Day 2 Belize City, Cave Tubing in Belize: Bumpy Rides, Bats & a Whole Lotta Laughs!

 

Today’s adventure: Belize! I decided to go cave tubing, thanks to a glowing recommendation from my sister who did the same excursion a few months back. (Shoutout to her for the solid rec!) I booked it through the Cruise Line. Cave Tubing w/Lunch

We kicked off the day bright and early with a quick 15-minute tender ride into Belize.

Then came what I can only describe as the bumpiest bus ride of my life—an hour-long journey to the underwater caves that felt like our bus might just bounce into another dimension. Pro tip: If you’re making the trek, bundle it with the zipline—it’s at the same location, and trust me, after spending that much time getting there, you’ll want to make the most of it!

When we finally arrived, we switched from our original bus to a hilariously rickety old school bus for a two-minute ride over a tiny hill. It was so extra for such a short distance, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Note to self (and to you!): I totally forgot my water shoes, so I had to rent a pair—$12 for those and another $12 for a locker. Not terrible, but it adds up. Then we met our awesome guide who handed us our inner tubes and life vests. We carried them on a 30-minute jungle stroll to the caves, wading through a “refreshing” (aka mildly cold) creek along the way.

Our guide was an absolute riot—cracking jokes and keeping the whole group entertained the entire hike. Once we got to the cave entrance, they roped all our inner tubes together so we wouldn’t float off into the abyss (smart move).

Now, I had my waterproof camera all ready to go with a lanyard and everything, but they strongly suggested we leave it behind. I thought it was because of wild rapids, but turns out they just didn’t want anyone losing their gear in the water. Honestly, I wish I had brought it—there were some seriously epic photo ops I missed.

The caves themselves? Incredible. We wore helmets with little lights, which made spotting bats and cave formations super cool. The tubing was relaxing and beautiful, but I do wish it lasted a bit longer—which is why I say again: do the zipline too if you can!

After the float, we were served lunch. Since we’re vegetarian, we stuck to the rice, beans, and a little salad—it hit the spot just enough. We bought a couple of pics since we had no camera, and by the time we got back to the lockers, it was time to head out.

All in all—totally worth it. A little chaotic, a lot of fun, and definitely one for the memory books. Belize, you were wild in all the best ways!

Day 1 Port Roátan Honduras

I booked the Roatán Drift Snorkel and Monkey/Sloth Sanctuary tour through TripAdvisor for $65.  Whenever I go on a cruise I usually book one snorkel tour, so me and husband decided to buy our own snorkel equipment, sans flippers, to take on vacations so we wouldn't have to use, borrow or rent any. We got ours from Amazon for just 20 bucks—perfectly compact for our suitcase. After landing, we faced a tiny hill to meet our tour leader, but thanks to my sister's knee scooter (she broke her foot, so we're riding in style), we opted for a quick taxi ride instead. We ended up being the only passengers in the van before our local guide whisked us off to the Monkey/Sloth Sanctuary. And then—drumroll, please—we got to hold a sloth! We might have been among the last groups to do this, as the experience is being phased out to protect the animals from stress, and I respect that. With our hands interlocked and a sloth nestled in them, I nearly wanted to take him home. It was an absolute swoon-worthy, once-in-a-lifetime adventure!

Our next wild adventure was at the monkey cage! In a group of about ten, we had to ditch all our personal items (no glasses allowed, but hey, cameras were a go). With our arms hanging by our sides and no screaming permitted, we braced ourselves. Then, out of nowhere, the monkeys started hopping all over our heads! They played hide-and-seek with long dresses, fiddled with the velcro on my sister's boots, and even got curious about the fuzzy microphone on my camera. After being abused by these cuties, a riot of laughter, snapshots, and playful monkey antics, we had to make our exit—though not before one cheeky monkey leaped onto my head (probably trying to escape), forcing me to walk back slowly until it finally bounced off. What a hilariously unforgettable experience!

Last stop: the parrot cage! These sassy birds don’t just sit—they drop little surprises from above and even show off their curiosity by checking out your sunglasses. Expect them to land of your head for some cool pics. The result? A day bursting with giggles, squeals, and a camera roll full of hilarious snapshots.

Next up, we dove into snorkeling! After a quick drive to meet our tour guides, our little crew of about 15 splashed into the ocean to explore a vibrant underwater world. The water was refreshingly cool, and I skipped the underwater camera because nothing beats experiencing it firsthand (plus, it’s a distraction anyway!). We even grabbed a nifty little noodle float—always handy when you’re on the go! I marveled at the kaleidoscope of fish and the stunning coral formations during our underwater adventure. The whole tour took a little over 3 hours so planned on going over to Mahogany Bay to chill the rest of the day. 

Back on land, I had pre-booked a shore excursion to take a ski lift right over to the beach—practically next door to the ship! Mahogany Bay, a private island complete with a restaurant and loungers, was nearly empty when we arrived. I asked about the fancy chairs with umbrellas (around $30), but we happily snagged the free ones under the shade instead. It was blazing hot and humid, so I took a few refreshing dips, while my daughter hit the bar to fetch some drinks. We chilled on the Caribbean beach, soaking in the tropical tunes of exotic birds.

Before heading back, we even stopped by a few shops to pick up a cool baseball cap and some “sloth coffee” as souvenirs for my son. What a perfectly fun-filled day!

After we get back on board, it's time for our shower shuffle—taking turns getting squeaky clean and glammed up for a night of fun. Next, we head off to a show and then dinner at  "Catch by Rudy's" for a dinner feast that’ll make your stomach beg for mercy—seriously, there's too much food to handle! What a perfect, delicious way to wrap up an action-packed day.