Princess Cruises' Belize Docking Spot

Princess Cruises docks in Belize City, Belize, located at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula. The cruise ships anchor in the bay of Belize, and passengers are then tendered to the port terminal at Belize's Tourism Village via high-speed boats. The terminal features shops, restaurants, and tour operators.

Belize City is a popular cruise destination due to its proximity to Mayan heritage sites, eco-tourism, water-sports, and its sub-tropical climate.

Princess Cruises docks in Belize City

Belize City is a popular cruise destination in Central America, attracting tourists with its Mayan heritage sites, eco-tourism, water-sports opportunities, amazing subtropical climate, and friendly people. Princess Cruises, along with other major cruise lines, offers a range of excursions and activities for visitors to Belize City.

Tendering to the Port

Belize City's cruise port terminal is located at Belize's Tourism Village. Due to shallow waters near the coast, cruise ships anchor in the bay of Belize, and passengers are tendered to the port via high-speed local boats, which takes approximately 20 minutes.

Attractions at the Port

The Tourism Village serves as the main shopping area in Belize City, with a variety of stores, shops, and restaurants. The village is designed to offer a tourist ambiance, featuring common tourist shopping sites like diamond internationals and Del Sol. There are also restaurants and bars at the port, offering a taste of Belizean culture and cuisine for those who prefer to stay close to the port. All excursions to other parts of Belize City and beyond typically start from the Tourism Village.

Exploring Belize City

Belize City has a few interesting landmarks, such as the Baron Bliss Lighthouse and St. George's Fort, which features historical sites like St. John Cathedral, the oldest Anglican church in Central America, built in the 18th century. The Museum of Belize, located near the US Embassy, is also a notable attraction, showcasing the country's history and the Maya legacy.

Excursions and Activities

Belize offers a range of excursions and activities for visitors, including:

• Mayan Ruins and Archeological Sites: Belize is known for its Mayan ruins, with popular sites such as Altun Ha, Xunantunich, and Lamanai located within a few hours' drive from the cruise port.
• Cave Tubing and Zip-lining: Belize is famous for its cave tubing opportunities, with several companies offering excursions through underground cave systems. Zip-lining is also a popular activity, with canopy tours available in the rainforest.
• Snorkeling and Scuba Diving: With the world's second-largest barrier reef, Belize offers exceptional snorkeling and scuba diving spots, including the Great Blue Hole and Shark Ray Alley.
• Wildlife and Nature: The Belize Zoo, located about an hour from the port, houses over 150 animals native to Belize. The country is also known for its dense rainforest, home to a diverse range of wildlife, including jaguars, ocelots, keel-boated macaws, and howler monkeys.
• Water-sports: Water-sports enthusiasts can enjoy activities such as kayaking, diving, and paddleboarding at the nearby Cayes, which feature private resorts and beaches.

Belize City provides a wealth of attractions and activities for Princess Cruises passengers, offering a unique combination of cultural, historical, and natural experiences in this small but captivating Central American country.

Cruise ships anchor in the bay of Belize

Belize is a popular cruise destination, attracting tourists with its Mayan heritage sites, eco-tourism, water-sports opportunities, amazing subtropical climate, and friendly people. The cruise port of Belize City is located on the country's East coast, bathed by the Caribbean Sea.

The cruise terminal is located in the Fort Street Tourism Village, a secluded and safe area just a stone's throw away from the historic center of Belize City. The terminal offers all basic services and modern amenities, including shops, restaurants, and tour operators.

Belize City itself has a few interesting landmarks, such as the Museum of Belize, St. John Cathedral, and the Baron Bliss Lighthouse. However, the city is not particularly safe for independent exploration, and it is recommended to stick to the busiest sections of downtown and obvious tourist districts.

Belize offers a wealth of attractions, including Mayan archaeological sites, breathtaking scenic sights, magnificent natural wonders, wildlife parks, and water sports. The country is also known for its diverse ecosystems, featuring the world's second-largest barrier reef, rainforest jungles, and an abundance of tropical wildlife.

Passengers are tendered to the port via high-speed boats

Princess Cruises passengers are tendered to the port of Belize City via high-speed boats. The ride takes approximately 20 minutes. The tender boats are equipped with three powerful engines each, ensuring a swift and safe journey to the port.

