Sherbet colored buildings, upscale shops, aerial tram to a private beach and a zip line, these are some of the attractions of Mahogany Bay. This new complex is the brainchild of Carnival Cruises which invested the money needed to develop this area as a destination. I have been coming to Roatan for thirty years bringing in some of the very first cruise ships. Back in the ’80’s and ’90’s there was no pier, tenders needed to use a rickety floating dock. As more and more ships started to call on Roatan which is world renown for its diving and snorkeling, a proper cruise pier was built but still options for the day were limited if you weren’t a water sport enthusiast. The small town of Coxen Hole offered little for international tourists so Roatan went pretty much unappreciated.

On the morning of our arrival I awoke to this charming new “village.”  Constructed in a secluded portion of the island in a deep water bay, the surrounding hillsides are still untouched tropical forest filled with colorful birds and even monkeys. There is a brand new pier big enough for two large ships. Visitors off the ships were walking up the broad, winding walkway to sounds of a marimba band playing in the nearby palapa-hut restaurant and bar. Both guests and crew enjoyed the choice of activities and services located just a few steps from the ship. I was told all the construction was done by local residents and the new venture has created many jobs on the island.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 17th, 2010 at 12:14 pm and is filed under General, Fun, Cruise News, Caribbean. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.