DAY TWO:  Grand Caymans - booked a Stingray and wave runner excursion with Island Marketing LTD.  Got off the ship and found where we were supposed to go really easily.  Met up with a local while we were waiting and just engaged in nice conversation.  Tour guide showed up and stated the excursion had been cancelled due to weather (wind).  We were bummed out but he offered to get us a reputable taxi to guide us around the island.  For $20/pp taxi driver took us around the island for about 2.5 hours - showed us Hell, we drank coconut water, saw where he lived, the rum factory, saw the dolphins and turtles and then came back to the ship.  We are not into shopping so we went back on board for another nap in the sun.  A little disappointing and I cannot really say whether or not this stop was worth it as weather happens.  So took it as a sign that we were supposed to relax some more.  Dinner of course was wonderful and the Carnival staff continue to be great. **As a side note - Island Marketing has already issued a refund of my deposit for this excursion - I notified them when I got back and no problems or concerns - will definitely use them again on the next cruise!

Grand Cayman (Georgetown)

DAY FOUR:  Belize - Everything went very well on this excursion. Booked directly through their site: http://belizecruiseexcursions.com/ (this is again another Island Marketing, LTD excursion offering). We tendered from the ship (it is about a 20+ minute ride) and landed at pier 4 and walked the short distance to pier 1 (followed the directions they provided during my reservation). No problems with this process at all. They take a group of you to a little cabana area, sign you in and you pay your balance. Then it is about a 1.5 hour drive to where you cave tube. Belize has some real poverty as well and they obviously do not value dogs as we do. Our driver gave information - but for us in the back of the van - we could not hear him. We got to the site - and had the opportunity to use the restroom (this is a park like setting - so if you expect a Hilton or better - you will be disappointed - but it is definitely above adequate).

After everyone uses the restroom - you go to get your light (we did not have a miner's hat - but a light on an elastic headband). The head gear smelled really bad - like old sweat - but here we go living in the rough. Then we got our tubes and began our nearly 20-30 minute walk up the hill to where we would get in the water. We did have a river crossing which was kind of fun. Once we made it to the top - they help you into your tubes and then have you connect with each other and the guide brings you down the river to the place you originally crossed.  I am a bit claustrophobic and there was not one place where I felt uncomfortable at all.  The caves were cool to see and it was fun riding down the river -- but could have been easier if we had a smaller group -- it is tough to stay locked in to the person in front of you, behind you and to your side if you are not properly set up from the beginning.
 
Then they provide you a lunch of chicken, red beans and rice, something else (don't know what it was - but it tasted good to me) and pineapple (the best I have ever eaten - pineapple). This was not catered out of an FDA inspected site - so if you are worried about stuff like that you probably will not like it - but it was very good and no one got sick - but I could see how some people that have the idea of roughing it is no room service - might have an issue with this. It was fun and one of those must do things - but we would not do it again for reasons listed below:

First let me say if you have not been cave tubing - you should - it is a great experience for sure - and we do not regret it one bit - but now it is one of those 'been there done that' things for us anyway.

 Concerns were - 1) 3 hours of our shore time taken up in travel to and from the site - there were no worries though that we would not make it back because those touring through Carnival were behind us in the river 2) could not hear the driver when he was giving information about Belize 3) the walk up the hill (it was muddy that day) was difficult for an older gentleman that was in our van and for my daughter who is on the heavy side 4) would have preferred to be able to walk up the hill without having to carry our own tubes - wish they would set up the issuing facility at the top instead of at the bottom - you could not enjoy the walk or the view as much due to the tube 5) the smell on the head light gear was really awful and distracting 6) they tried to put 10 of us together in a line and I think they were only supposed to do 8 - made it difficult to stay together and enjoy -but again not a real complaint - just a suggestion

Overall - this is a great tour that everyone should do at least one time. There is not time for anything else on Belize if you do this - so expect to get off the ship on the first tender and take one of the last ones back - we were not last back - but within 30 minutes of it - but there were no worries.

Loved going with our new cruise critic friends Hal and Jen!!

Belize City

DAY FIVE:  Roatan -- our very favorite.  Booked directly through Victor Bodden website  http://www.boddentours.com/index.htm .  We booked the Best of Roatan tour.  They provided us with the directions to the meeting place where we met up with William - our driver and guide for the day.  William was a phenomenal young man - took us through the city and countryside.  Took us to two beautiful viewing areas of the island where little marketers had set up tables.  We were not interested in shopping - but got some great photos.  We then went to the zip line and monkey area.  We paid for our tour ($25/pp for the private guide all day, zip lining - $45/pp, and the monkey/bird interaction area - included in the price).  Joshua and Marcus were our zip line crew and they were excellent.  Daughter was VERY scared but they made her feel comfortable - there were even jumps she did with only one hand and she was so happy.  They take pictures throughout the zip lining and if you want you can purchase a CD at the end for $20 - not a bad deal at all.  Everyone enjoyed this and hubby actually tried upside down - I continued to have a difficult time jumping off the platforms (there were 12 jumps all together) - but had a hoot.  The guides were great.  The 'runs' were of good length especially for beginners.  The stands that you jump from were not absurdly high - so you never felt unsafe.  Their equipment looked to be well maintained and we would definitely do this tour again.

