was a lot of bad stuff listed to watch out for. Hepatitis, Dengue Fever, and they recomended getting vaccines before going  :(   I figured I would just take a spa day on the boat that day. Was it really as bad as that? They were especially explicit about the amount of crime there- tourists being robbed and hurt or killed. Did you get that impression?

We went to Roatan on January of 2007.  My husband and I did the Pirates and Birds with the snorkel tour in it.  We had an awesome time.  The hardest part was the monkey.  There was one named Ricco and he happened to like my swimsuit cover up skirt.  Needless to say, I had to pull it up shorter than planned on, but honestly I would do it again.

  My husband was able to snorkel and get some cool photos of some blue fish (like on Nemo) which was his first time.

  It is a beautiful country.

Hope that helps.

J.Bey
 

Please don't listen to the Govt travel advice too much. If you believe half of what is written you'd never go anywhere! Ths slightest bit of trouble in any country (inc. safe places like Europe) and it warns you against it!

 I've been visiting Roatan for years and now live there. Roatan is NOTHING like mainland Honduras - it is very wealthy by those standards, crime rates are low and there are tourist police all over the place whenever a cruisehip comes to the island (which is everyday nowadays). It is a beautiful island - the Caribbean of 20 years ago - so don't stay on the ship. After all, what's the point in visiting all these amazing places if you're too scared to see any of them?

Barry

Please don't listen to the Govt travel advice too much. If you believe half of what is written you'd never go anywhere! Ths slightest bit of trouble in any country (inc. safe places like Europe) and it warns you against it!

 I've been visiting Roatan for years and now live there. Roatan is NOTHING like mainland Honduras - it is very wealthy by those standards, crime rates are low and there are tourist police all over the place whenever a cruisehip comes to the island (which is everyday nowadays). It is a beautiful island - the Caribbean of 20 years ago - so don't stay on the ship. After all, what's the point in visiting all these amazing places if you're too scared to see any of them?

As for dengue, malaria etc. - welcome to the tropics! Name a place that's hot and has mozzies and you're guaranteed to have dengue and malaria. However, how many people do you know who've actually caught them? The people who catch those things are the ones that live in the tropics on a permanent basis - tourists hardly ever do! Take a look at how many people caught malaria in the US last year - its increasing all the time!

Barry

Hi Barry,

I have a question for you since you live there. My wife is concerned that if she does on excursion and i do another in Roatan,  that something os going to happen to her. We have never been there and well we are wondering if i were to do one thing and she did another, would she be alright alone. She wants to do the Pirates monkeys of the caribbean excursion. I know that it goes to Gumbalimba park. I want to Scuba dive. so if I were to leave her to go to the park, would she be alright. She is booking it through the ship. Also can oyu tell me how long a ride is it to Gumbalimba park from the pier? It says that buses are available all day to take people back to the ship. Is that true? 

Just got back from Roatan on Carnival Legend and it was the BEST port and country in the Western and Eastern caribbean I have EVER visited.  The scenery and people are wonderful and felt as safe if not safer than anywhere else a cruise ship could go.  Did the Dolphin Encounter and that was the BEST tour ever on any trip.  The beaches are pristine and just plain beautiful.  I had friends who went to the beach all day and had a fantastic time.  Even if you do not do a tour, there is plenty to do around the pier shopping, eating and talking to locals. The town really lines the pier and water and is just beautiful.

I agree, I was on the same cruise Legend (3/2-3/9) Rotan was a great stop and beautiful beaches Tabayna Beach is a must. 

 What not to do in Roatan is give the place a chance.  We went through Victor Bodden Tours and had the most unbelievable service.  We went over to the booth, met our representative who brought us to our driver.  We had this driver for the day. My daughters went zip lining, then he brought us to West End to shop. Then gave us a tour of the beautiful country.  We ended up at Tabyana beach and had a great lunch and got to spend some great time in the water.  he had us back to the ship in plenty of time so we shopped around the dock and then onto the ship on time.  it would be sad to visit this country and stay close to the ship.  i would go back to this island anytime.

CUJO said it right on another message board regarding being scared of visitng another country due to crime/homelessness/poverty/malaryia.  Unless you are headed into a real war zone, it really is almost sort of snooty to even talk about not visiting a country due to a) homelessness b) health issues c) poverty. (I'm not saying YOU are snooty!  I'm just saying it is silly) I'm sure there are many cruisers who are FROM some of these islands.  A close friend of ours is from Honduras and last time I checked, he is quite healthy, and his family is still intact, living on the MAINLAND of Honduras.

I don't mean to be rude.  I know it is scary when you read the US govt travel websites and some of the posts on here.  It is really unsettling to see devastating poverty ANYWAY, but just remember we have it here, too.....and the people who live in those conditions certainly won't jump out and want to be blood brothers or something, so don't worry!

We have been to many many ports and seen all kinds, but we're in one piece and always have a great time.  If you truly are concerned, just be street smart---travel in pairs or groups, and don't wander too far off the beaten path.  Stick with carnival booked excursions and you'll be fine and have a wonderful time!!

Visited Roatan with a group this April.  Were harrassed by a local man and 6 kids whom kept using distractions to try to pick ours and others pockets beg for money.  Then we realized the police showing up on the street with machine guns.  One of the kids holding the gang back on an imaginary line in the street near the policeman.  He stated 'give me some money cuz we get in trouble if we go near the police.'  Of course we walked back past the police whom stated they only regard the areas they enclose safe for the tourists.. Hence the machine guns and pick pocket gangs past their posts..

 I definitely recommend the Tabayana Beach excursion, which is what we did. The beach was a tropical paradise and very private... I don't think there was anyone else there except for the people on our ship. If you don't do an excursion in Roatan though, I can't imagine what else there would be to do there.

Warning- the poverty in Roatan you have to drive through to GET to the beach is very depressing- sagging, flimsy shacks that look like they would fall right over if a stiff wind came along. We also saw children who looked like they couldn't be any older than 10 outside working. While my group I came with (boyfriend and friends) did not have any negative experiences on Roatan, I did hear that one of the people on our ship got surrounded by a group of local kids with switchblades who tried to rob him. 

Bottom line- DEFINITELY do an excursion on Roatan or don't bother getting off the ship. And why would you want to stay on the ship... you're on the ship all week except for like 5 hour blocks when you can get out at the ports.