As much as we love cruising, we have never really done a Caribbean cruise. However as we get older we find the Canadian winters less appealing so we decided to join millions of others and try a cruise to the warmer climates. In January we took a week long cruise out of New Orleans into Mexico, Roatan and Belize.
I discovered that although I do love getting into a warmer climate in January, I am not really a sand and salt water kind of girl. That left out the majority of beach stops, and since I am not a shopper that excluded most of the rest. What I did enjoy was the scenery, the lush green jungles, the vista of white sand beaches and the beautiful sun dappled water.
It is always fun being on a cruise ship so that became our focus. We were not really adventurers for that week, we were vacationers. The temperatures were moderate by our standards, ranging between 24 to 27 degrees Celsius. The sun was shining and the breeze off the Gulf of Mexico was warm and fragrant. We enjoyed being outdoors as much as we could.
We did do excursions, choosing ones that offered something unique and adventurous. At our first port in Cozumel
Mexico we took a ferry to the main land and toured the amazing Rio Secreto, an underground system of fresh water rivers and caves filled with stalagmites and stalactites. We were provided with all the necessary equipment and a wonderful guide, Matias. At points the water was neck deep with the cave roof only inches above our heads. It is not ideal for anyone afraid of the dark or claustrophobic. We loved it! There was also a full buffet of Mayan food which everyone attacked with gusto after our adventure underground.
In Belize we landed on Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island, Harvest Caye. Just off the dock was a complex of shops, restaurants and a pool. There was also access to the beach, and options for boat tours and seadoo rentals. It was an excellent way to spend the day. We however, took a bus up into the mountains to tube down a lazy river. The narrated drive offered insight into the history and culture of Belize with great views of riotous greenery and tidy little communities. Our group of intrepid adventurers were strapped together on rafts and guided down the river by a local. We even navigated a few rapids along the way. It was as relaxing as it was an adventure.
We tried snorkelling and kayaking in the west end of Roatan. I was not very good at either! The guides were wonderful however and the snack of fresh fruit and quesadillas was welcome. Our final port in Costa Maya, Mexico would have been sunrise catamaran and snorkel excursion but it was canceled due to rough seas. I have to admit I was relieved. Instead we spent the day enjoying all the cruise had to offer, along with the other two sea days that made up the itinerary.
The next time the Canadian winter gets us down we would definitely do another Caribbean cruise. There are a number of diverse itineraries covering both the east and west part of the Caribbean. There are also different embarkation ports, length of sail and cruise lines so one is sure to appeal to your budget and destination dreams.