Berth 1 - Port of Roatan — Local services in Bay Islands

Mahogany Bay Cruise Center, nestled in Dixon Cove on Roatán’s southern shore, is a polished and well-appointed port of call tailored for cruise passengers seeking both relaxation and convenience. Operated by Carnival Corporation, it efficiently accommodates two post-Panamax ships—bringing in up to 8,000 guests at once—into its 20-acre welcome center featuring shopping, eateries, and excursion booking services.

One of Mahogany Bay’s signature experiences is the charming chair-lift ride—the so-called “Magical Flying Beach Chair”—which transports visitors from the center down to a private 10-acre white-sand beach spanning 825 feet. Accessible, scenic, and fun, it’s a uniquely memorable way to begin a beach day. The beach itself features volleyball courts, water-sports options, glass-bottom boats, and optional cabanas and luxury packages offering additional comfort and exclusivity.

Activities abound for all energy levels and interests: snorkeling or diving among vibrant coral reefs, zip-lining over mangroves and jungle canopies, kayaking (even in clear kayaks), and visiting nearby wildlife attractions like Gumbalimba Park or botanical gardens. The port is secure, with facilities such as lockers, showers, Wi-Fi, and regulated taxi services—making your shore day easy to manage.

While Mahogany Bay offers plenty within its gated enclave, venturing off-site—by taxi or arranged shuttle—can enrich your day with local culture, wildlife, or authentic Roatán experiences beyond the port’s confines.

With its balance of convenience, comfort, and tropical allure, Mahogany Bay is ideal for cruise visitors who want a satisfying island taste without hassle—offering a polished Caribbean escape amid breathtaking natural...

Roatan has become one of my favorite Islands. There are two main areas that have captured my love. The first is Gumbalimba Park. This is an all-in-one destination. You get a guided tour of the park with its magnificent trees, wildlife and plants. My favorite is the monkeys! You will be brought to an area of the park where the monkeys run free. You will also be warned to remove your hat glasses and anything else that the monkey will try to take from you! It's a hoot to watch the monkeys jump from one person to another. They are very safe but they do love shiny objects so they will try to steal them! You will also see many of the iguanas that are all over the island. There's a lovely beach here at the park and you are free to use it. My second favorite thing to do on Roatan is limited to ships under the Carnival heading. This includes Carnival, Princess, P&O,, Etc. Those ships pull in at the Mahogany Bay Port. Mahogany Bay is a 62 million-dollar investment by Carnival Corporation. It is a large lovely man-made beach with a tremendous amount of seating a large free buffet features some of the island food and is cooked by the staff from your ship. There are also the normal shops that you see in every port. Diamonds International, Dufry, and even a Harley-Davidson store. A short walk leads you from the shopping area to the beach or you can pay to ride in the chairlift. My favorite is walking because the lovely landscaped area to the side of the sidewalk takes you through some of the heavily wooded areas. This walk is punctuated with places to sit and enjoy the scenery. You are also almost guaranteed to see...

Would NOT recommend this location at all. Don't waste your time or money. Was told we would be taken all over the island, to the highest part of the island and to the area (they referred to it as the shopping center - ha!!) where we could shop as long as we wanted. First of all we did go up -- off the paved streets on to a muddy road with about six thatched covered stalls selling trinkets very similar to (if not the same as) those that were in the shops where we docked. After that we were driven around and around neighborhoods - a few houses (some nice but many not so nice). We were then driven to the more affluent side of the islands - landscaped lawns & beautiful homes - but we weren't paying for that! When pressed to go shopping we were driven to a small enclave of shabby buildings bordering the beach selling (guess what?) the same tired looking stuff that was available at the stalls off the dirt road and the shops where we docked. I was thoroughly disappointed and can only repeat "don't waste your...