Belize and Cave Tubing - Part 1 (LONG) - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

marci4tony · 11-17-2008, 03:02 PM

I awaken to out of the ordinary “ship movement” – I toss on my comfy Carnival robe and venture out to my aft balcony to see what this day is going to bring weather-wise. Being at the back of the ship has its advantages – We see where we’ve been – and an impressive snake-like wake proves my suspicions – We were turning an awful lot! And the snake-ing continued…Around the corner, in and out of flashing buoys, more corners, more buoys. Getting into Belize is an adventure in itself. We approach an inhabited area of coast, slow down and toss anchor. Yes, my friends – it is a LONG SWIM TO SHORE.

As Carnival makes all their customs preparations, we dress, pack our day-bag, grab some breakfast and head down to the Theater. We did NOT book a Carnival excursion, but with a private company, MAJOR TOM. We checked in with a Carnival rep and were issued a tag with a number 1 on it. WE WERE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE SHIP ON THE FIRST TENDER. Please do not let anyone tell you that if you DON’T book a CARNIVAL excursion that you will NOT be able to take the first tender. Just make sure you get to the Theater to arrange for your tender FIRST THING!

We board a large tender (and it was far from full) and head to shore. Yes, it’s about a 12-15 minute ride, but calm seas and bright sunshine made it a pleasant ride. Upon pulling into port, we see a very nice, clean and well kept area. Shops – restaurants – and more shops. As we leave the tender area, there are a bazillion people holding excursion signs up. Very confusing, but probably the most efficient thing they can do, honestly. We locate Major Tom – or did he locate us?

Major Tom is a people man – tall, voice that carries, and has a great sense of humor. Probably tells the same jokes and barks the same instructions each time a ship comes in. I felt at ease with him immediately. He introduces some of his posse, and then directs us to his “cash collector” – says that’s not his cup of tea! We shuffle towards the shopping area, donate our money to the lady with the clipboard and wander around the area for a spell. NOTE TO TRAVELERS – There is no DIET COKE on land; its called COKE LIGHT and tastes like COKE ZERO. After I’d say about 20 minutes of waiting for people to check in and pay, we leave the confines of the “walled city” and board the bus.

Inside the walled city is a clean, well-kept area. Outside the area is what we find to be the TRUE BELIZE CITY. We are reminded we are in a 3rd world country, although we are never hassled by vendors (except the lady that wanted to braid everyone’s hair) or feel uncomfortable or threatened. As we board the bus, we grab seats up front. The tour through the town is very educational as our host, Mikey, explains about the area, the people and their struggles. We are informed about their schools, their sports, their weather, their markets, their fishing profession, and the 2 working stoplights in town. (There are actually 4 stoplights – only 2 work) I am amazed about how they drive, here. There are “speed bumps” everywhere – the bus slows to a crawl to go over them – I’m assuming it is their way of traffic and speed control. The drive is about 45 minutes to the site, but I did not mind as our tour guide kept us very informed, entertained and the scenery was amazing! Unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

As we head out of the city area into a more rural stretch, we see many people along the side of the road, in the barrow pit areas that are flooded with water. We are told, that because of the ungodly amount of recent rain, everything has flooded – including the Talapia farms. So, people are in these flooded barrow pit areas, with their water masks and spear guns, hunting domestic tilapia that had been flooded out of their enclosures in the farms. And a little further down the road, we see the little lady doing her wash there, also.

We approach the mountains only to be engulfed into a lush jungle area with a dirt road through the middle. Watch out for that tree growing in the middle of the road! A few miles down this road, we stop and drop off some real adventuress – the zip liners! Sorry readers, not for ME! We head back to the Cave Tubing starting point. As we depart the bus, we are reminded that we are in the jungle and to put on the bug spray so you don’t get carried away! There is a changing area/bathroom – I suggest to WEAR your swimsuit under your clothes, so all you need to do is strip down. I planned on only wearing my swimsuit, and I wondered if I should have brought a tshirt and shorts or a wrap to wear also…I’m glad I didn’t. When out in the sun, the swimsuit dries fast. Those with more clothes stayed wet longer and got cold. The area is shaded and there is development going on – I hear it will be some shops and a snack bar? We are distributed some head lights – Seriously! Just like they use in a mine shaft. They fit directly on your head. If you are wearing a ball cap, leave it on the bus. They don’t fit so well WITH a ball cap. You are also given a large, black inner tube – about 3-1/2 to 4 ft in diameter. Attached to your tube is the life vest.

