We will cruise the western Caribbean next month on the Carnival Glory.
 We are interested in exploring on our own, not on a ship's excursion.
 Has anyone been to Belize City, Belize or Progresso, Mexico who can
offer us any advice?  We are interested in snorkeling or just finding
a nice beach somewhere.  We've cruised to Cozumel before, but we would
welcome any advice about that island as well.  Thanks.

Hi Mitch.  I cruised with Celebrity last year and we stopped at
Progresso.  It's a fairly new port with a very long pier.  When we
arrived, there was a mariachi band to greet us as we got off the ship.
I chose the Chichen Itza excursion as I was very interested in the Mayan
culture.  It was well worth the cost per person and somewhat boring bus
ride, although our tour guide put the ride to excellent use and taught
us lots about the Mayans. 
At dinner that evening while discussing what all of our dinner partners
did, I found that the ones that just visited the town were not very
excited or impressed.  Things may have changed a bit in 1 year but I
believe there was not much to do back then.  If you are at all
interested in an ancient culture then I highly recommend Chichen Itza!
Whatever you decide, hope you  enjoy the Western Caribbean...
Kathy

cruzn4333@yahoo.com (Mitch) wrote:

>We will cruise the western Caribbean next month on the Carnival Glory.
> We are interested in exploring on our own, not on a ship's excursion.
> Has anyone been to Belize City, Belize or Progresso, Mexico who can
>offer us any advice? 

We' ve been to all three, several times.

> We are interested in snorkeling or just finding
>a nice beach somewhere.  

There's nothing to do or see in Belize City.  It's more of a jumping
off point for tours of the interior (the Maya mountains and the Mayan
ruins sites).  Belize has some great reef diving off the coast,
however.

Progresso is a Mexican summer resort for the natives,  You'll see
small beach houses, but not really much in the way of beaches.
Progresso is on the Gulf Coast.  I think the locals vacation there
because it's cooler and one can catch a breeze or two.  Inland on the
peninsula are spectacular ruins sites which can be accessed from
Progresso, if you're interested in that kind of thing.

>We've cruised to Cozumel before, but we would
>welcome any advice about that island as well. 

Again, small (VERY small) Mayan ruins with the promise of more if you
take a tour or use the ferry to the main land of Quintana Roo.
Cozumel is mainly lots of sun and sand, lots of silver shops,
restaurants and outdoor bars.  You can just about see and do it all in
one day there.

Karen


             
                              
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Mitch,

> We will cruise the western Caribbean next month on the Carnival Glory.

Just got off the Glory on the 8/16 western

>  We are interested in exploring on our own, not on a ship's excursion.
>  Has anyone been to Belize City, Belize or Progresso, Mexico who can
> offer us any advice?  We are interested in snorkeling or just finding
> a nice beach somewhere.

We did a off ship excursion that I booked Through SeaSports Belize
it was great...they are a small outfit but they do have a website.  There
is nothing to do in town...walked from the tender to SeaSports.

> We've cruised to Cozumel before, but we would
> welcome any advice about that island as well.  Thanks.

I couldn't get over how the port has grown...to much of a tourist trap
for me now....did the Atlantis sub thing here

Rick

Belize doesn't have any beach access, without getting out of the port area.   I
went cave tubing which was spectacular- independently booked. 

cruzn4333@yahoo.com (Mitch) wrote:

>We will cruise the western Caribbean next month on the Carnival Glory.
> We are interested in exploring on our own, not on a ship's excursion.
> Has anyone been to Belize City, Belize or Progresso, Mexico who can
>offer us any advice?  We are interested in snorkeling or just finding
>a nice beach somewhere.  We've cruised to Cozumel before, but we would
>welcome any advice about that island as well.  Thanks.

Belize City has a lovely little cathedral a short walk through town
south of the port, down by the governor's mansion (or some such site
that was closed to the public at the time).  You will walk by schools
with open windows, listening to schoolchildren reciting their lessons.
At the cathedral, the vicar will probably greet you, and give you as
much of a guided tour and history of the nation as you wish, if your
experience was like ours.

A memorable precious experience.