Regal Princess: Belize

By
Saint Greg

March 11, 2024

Good morning! We’re on our way to Belize. Or maybe we’re already there. This is a tender/water shuttle port so we don’t actually dock here. Today is my big port day for the cruise. I’m heading out on a long journey to see some Mayan ruins.

That could be one of the water shuttles in the distance.

I put Jingle All The Way on last night but I fell asleep pretty early in it.

We’re definitely here now.

Here is today’s schedule of events

I intended to order room service for this morning but I forgot to fill out the card last night. I probably could still order with OceanNow, but I decided to go down for coffee and just to try some breakfast items at the International Cafe while I’m there.

Of course on the day I couldn’t eat breakfast in the dining room they have a good special.

Butter Pecan Latte

Cinnamon roll and ham and cheese from the International Cafe.

I saw people with stickers getting on tender/water shuttles and they were really checking those stickers. I asked officer sticker where I get my water shuttle pass. I don’t remember getting communication on it. He tells me the photo place on deck 6.

The picture people tell me we aren’t busy enough to need them. I asked about the sticker guy. Those are excursions. I think I’m in line for the first non-Princess excursion tender in the Piazza on deck 5.

I normally would recommend a ship excursion in Belize because of the water shuttles. The one I’m doing today isn’t available through the ship so I’m making sure I’m on the first non-Princess excursion water shuttle.

They have towels you can just grab.

I got in line at 8am, the line started to move at 8:10, and I was on the water shuttle at 8:12.

We are pulling out at 8:26.

This is our safety briefing in case you made it this far without learning how to put on a life jacket.

We are in Port with Carnival Dream and Magic today. One of the guys next to me on the boat is the kind of Princess cruiser I was hoping to avoid. He points at Carnival Magic and says “I’m glad we came from our ship and not THAT one.” It’s not as much better as he thinks it is.

I was off of the boat at 8:50. The timing is perfect because I need to meet my excursion at 9am.

It’s pretty much the luck of the draw but from my experience these smaller boats get you there faster than the big ones.

Always make note of this sign in Belize. The boat driver told us the last shuttle is 4pm. This sign says 5 but I’ll go with 4 to be safe.

We have terminal 1 to ourselves today. The two Carnival ships are sharing terminal 2.

I exited terminal 1 and didn’t see a Belize Mystic sign. I asked the guard. He screamed it out. This guy in the blue said it was with him. He took my ticket and introduced me to Nelson, my guide.

For full coverage of this excursion please visit Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins in Belize. I’m going to skip ahead to after the excursion.

I dropped my Belize change in their bucket.

They have stores with this in the ports to indicate you can use your medallion to shop there. I think you save 7%

I walk in the port and see this huge line that goes from terminal 2 almost to terminal 4. It was massive. Fortunately that was the Carnival Magic line.

I found the Princess line. It’s much better but slow moving. The line goes to the green building ahead and then turns right onto the pier.

Always a wise purchase…

At this point that guy keeps going up to people saying “remember me? I’m the guy in the sombrero.”

I would try to get shots out that front window but I’m betting that kid sits there the entire time. So I went for a side window seat instead.

One downside to sitting in the front bottom of this big boat is I will be one of the last off of the boat. It’s good for me because I can take pictures with nobody in line behind me. But if you want off of this boat quicker, go upstairs or sit towards the back of the boat. They unload those areas first.

Carnival Magic and Carnival Dream.

These are the shots I like to get while stepping off of the tender/water shuttle. They will usually give you a hard time for stopping to take a picture here. I’m prepared to do it quickly and I made sure I’m last off of the boat so there’s nobody behind me to complain.

I got in line for the water shuttle at 3:16. I was on the shuttle at 3:40. We left at 3:46. We were back at the ship at 4:15. I was the last one off of the shuttle at 4:28.

Again they are offering face towels as we board the ship.

I’m a bit hungry after not really eating since this morning. I’m going to grab a slice of pizza.

And a couple Coronas.

I went with the daily special. It’s fresh. There’s a lot of demand right now so it’s going fast.

Magic is heading out.

Dream is getting frisky

The steward cleaned up while I was gone.

I got more gifts from Princess with no explanation.

Since I spent the entire day ashore, I’m not going to hit my 15 drink limit today. I’m going to use this as an opportunity to stock my fridge for the sea days ahead.

That took 9 minutes.

I ended up drinking two from my stash during sunset.

I’m heading to the Vista Lounge for comedy with Darrell Joyce.

Assistant Cruise Director Matt Beck.

Darrell Joyce

Next to the main lounge for Ottavio Belli’s magic show.

Ottavio Belli

And his wife/assistant.

This was his grand finale.

Cruise Director Allie.

I know that guy. He’s the guy in the sombrero. Did you think he was a Carnival cruiser?

On my way into the dining room I pass the restaurant manager heading out. He does a 180. He wants to give me another bottle of wine. I tell him no thank you I have one in the room. He walked me to the table I had last night. I don’t know what the deal is with all of the special treatment.

My fennel salad picture didn’t come out. This is onion soup.

BBQ ribs is a crew favorite according to my waiter.

Cherries jubilee.

Two tables down from me is a guy asking for Saints fans around. He’s the cousin of the Saints rookie kicker. He’s very proud and telling stories. I’m keeping quiet because I’m a bit pessimistic about his cousin at this point in time.