When everyone is ready, we head down a very nicely groomed trail towards the water. We find a rope, anchored at both sides of this slow, meandering creek and are instructed to cross the creek and hold onto the rope for balance. It is not very deep – maybe up to your knees. By the way, did I mention that the temperature is described as “refreshing”? As you step into the water, that “on second thought” crosses your mind as you now know you did not have enough bloody marys at breakfast for this! HOWEVER – I must admit – once you get in the water – play in it a bit (some in our group even did some cliff jumping) it didn’t seem so cold at all!

Have you ever heard that song about pioneer children “sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked?” The walking begins. And it is a hike. Not a steep or difficult one – but it seemed to go on forever! I was wearing some rubber soled/mesh water shoes (flip flops WILL NOT WORK) and I felt every little rock in the path. It was not muddy or slick – there was a little climbing up some faux stairs – but I was not expecting the trek to be that long. That being said, you really DON’T want to stop. If you keep moving, the bugs didn’t get you! And since we washed off ALL the DEET protection back in the “refreshing” water, the only thing you can do is KEEP MOVING.

Now, Major Tom does an extra cave as opposed to some of the others. We were actually offered an “extra” extra cave – and of course, most of us were up for it! We get to the river’s edge, put on our life vests (which I understand may have prevented a horrible accident that occurred there earlier this summer) and are helped into our tubes. Not gracefully, I may add – gotta get all that junk in your trunk into the hole with a bulky life vest on. Just think – although YOU may feel like you look funny, think about watching all the rest of your group and how funny they look! Not a big deal; actually quite comical! No worries.

We get in the water and we hook our feet under the armpits of the person in front of us. There were only 5 in our group and Junior took very good care of us. A little paddle left, a little paddle right, bottoms up – not much work at all. We get into the first cave and are instructed to turn our headlights off. DARK. PITCH BLACK. Ok – that gave me the heebie jeebies. I’m one of those people that likes to be in at least a little control, and I realized that the only thing in control of me was the gentle flowing current and Junior. Complete trust. We turn our lights on and look around. The musty smell and the echoing sound of water dripping is truly unique. Its like we’ve been transported into another world in another time. We are instructed not to yell and to speak softly in the caves – A toss up between respect and safety. It takes me a while to really relax and enjoy my surroundings, but I finally do. We exit the first cave and pick up those in our group that were not interested in the extra extra cave.

marci4tony · 11-17-2008, 03:03 PM

We float around the jungle for a few minutes – then back into another cave. This one was LONG! Around the corner, gently drifting. Junior is WALKING along side. Obviously the water is not terribly deep. Stalagmites – Stalactites – all kinds of natural formations. Use a little imagination – what do you see? Water dripping from the ceiling – purified through layers and layers of sandstone. An occasional glimpse of a bat or two. A little paddle left, a little paddle right. Water is refreshing. No sarcasm there! I hear water flowing…We drift towards an interior waterfall – it appears that part of a large tavern/opening has caved in – bright light shines through the small opening. Reminds me of something I’d see in an Indiana Jones movie! Soon, we see the cave opening, and we are out in the bright daylight again.

People everywhere! I guess this is where some of the other tubing companies get in. What a shame – we’ve been in the water for 30 minutes already and through 2 caves! The last cave is long, has a corner in it. They say it’s pretty deep here. Outside, floating and winding through the jungle, I wish I’d had my sunglasses. Oh well. We look desperately for primates hanging from the magnificent trees. Not this trip, darn it! Soon, we reach our initial swimming hole. And it’s over. We get out of our tubes, carry them back to Home base, turn in our headlights and change into dry clothes. I took my underwater camera, but forgot to take any pictures! The one thing I wish I’d brought – a bottle of water! I was parched after wards…and we still had the bus ride back to town. Snooze time!

