Two cruise ports on the Mesoamerican Reef, with West Bay's calm, reef-fringed beach 25–35 minutes away by road.
Enter the times from your cruise line's itinerary. We add time to walk off the ship, the drive to each tour's start point and back, and your safety margin.
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Fits your dayReturn times are estimates from the tour length, travel from the pier and time to get ashore. Always check your ship's all-aboard time.
Roatán is the largest of Honduras's Bay Islands and sits on the Mesoamerican Reef, so most people come ashore to snorkel, dive or spend the day on a beach. Ships use one of two ports about 5 km apart. Carnival and Princess dock at Isla Tropicale, Carnival's private cruise centre at Dixon Cove, which was called Mahogany Bay until its 2025–26 rebrand. It has shops, restaurants, a new pool area and a chairlift to its own beach. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC and Virgin Voyages use the Port of Roatán in Coxen Hole, a smaller terminal next to the island's main town, with a zip line beside the gate. West Bay Beach is the classic independent day: about 25 minutes by taxi from Coxen Hole and 35 from Isla Tropicale, with snorkelling straight off the sand. West End, a short water-taxi hop away, has dive shops and restaurants. Taxis are not metered, and fares are often quoted per person, so agree the total for your group before you get in. Calls usually run from about 08:00 to 17:00, which is enough for a reef trip or half a day at the beach with time to spare.
Taxi times are from Isla Tropicale unless noted. Hover a place to find it on the map; open Details for costs, tips and your time budget.
A long, calm beach with the reef close to shore, so you can snorkel without a boat.
The island's dive and restaurant hub, with a relaxed waterfront and boats to West Bay.
Protected reef off West End and West Bay, used by most snorkel and dive boats.
Gardens with free-roaming monkeys and parrots, a small cave museum, beach and a 13-cable zip line.
The no-transport option for Carnival and Princess passengers: a resort beach and, since 2026, a large pool area inside the port.
A small private island with a beach and animal encounters, close to Isla Tropicale.
Close-up animal encounters, popular with families and easy to pair with a beach.
A long-running iguana sanctuary at French Cay with a snorkel spot beside it.
A zip line right beside the Coxen Hole port gate, so there is almost no travel time.
West Bay Beach, West End and Gumbalimba are easy to do independently: taxis wait at both ports and the drive is under 40 minutes. Agree the full round-trip fare first, and arrange the return pickup time with your driver, because taxis back to the port are not always easy to find in West Bay. Boat-based snorkelling or diving is better booked in advance with an operator that picks up at your port. If you are at Isla Tropicale and want a low-effort day, the resort area inside the port needs no transport at all.
Carnival's private destination: 52 shops, restaurants and bars, the Mangrove Bay pool area (opened 2026), a chairlift and a walkway to the resort beach, taxi stand and tour pickups.
Getting to town: Taxi to Coxen Hole; most visitors stay in the port or go to West Bay
Usually used by: Carnival Cruise Line and Princess (Carnival Corporation's private port)
Two-berth terminal run by Royal Caribbean Group, with a shopping area, restaurants, ATM, tour booths, taxis and the Jungle Top zip line beside the port. When ships overlap, one may tender.
Getting to town: Coxen Hole town is next to the terminal
Usually used by: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC and Virgin Voyages
No meters. Fares are set by the taxi association and often quoted per person; confirm the total for your group before you leave. Photograph the fare board at the port.
| Coxen Hole port to West Bay · 2026 | $20 for one, 25 for two |
| Isla Tropicale to West Bay · 2026 | $10-20 per person |
| Taxi to West End · 2026 | $10-15 |
Small boats run between West End and West Bay Beach.
| West End to West Bay · 2026 | $3-5 per person |
Atlantic hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November. The wettest months on Roatán are October to January, and strong winds sometimes stop ships from docking.
Sea temperature about 27-29°C all year.
Carnival and Princess ships dock at Isla Tropicale, the Carnival Corporation port at Dixon Cove that was called Mahogany Bay until 2025. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC and Virgin Voyages use the Port of Roatán in Coxen Hole. The two are about 5 km apart, so check your cruise planner before booking a tour with pickup.
About 25 minutes by taxi from the Coxen Hole port and about 35 minutes from Isla Tropicale. A taxi from Coxen Hole has been quoted at around US$20 for one person or US$25 for two; confirm the total for your group before you set off and agree a return time.
Yes. Carnival renamed its Roatán cruise centre Isla Tropicale as part of its Paradise Collection, and in 2026 added a 48,000 sq ft pool area called Mangrove Bay. The chairlift, beach, shops and restaurants are still there.
Yes. West Bay Beach has reef close to shore, so you can snorkel straight from the sand. Boat trips go further into the marine park off West End and West Bay. Bring or rent gear and use reef-safe sunscreen.
No. US dollars and cards are widely accepted at the ports, beaches and taxis. Carry small bills, because drivers and vendors may not have change for large notes.
The US State Department rates Honduras as a whole Level 3, but says the Bay Islands resort areas are better policed. Cruise visitors usually stick to the ports, West Bay and West End. Use official taxis or booked tours and keep valuables out of sight.
Roatán is on UTC-6 with no daylight saving, which is often one hour behind ships that keep Eastern time. Always plan around your ship's all-aboard time and keep your watch set to ship's time.
The Jungle Top zip line is a short walk from the terminal, and Coxen Hole town is right outside the gate. Gumbalimba Park and West End are about 20 minutes away.
MexicoA flat coral island with three cruise piers, a walkable town, easy shore snorkeling, Maya ruins and a quiet wild south.
Cayman IslandsA tender-only port where Stingray City, Seven Mile Beach and the Turtle Centre are all reachable in a day, but the north-coast sights are a long trip.
MexicoA purpose-built cruise pier beside the small beach village of Mahahual, with Maya ruins at Chacchoben and the Bacalar lagoon a bus ride inland.
JamaicaA compact north-coast port where Dunn's River Falls, Dolphin Cove and Mystic Mountain are 5 to 15 minutes from the pier.