Upon arrival at the port, passengers are greeted by the vibrant and bustling Tourism Village, a dedicated tourist area offering a range of shops, restaurants, and tour operators. This area serves as the gateway to the city and the starting point for various excursions.

Belize City, located on the country's eastern coast, is known for its friendly and polite local population, who predominantly speak English well. The city boasts a rich history, stunning natural attractions, and a diverse cultural heritage. It is the ideal destination for those interested in Mayan archaeological sites, breathtaking scenery, and outdoor adventures.

The cruise port of Belize City is unique, as cruise ships cannot dock directly at the port due to shallow waters. This results in cruise ships anchoring a few miles from the coast, and passengers are then transferred to the port via high-speed boats, providing a seamless and efficient transportation experience.

The high-speed boats used for tendering are an essential aspect of the cruise experience in Belize, ensuring that passengers can quickly and comfortably reach the shore to begin their exploration of this captivating destination.

Attractions include Mayan ruins, eco-tourism, water sports and wildlife

Belize, located at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula, is a destination rich in natural beauty and historical significance. The dense rainforest, once home to the ancient Mayas, is dotted with ruins of the Mayan Empire, while the offshore waters offer some of the world's finest diving opportunities along the world's second-largest barrier reef.

Mayan Ruins

Belize boasts several well-excavated Mayan ruin sites, including Caracol, Xunantunich, Lamanai, Nim Li Punit, and Altun Ha. These ruins provide a glimpse into the past, with temples, residential buildings, ball courts, altars, and burial chambers. Xunantunich, located near the village of San Jose, is particularly notable for its proximity to San Ignacio and its sun god bas-relief masks. Caracol, situated within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, offers a challenging hike to the top of the Canaa pyramid, rewarding visitors with spectacular views of the surrounding forest.

Eco-Tourism

Belize is a haven for eco-tourism, with a variety of nature reserves and parks that showcase the country's diverse flora and fauna. The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, for example, offers a respite from the heat of the lowlands, while the Blue Hole National Park features the famous Crystal Cave. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve, one of the oldest marine protected areas in Belize, provides excellent snorkelling opportunities. For those seeking adventure, the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour invites visitors to step into the world of the ancient Maya, with hiking and wading through a series of tunnels.

Water Sports

Belize also caters to water sports enthusiasts, with a range of activities available along its coastline and within its many water bodies. Scuba diving and snorkelling are popular choices, with the Belize Barrier Reef and its atolls offering superb wall dives and snorkelling spots. Hol Chan, Shark Ray Alley, and Silk Caye are notable locations for these activities. Other water sports options include sailing, stand-up paddle boarding, windsurfing, and jet skiing.

Wildlife

Belize is home to a diverse range of wildlife, both on land and in the water. The dense rainforest is inhabited by jaguars, ocelots, keel-boated macaws, howler monkeys, and tapirs, among other species. Offshore, divers and snorkelers can expect to encounter sharks, turtles, dolphins, eels, eagle rays, stingrays, and a variety of tropical fish. Manatees can also be spotted in the marshy waters of Almond Hill Lagoon.

Belize City is divided by a manually-operated swing bridge

Belize City is divided by the Haulover Creek, over which sits the city's famous Swing Bridge. This bridge is the only swing bridge in the world that is still operated manually, with four men cranking it by hand to make it perpendicular with the creek and allow boat traffic to pass. The bridge is only opened on special occasions these days, as boat traffic has slowed, but it remains a popular tourist attraction and a historical landmark.

The Swing Bridge connects the north and south sides of Belize City. It was constructed in Liverpool, England, in 1922 and installed in Belize City in 1923, replacing several wooden bridges that had spanned the creek since 1818. The bridge was built to allow sailing fishing boats with tall masts to pass underneath and continue up the river to offer supplies and services to the city.

The Swing Bridge is located near the Maritime Museum of Belize and the Museum of Belize, which is housed in a former prison. The bridge is also close to the US Embassy and St. John's Cathedral.

The bridge has been damaged by several hurricanes over the years, including a category 5 hurricane in 1931, Hurricane Hattie in 1961, and Hurricane Mitch in 1998. There have been talks of automating the bridge, but locals have resisted this idea as the manual bridge is a cultural and historical focal point of the city.

The Swing Bridge is an excellent spot for people-watching and seeing traditional fishing boats. It was featured in the 1980 film "The Dogs of War," starring Christopher Walken, where it was shown being manually cranked back into place.

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