Mahogany Bay Cruise Terminal — Attraction in Roatán

This "Cruise Terminal" is really just a duty free shop with restrooms. But hey, if they want to call it a terminal, okay. And since it is the main building for the cruise ship pier, I guess that maybe terminal would be more appropriate than I would think. The are restrooms on the right as you approach the terminal from the pier. Continue straight, it's the entrance to the terminal, which is really just a duty free store. Anyway, It's not an extreme walk to the tourist shopping area from the terminal. Just outside the duty free gift shop is a slight uphill grade to the tourist area. There is a nice picture spot with the Roatan name just outside the duty free shop, as the uphill grade begins. The short up hill grade leads you to the tourist shopping area. You meet the excursions in the center of the tourist shopping area, just as you enter the area. There are signs in which lines to group in. The shopping area is not all that large, but large enough to spend some time visiting the stores and such. It is a little farther from the shopping area to the beaches and such. The beaches and such are down hill once in the tourist shopping area. But there are options then like a chair lift and such. All in all, a nice port or "Cruise Terminal", if you will. It has its good and bad like anything. But for the most part it's a nice place to spend some time, and money if...

I've been to Mahogany Bay twice now, and I love it even more than the first time I was there!

There are beach chairs right on the beautiful beach (some are free further down). You can snorkel off of the dock and the reef is right there! (Next time I'm not taking a snorkel excursion; it's not needed!) The bar there has a drink called a Monkey Lala which is really yummy, and you get it in a pink party cup which makes a neat souvenir. There is a cute little nature trail as well, which you can find on your way to the beach area.

The shop area has many different shops and the vendors do NOT harrass you to go into their shops (unlike at other ports), which is SO nice! The green building at the end of the shopping plaza has some great stuff made by the locals and is less expensive than some of the other shops.

The only Con is that my sister had an allergy attack here. We're not sure what she was allergic to, but there are lots of beautiful flowers there that may have been the culprit. So if you have allergies, I recommend coming prepared.

I will definitely be going back...

A contained area created for Carnival Cruise line with a commercial villiage of little shops that reminded me of Disneyland with plenty of native flowering plants to see. There's a man-made beach with beach chairs (cabana covers available for a fee) and a massage spa. The water by the beach was somewhat murky, but clears up as you go further out. There's a variety of sea life to see by the pier if snorkeling. The beach is quite crowded, especially when two ships or more are docked. There were three when I went.

If you've never been to a Fat Tuesday's, it will be a fun new experience as they make real good frozen drinks. Tried a locally produced beer that was great.

Had no idea there was more to the island until I saw a map. Next time I'm there, I'll bypass Mahogany Bay and check out the more authentic parts of the island and some better snorkeling locations. If you're going via a Carnival Cruise, I'd suggest doing your homework about the island beforehand and have a plan of where you want to go, then use local means to get there to avoid Carnivals...