

Beyond that, as the maitre d' on our sailing slightly overstated, "it's Jurassic Park."ĭespite its prefabricated nature and rows upon rows of vendors selling baubles and cheap mementos, the Jurassic Park-ness is precisely what makes Puerto Quetzal feel less forced and less commercial than some other ports. You'll find shops and restaurants at the welcome center. If you choose to stay in port instead of taking the long ride to Antigua, prepare for a slow-paced and pleasant day of shopping for colorful, reasonably priced trinkets there's not much else to do.ĭepending on where you dock, the view from your ship will either be industrial with tankers and cargo ships in your line of site, or scenic, with an adorable marina situated in front of the welcome center. There are several churches to peek into, museums to browse, cafes to grab a bite at, and, if you're there in late winter you'll catch the gorgeous jacarandas in bloom. Castaneda said Belize’s health and safety protocols were developed in cooperation with the Cruise Tourism Task Force.Puerto Quetzal - a Guatemalan port that serves as the jumping-off point for Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the nearest town of interest, some 90 minutes away - doesn't seem like much at first, but it can be a great option for anyone who needs a break from the hustle and bustle of the usual stops on a Panama Canal or South America itinerary.Īntigua is a lovely Spanish colonial city, easily walkable and quite charming. Before or after cruising, spend a few days extra and stay right in port next to the cruise ship terminal, in downtown or city centre, near the airport, or in a hotel at the beach offering. Search the best deals for hotels near cruise ports worldwide. Norwegian Gem’s itinerary also includes calls at Roatan, Honduras and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. Whether you’re looking for a cheap motel, discount great value hotel or luxury 5 star resort.
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He added, “All have their full vaccination and there’s no positive cases on the ship so we’re all very glad with the protocols that have been put in place.” The vessel carried 1,262 passengers and 1,067 crew onboard.Ībil Castaneda, the Belize Tourism Board’s director of quality management and capacity development, said in local press reports Norwegian Gem “is actually working at 60 percent of capacity obviously because of the COVID protocols.”Ĭastaneda said Norwegian “is very stringent in terms of their protocols so they have indicated that they will be easing in their capacities as the whole pandemic progresses.” In Belize, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 75-acre Harvest Caye dedicated cruise port and private island off the coast of Placencia welcomed Norwegian Gem on August 18, the first call at the port since its closure during the pandemic in 2020. “We are so excited to return to the beautiful island of Antigua and to continue to help our Caribbean family regain the benefits of tourism their communities depend on,” said Dimitris Manetas, of Celebrity Equinox’s captain.

She added, “Throughout the pandemic we have been working with the relevant authorities and cruise operators to ensure that we remain a strategic hub for safety, synergy and innovation.” From meandering through Barcelona on your European cruise or relaxing in St. “The government of Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to increasing the cruise calls to our port,” said Mary-Clare Hurst, minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism and Investment. Explore our many ports of call on your next cruise vacation. “We have also arranged escorted private tours with the merchants at Heritage Quay.” Fully vaccinated crew members will be allowed ashore on pre-approved tours,” she said. Regis-Prosper said cruise passenger shore excursions and tours will “ the government’s established protocols to the letter will only operate as ‘bubble’ or small group tours. Book deals, view pricing details & itinerary to featured voyage ports. Passengers over two years old who are not fully vaccinated prior to embarkation are required to present a negative RT PCR COVID-19 test before boarding their ship. Search cruises by date, destination, ship and duration. “We have truly missed the breathtaking sight of the colossal, larger cruise vessels here at the port, so we are extremely excited to welcome Celebrity Equinox.”Īntigua & Barbuda recently revised its COVID-19 protocols to require all passengers over age 12 to be vaccinated, said officials. “We continue to maintain and enhance our COVID-19 risk mitigation protocols daily to ensure that our facility is as safe as possible for every passenger on every voyage,” she said. Caribbean Ports Resume Mega Cruise Ship Operations | TravelPulse
