7 Reasons I Still Love the Carnival Breeze

If you have booked a cruise on the Carnival Breeze, you are in for a great time.

I first sailed on the Carnival Breeze and absolutely loved it. Since then, I've had the opportunity to sail on quite a few other ships, including smaller Royal Caribbean ships, Harmony of the Seas, and MSC Seascape.

Sailing on those ships has definitely changed the way I look at cruising. I've experienced larger ships with more activities, different layouts, more dining options, and amenities that weren't available on the Breeze.

EXPLORING ROATAN, HONDURAS (Outside of the Cruise Port)

Roatan, Honduras is my favorite port out of all of the Caribbean ports I have visited.  Of course I'm  leaving on another cruise next month out of Puerto Rico so this may change.  Either way, Roatan is still a great port.

Carnvial has an amazing free Beach, Mahogany Bay, which is beautiful and an easy walk from the ship.  

I have spent my time in port going only to the beach and I loved it.  

The last time I went with my daughter and some friends, we hired a driver right outside of the port and for $30 a person, they carried us anywhere we wanted to go.  You can check out my video HERE.

To get outside of the port, you will want to veer left once you get through the Dufry shop (#12 on map) and walk to the courtyard.  You will want to walk to the end building with the red roof(#3 on the map).  This is the car rental and information area.

MAHOGANY BAY CRUISE PORT ~ ROATAN HONDURAS

Is Mahogany Bay one of the stops on your next cruise? If you’re wondering what there is to do while in port, you may be pleasantly surprised. Mahogany Bay is one of those destinations where you don’t need to book an excursion or even leave the port to enjoy your day. 



Mahogany Bay was built by Carnival, which means it’s designed with cruise passengers in mind and offers plenty to do right in the port area. One of the highlights is the beautiful beach, complete with plenty of lounge chairs where you can relax and enjoy the view. You’ll also find a variety of shops to browse, along with a few restaurants and food stands if you’d rather stay close and grab a bite without heading off the property.

This option allows to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading ashore. It’s the perfect opportunity to slow down, enjoy your meal, and even catch the sunrise before making your way to the port for the day.

Lamanai Maya Ruins & River Boat Safari: Our Carnival Belize Excursion

Our stop in Belize was part of a Carnival Breeze cruise that also took us to Honduras and Cozumel. For our day in Belize, one thing was high on our list: seeing Maya ruins.

We chose Carnival's Lamanai Maya Ruins & River Boat Safari, an excursion that combines a trip into the Belize countryside, a boat ride along the New River, and a guided visit to the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve.

We thoroughly enjoyed the excursion, and Lamanai itself was absolutely worth seeing. However, there were a few things about the tour that weren't quite what we expected from the excursion description. If you're considering this tour on a cruise to Belize, here's what our day was actually like—and what I wish I had known beforehand.

REVIEW OF THE CARNIVAL BREEZE

The Carnival Breeze is a 3,690-passenger ship that can accommodate up to 4,724 guests when every bed is occupied.

That's a lot of people on one ship.

The last time I sailed on the Carnival Breeze, the ship was filled to capacity. I'll be sailing on her again in a month, and as I write this, it looks like all of the rooms are already booked except for some of the more expensive suites.

So what is it like to cruise on a ship that can hold nearly 5,000 passengers?

Well... it can be crowded.

CARNIVAL CRUISE PORT ~ MAHOGANY BAY, ROATAN (HONDURAS)

Carnival Cruise ships dock at the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center, located in Dixon Cove east of Coxen Hole.  There are a few shops in port along with several restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops.  Adjacent to the cruise center is 10 acre Mahogany Beach.  It's a little walk but you can take the "Magic Flying Beach Chair" for $14 (unlimited rides for the day).

Mahogany Bay is a great ports because you have the option of hanging out in port without spending a penny.  Of course there is shopping and restaurants available but you can still enjoy the beach without having to pay for an excursion.

Cozumel Cruise Port: What to Know Before You Go

Cozumel is Mexico's largest Caribbean island and a popular cruise port, welcoming thousands of cruise passengers throughout the year. For many people, Cozumel is an easy port to explore on your own, whether you want to shop, relax on the beach, or arrange your own excursion.

This was my second visit to Cozumel, and it was just as beautiful as I remembered. On my first visit, we walked to a nearby town and spent some time around the port. This time, we decided to do something different and took a taxi to the Iberostar Resort.