Cruise Ships Sailing To Belize: A Guide To Tropical Escapes

Belize is a popular cruise destination, with many cruise liners offering trips to the Central American country. Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, Hurtigruten, and Norwegian Cruise Line are among the cruise companies that offer trips to Belize City, Belize. The country is known for its lush rainforests, diverse marine life, and ancient Mayan ruins. Belize is also a popular diving destination, with an almost unbroken line of reefs and small islands, known as cayes, extending for 150 miles along its coast.

Cruise lines that go to Belize

Belize is a popular cruise destination, often included as a port of call on Western Caribbean itineraries. The country offers a unique mix of Central American culture and the soul of a Caribbean island. It is known for its natural beauty, including lush rainforests, coral gardens, and the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef in the world.

• Royal Caribbean International: They offer a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise that includes stops in Tampa, Cozumel, Roatan, Belize City, Puerto Costa Maya, and Tampa. Their cruises also include excursions to ancient Mayan ruins and the world's only jaguar preserve.
• Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian offers a 7-night Caribbean cruise that departs from Miami, Florida. This cruise includes stops in Roatan, Harvest Caye (Belize), Costa Maya, and Cozumel.
• Carnival Cruise Lines: Carnival has several options, including a 6-night Western Caribbean cruise from Galveston, Texas, that stops in Costa Maya, Belize, and Cozumel. They also offer a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from New Orleans, Louisiana, with stops in Mahogany Bay, Belize, and Cozumel.
• Hurtigruten: For a longer voyage, Hurtigruten offers a 95-night Pole to Pole Adventure cruise that includes a stop in Belize City. This cruise departs from Vancouver, Canada, and covers various destinations in Alaska, the Northwest Passage, Greenland, the Caribbean, and Antarctica.
• Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Cruises offers a Western Caribbean cruise that includes a stop in Belize City. Their excursions include exploring ancient Mayan ruins, snorkelling in the Belize Barrier Reef, and discovering the natural and historical attractions of the country.

Belize City port facilities

Belize City is the largest port in the country, where the majority of Belize's commercial imports and exports are processed. The port is located on the south side of Belize City, at 17°28.80’’N and 088°12.20’’W. The facility is ISPS compliant and has a designated Port Facility Security Officer, Mr. Anthony Sankey.

The Belize Port Authority is the body responsible for designating 'Port Facility' status to any facility for the purposes of compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The Authority ensures that each of these facilities has a designated Port Facility Security Officer and that they are operating under an approved Port Facility Security Plan.

The main port in Belize City is Port of Belize Limited. This port is located at the mouth of Halouver Creek, at the Fort Street Tourism Village. The village is located at 16°28’20.”N latitude and 88°24”20.2W longitude. Cruise ships anchor just off the shore of Belize City, and local tenders ferry people from the ships to the city.

The Belize Border Management Agency (BMA) operates the Saca Chispas Water Taxi Terminal in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.

Excursions and tours in Belize

Belize is a tiny Central American country that has become one of the most popular cruise destinations. It is known for its rich culture, friendly locals, beautiful beaches, and excellent exchange rate.

• Diving and snorkelling at the Great Blue Hole, a huge marine sinkhole where an array of marine life including stingrays and sharks can be seen.
• Altun Ha is one of the best Mayan cultural sites in Belize. It is a heavily excavated site that consists of several impressive temples and tombs, including the Temple of the Masonry Altars.
• Xunantunich is another important Mayan site located near the Guatemalan border. It can only be reached by crossing the Mopan River on a hand-cranked ferry. There are six major plazas surrounded by over 25 temples and palaces.
• The Museum of Belize is housed in an old prison and features exhibits that explore the city's past, including the colonial era and pirate years.
• The Belize Zoo is home to over 170 animals, representing more than 45 native species, including jaguars, ocelots, coatis, and howler monkeys.
• The Community Baboon Sanctuary is the place to go if you love monkeys. It is home to a substantial number of black howler monkeys, as well as parrots, hummingbirds, and turtles.
• Jaguar Paw is a great spot to explore Belize's sacred caves, once revered as the "underworld" by the Mayans.
• Cave Tubing is a popular activity in Belize, with many tour operators offering excursions that include tubing through interconnected cave systems.
• Zip-lining is another adrenaline-pumping activity offered in Belize, often combined with cave tubing for an ultimate adventure.
• Goff's Caye Beach is the perfect spot for a beach break, offering snorkelling opportunities and a chance to explore the Belize barrier reef.
• Shark Ray Alley is a popular snorkelling site where you can get up close and personal with nurse sharks and stingrays.
• Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a 3-square-mile dive site that offers the opportunity to interact with an array of marine life.
• Ambergris Caye is the largest of Belize's islands, offering some of the country's prettiest beaches as well as excellent snorkelling and diving spots.
• St. Herman's Blue Hole is a great place for swimming, hiking, and exploring the top attractions of the capital city of Belmopan.