The monkey and bird interactions were great - I did get a bite from a monkey - but that was my fault - no big deal though - Victor provided shot records and I have had no problems whatsoever.  Again - would do again.

We then had William take us to the Tropical butterfly garden (separate admission charge of $7/pp) which was very nice as well.  We then had him take us back to the beach by the ship.  He would have taken us to lunch or wherever else we wanted to go - but we were ready to be by the ship.  We were able to sun a little and swim a little.  Did not want to leave.  Had a little snack of chips and salsa which were really, really yummy!! 


Roatan was our favorite stop on this cruise.  I would definitely use Victor Bodden again as it was reassuring that our guide never 'left' us - he stayed in or near the van while we did our thing.  The country is beautiful but you can definitely see the poverty there.  If you can bring school supplies and drop them off with Victor to take to the local schools.
 
Only complaint is that this was our shortest stop and the best of all -- wish Carnival would/could consider staying here a couple more hours.

Roatan

DAY TWO:  Grand Caymans -- booked a Stingray and wave runner excursion with Island Marketing LTD.  Got off the ship and found where we were supposed to go really easily.  Met up with a local while we were waiting and just engaged in nice conversation.  Tour guide showed up and stated the excursion had been cancelled due to weather (wind).  We were bummed out but he offered to get us a reputable taxi to guide us around the island.  For $20/pp taxi driver took us around the island for about 2.5 hours -- showed us Hell, we drank coconut water, saw where he lived, the rum factory, saw the dolphins and turtles and then came back to the ship.  We are not into shopping so we went back on board for another nap in the sun.  A little disappointing and I cannot really say whether or not this stop was worth it as weather happens.  So took it as a sign that we were supposed to relax some more.  Dinner of course was wonderful and the Carnival staff continue to be great. **As a side note - Island Marketing has already issued a refund of my deposit for this excursion - I notified them when I got back and no problems or concerns - will definitely use them again on the next cruise!

DAY THREE:  Cozumel, OK - LOVED THIS!  We booked on line directly with Island Marketing:  http://cozumelcruiseexcursions.com/CozumelShoreExcursions.htm ($57/pp plus taxi costs both ways)
 
They send you a confirmation that gives you adequate directions - the nice thing was that this was a dockside port (no tender).  We caught a cab for $7 for 4 of us to where they said to meet.  It seemed a bit shady (maybe that is Mexico) and I never did see the word Francel on a boat as they said I would - but from there things were fine.  We met with our guide - and it was just us (4 adults) and another couple.  Guide provided EXCELLENT instructions - took probably about an hour.  He then got us all another cab to where we would go scuba diving.  My niece and daughter were a little overwhelmed with all the gear - so they stayed on the beach area (no sand just rocks - and lot of garbage around).  It was not quite as pretty a beach as I thought it should be - but then we were in the water and from then on out the tour was excellent.  We spent over 30 minutes under the water with the guide holding my and another lady's hand the whole way.  We saw tons of sea life and had an awesome time!  Once out of the water there was a problem with the return cab and making change - they seem very limited on American dollars so I would suggest that you bring $5 and $1 bills - but I did not sweat it as I was going to tip or guide anyway. 

 
We then got back to the ship areas and decided to just go back on board as we did not want to shop - we definitely do not like the high pressured sales technique of shouting out.
 
Would highly recommend this tour.  But I would also suggest to Island Marketing that their staff be more easily identifiable and they change their directions a little bit as they say to look for our boat FRANCEL located just next to the gas station - we never saw the boat - but did find the gas station.

Our preference from now on will be a balcony at mid-ship though - you do get some of the engine vibration in the aft section but nothing too disturbing

2)      Food -- you do not have to eat everything in sight -- learned this as I went along -- only put on 4 pounds during this cruise and it is already gone -- Yeah TIG - but it is oh so tempting to eat every second of the day

3)      The juggler show was the best in our opinion but it was only 1 of two shows we watched

4)      The Mardi Gras show was ok -- glad we went -- didn't get it all but glad we went

5)      The singer in Billie's Bar was really good -- just repeated songs a lot -- but we spent 3 evenings with him just the same

6)      Watched the funniest ever Marriage Show -- loved the older couple!I booked two rooms - one for daughter and niece with the cruise package (they pick you up at the airport take you to hotel, then to a shopping stop in town, then to the cruise port in the morning and then pick you back up at the cruise port and take you back to the airport or back to the hotel - your choice) and one free room for us (Hilton Honors reward night).

Carnival Legend Review

Carnival Legend 1/15/12

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Aft-View Extended Balcony

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