As we reach the confines of port, we are told about some of the vendors outside the complex. The best rice and beans you will ever have! And one guy that peels and cracks a coconut and you pour your own rum into it – a genuine coconut shell! We venture into the “outside” area to find many poor vendors. Lots of people willing to braid your hair – Some very interesting knick-knacks, a little jewelry. The rice and beans are FANTASTIC although dh said the chicken did not look like chicken…??? Oh well. A couple packs of fried plantains – TO DIE FOR THEY ARE SO GOOD! And back we go into the Port fortress. I did not have ANY problem with pushy vendors. A simple no thank you worked fine. We catch one of the last tenders back to the ship, and I sigh – what a magical area – full of mystery and mythology; full of beauty and a touch of heaven. There is still evidence of damage from storms past, and the poverty is everywhere. But this is certainly a port I will plan on revisiting. Soon. As for Major Tom – personal service; professionalism; area knowledge; personality; unsurpassed comfort level. You cannot go wrong with MAJOR TOM!

Char · 11-17-2008, 03:18 PM

Thanks again for a great report! You are making a wonderful contribution to our knowledge base with your individual reviews of the ports as well as the full review in our Trip Reports area. Frubals for you this afternoon!

LuLu · 11-17-2008, 11:45 PM

Fantastic report! I'll send you some more frubals as soon as I get that required 5 inbetween!

Hate to focus on this after such a great report ... but ... you mentioned you wished you had taken some water along with you. Was there no place to get a drink immediately after you finished your cave tubing? Seems lots of other folks would have been thirsty too ....

marci4tony · 11-18-2008, 01:00 PM

I know that this group sometimes stops for "lunch" afterwards, but we did not have time. We had to stop the bus TWICE after leaving the port so they could bring people that did not have the smarts to catch the first tender. I was a little peeved that people would be so ignorant to hold up an entire BUS because they didnt get their hungover butts out of bed...OK RANT OVER. There is not anywhere on the premises to get a drink - most people on our bus brought something.

LuLu · 11-19-2008, 05:15 PM

Thanks for the reply.

So ....... there was no place to buy drinks other than going to lunch?

packard89 · 01-18-2009, 10:58 PM

Thanks for that detailed report. We are using Major Tom next month and your report just showed me that I made the right decision. I am planning this trip for about 20 people and I would hate for anyone to be disappointed.

packard89 · 03-07-2009, 10:50 PM

I am back from visiting Belize and must say, I was disappointed with Major Tom. First of all, my group grew from 20 people to 48 people. I emailed him several times making sure that we would have enough time for everyone to cave tube and for around 20 of us to do the zipline. He assured me over and over that we would have plenty of time to spare. Long story short....we arrived back at the port with just enough time to catch our tender! We didn't even have time to stop for that lunch that he kept telling me about. Thank god I broought a few cans of Pringles and other snacks!! My friends were like vultures, we were starving. The whole problem started right when we got off the ship. We located Major Tom and he proceeds to tell me that 1 person from my group must collect all the money and only 1 person can go in his "office" to pay. (The office was a women sitting on a bench, it was a joke! I approached her with about $2,500.00 in cash in my hand just waiting for somebody to rob me. I was very uncomfortable.) Anyway, try collecting money for 48 people with no pen or paper and keep track of it!!! It took us an hour or more. Totally ridiculous!!! If he would have allowed 1 person from each family to pay her, it would have gone much ,more smoothly. Or better yet, while he and I were busy emailing eachother, he could have told me that 1 person would be responsible for collecting and I could have done it on the ship the day before!
The cave tubing was ok, we were pretty rushed for time. So there wasn't much explaing going on from our guides about the caves. Our guide was Samuel, he didn't speak a single word to us. The bright part of this day was the zip line. Everyone enjoyed it.
Then we were heading back to our bus and were shocked to find out that they gave our bus to another group and moved our belonging from our bus to this bus. I'm being kind when I say "moved", they basically hurled everything from one bus to another. Needless to say, everyone was in a frenzy. All of us had money in our bags, luckily no money was missing. Just a couple pairs of shoes and towels.
If you book this tour with Major Tom, if it's a large group, collect the day before and write everything down on paper. And when you leave your bags on the bus, put all of your belonging inside the bags and zip them shut. Hope this helps someone.