Tampa Cruise: One Balcony Stateroom still available this Saturday

★★★★★ “A little bit of Island Paradise”– We Loved this little Island Paradise…the people were friendly and welcoming and it was awesome being that close to the wildlife. I was a little fearful of the Simba, but maybe next time I will have the courage to pose with the Jaguar for a photo shoot.

★★★★★ “Most Amazing Secret in Mahogany Bay” We had no idea what we were in for when we arrived.  We arrived in March and had such a good time, that when we returned home, booked the same cruise for June, so we could take our children here as well. The place is out of a Vacation Magazine. Tropical crystal clear water, horseback riding in the ocean, an exotic animal zoo that has birds, monkeys, an ant eater, lion, and jaguar. They bring the jaguar out for everyone to pet, hold, and look at. This animal is on a large steel chain, and we have been told eats a VERY large amount before coming to visit the visitors.  There are kayaks, snorkel gear, swings into the water, many chairs to call home for the day, bars, and a place where lunch is served which is included in your daily admission ticket. It’s steak, chicken, and shrimp, with your typical delicious rice and beans from the central parts, and you get two free drink tickets which will allow you to get a soda or their most prized drinks of rum with juices and pineapple toppings. We went, just the husband and I, as well as a few months later with both our girls, ages 7 and 10. No matter which way we went it was an amazing time. The cruise ships do not offer it in their shore excursions.  The entire staff is kind and hospitable and the owners along with their children who live on the island, also frequent it daily. They are very kind to the visitors and make you feel at home while you are there. The cost is lower compared to most the cruise offers.   That’s the agreement the two resorts have with one another. Great value for the price, beautiful landscaping, and the food and drinks are incredible! Check it out!!!

★★★★★ “Favorite stop of our cruise”-  I booked the Island Fun Package for our group of 16. We had children 7,10,12,13 yrs old and teens 17,19,19,20. Everyone had a blast. We snorkeled, kayaked, paddle boarded, petted the monkeys at their petting zoo and just had a great day. The meal provided was delicious and the drinks good as well. The bartender Miguel at the swim up bar was a favorite with the singles in our group:) The facilities were clean and it was just a wonderful day. We all want to go back. Make sure you follow their instructions and walk out of the port, it takes about 5-10 min. They will be waiting for you and drop you off right at the ship at the end of the day.

★★★★★“Tropical, Fun and Beautiful! Well worth your time!”-  We booked this excursion based on recommendation from a friend and high ratings online, and we were not disappointed. This is not one of the “official” excursions offered by Royal Caribbean, and we were a little nervous because of that, but if this is holding you back, don’t let it. Though not as easy to find as the ones connected with the cruise line, just keep asking at the port and they will point you in the right direction. And they are very good about making sure you are back to the ship in time. It is only about a 15-20 minute drive from the port. We were very glad we booked it because it was fantastic! There is not an official meet time like with most other excursions, but I recommend arriving as early as possible to take advantage of all there is to do and to grab a good place on the beach to call home for the day. It is a small islet just a short barge ride from the main shore. They have a small animal sanctuary with several tropical birds, monkeys, a lion, and a jaguar among others, with the opportunity to interact with some of the monkeys. If you want, you can sit in one of the many shady hammocks or beach chairs available, or you can be as active as you want with snorkel gear, paddle boats, kayaks, surfboards, and other non-motorized water activities. Snorkeling in the immediate area is included in the basic package but for only $10 more, you can add a snorkeling trip where a small boat takes you out to the reef for a 45 minute guided snorkeling tour, which I highly recommend. The variety of marine life and the beauty of the reef was astounding! Also included in the basic package were two drinks from the bar and a delicious lunch. The owners of the site were very involved in the operation and worked very hard to make sure everyone had a good time, as did everyone on the key. This is a great day trip for a family with a wide range of ages as there is something for everyone. I would for sure do this trip again and recommend it to anyone looking for a fun day in the sun in Roatan.