Port Day in Roatán, Honduras with Princess Cruises
This post is sponsored by Princess Cruises.
I recently had the extraordinary opportunity to visit Roatán, Honduras in partnership with Princess Cruises—a place I’d never heard of, but was immediately excited to go once I found out our Caribbean cruise itinerary. Even before we docked, I knew I was going to love it. We passed through a rainstorm just a few miles out, and it was so cool to be sailing in what felt like the middle of nowhere in the middle of a shower. Once it was in view, the island was overflowing with lush and diverse vegetation that I didn’t find in any other port on our cruise. It was an absolutely incredible dock to pull into, especially from our starboard-side balcony room.
Some of my favorite cruising memories are the most routine, and as always, our day got started early with in-room breakfast. Although there’s a ton of amazing restaurants onboard Caribbean Princess (Sabatini’s, Planks, and Crown Grill to name a few), there’s nothing like enjoying croissants and coffee in bed or on your balcony as you cruise the Caribbean. Getting breakfast in bed is as simple as filling out the menu card and hanging it on your doorknob the night before. I like to add fresh fruit and yogurt to my order, and it’s the perfect amount of food to get the blood flowing before setting out on the day’s adventure.
Of course, some days are more adventurous than others—in Roatan, we elected to take a beach day excursion and were simply picked up from the port by a motorcoach and dropped off at a beach. And with Princess, it gets even easier than that. When you book a beach day excursion through Princess, more often than not your lunch and drinks are included; believe me when I say they’re delicious. Local chefs know how to cook local fare better than anyone, and all of the seafood is usually caught in the same water you’re looking at as you enjoy your meal.
After a drive up the island, Big French Key was just a five-minute boat ride away and a treat of a beach resort. It was charming without being campy, had plenty of space and chairs, a beautiful lagoon and not to mention ocean views for days. It even boasted a quick nature walk through the trees, feeling a little like you’re on safari. There was even a smattering of thatched umbrella tables out in the lagoon, which we were able to take advantage of since the OceanMedallion is waterproof! Is there anything more relaxing than sipping on a cold drink in the hot sun, cool water surrounding you and a light breeze wafting through the island air? I’ll let these photos answer that for you.
Speaking of drinks, don’t forget to order the official drink of Roatan while you’re on the island—the Monkey Lala. While you might feel ridiculous saying the name to a bartender, you’ll feel even sillier if you leave the island without trying one! Still, if you miss your chance, ask Roldan at Good Spirits destination-inspired bar back on board to concoct one for you. They’re almost better than the original!
Photography by Michele Equitz
iPhone shots by me