These are just a few examples of the many excursions and tours available in Belize. With its diverse offerings, rich history, and natural wonders, Belize is sure to provide a memorable experience for all types of travellers.

Belize's natural wonders

Belize is a tropical paradise with a plethora of natural wonders. Crystalline rivers flow through lowland jungles, and its impressive coastline features silky-sand beaches, waving palms, and colourful coral gardens. Here are some of the top natural attractions in Belize:

Belize Barrier Reef

The Belize Barrier Reef is the second-largest and healthiest stretch of coral reef globally, only dwarfed by the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It runs the entire length of the country's coastline and is home to an abundance of sea life. The reef also protects the shore from erosion and helps to dampen the impact of hurricanes.

The Atolls

Belize has three mid-ocean atolls: Turneffe Island, Lighthouse Reef, and Glover's Reef. These atolls are sparsely developed and offer a sense of adventure, isolation, and romance to visitors.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary & Cockscomb Basin Forest Reserve

This protected area in southern Belize consists of rugged, forested mountains and is home to the jaguar, Belize's other four wildcat species, Baird's tapirs, coati-mundis, tayra, kinkajous, deer, peccaries, anteaters, and armadillos. It is also a birdwatcher's paradise, with around 300 bird species, including the endangered jabiru stork.

Río Bravo Conservation Area

This diverse conservation area in northern Belize boasts a mix of virgin forest, sustainably managed forest, and reforestation areas. It is home to nearly 400 bird species and over 200 tropical tree species. It is also a great place to spot jaguars and other new-world cat species.

Caves (Cayo District and Western Belize)

Belize has an extensive network of caves, which the ancient Maya believed to be a mystical portal to the underworld. These caves were used for ceremonies and rituals, and evidence of Mayan presence can still be found in the form of fire pits, campsites, burial mounds, and artefacts.

The Sleeping Giant

The Sleeping Giant is a mountain ridge visible from the western and southern highways in Belize. Its name comes from the arrangement of peaks at one end, forming what appears to be a face, with the rest resembling a body. It is a unique geological feature and a popular subject for photography.

Belize's history and culture

Belize is a melting pot of cultures, with influences from Kriol, Maya, East Indian, Garinagu (or Garifuna), Mestizo, Mennonites of German descent, and many other cultures from Chinese to Lebanese. The country has a rich and varied history, with evidence of a distinct culture dating back to the Mayan Empire, which spanned southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala from 1500 BC to 800 AD.

Belize was an important hub for the Mayans, with a population of around two million and several major cities, including Caracol in the Cayo District, Altun Ha, Lamanai, and Xunantunich. The Maya reached their peak in the 6th, 7th, and 8th centuries AD but declined by the 14th century. By the time the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, the Maya presence had diminished significantly.

The Spanish ruled Belize after their arrival, but they never truly controlled the area, and it became a haven for English and Scottish pirates during the 17th century. When piracy became less profitable, the former buccaneers turned to logging the rich tropical forests. The Spanish wanted control of Belize and fought the English and Scottish colonists, known as the Baymen, until they lost the Battle of St George's Caye in 1798, a date now commemorated as a Belizean national holiday.

As part of the British Empire, Belize imported African slaves from the Caribbean to mill timber, and these slaves are the ancestors of today's Garifuna community. Britain renamed the colony British Honduras, and it gained self-rule in 1964, with full independence achieved in 1981, making Belize one of the world's youngest nations.

Belize has a diverse range of cuisines, influenced by its history and various cultures. Breakfast typically includes bread, tortillas, cakes, or fry jacks, often homemade and accompanied by various cheeses, beans, eggs, or cereal. Midday meals can vary, from lighter options like beans and rice to more substantial dishes like meat pies and stewed chicken. The Maya and Garifuna communities have their own distinct cuisines, with the Maya relying heavily on corn or maize and the Garifuna favoring seafood, cassava, and vegetables. Belize is also known for its wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Belize is predominantly a peaceful nation, with a small standing army, and its people are known for their courtesy and friendliness. The official language is English, a legacy of British imperialism, but many other languages are spoken, including Spanish, Mayan, German, Chinese, and Lebanese. Belize's performing arts scene is limited, but the Bliss Institute in Belize City offers theater, music, and dance.

Frequently asked questions