sv Island Spirit stopped at our dock a few days ago on their way to Biscayne Bay, and suggested I add Google Maps of the routes weve taken in the Northwest and Southwest Caribbean. We have our boat in San Pedro (Ambergris Caye) Belize and are planning to bring her north to Florida this spring (May). On our first day, some dolphins swam up to the boat and swam alongside us. They made us laugh until our sides ached. I just found your post on sailing from Florida to Guatemala. Also, we hadthe same hair. As usual, we don't include anything we don't either already own or have on our own Christmas wish lists! Belize City. In this country, I found a land of Mayan ruins and caves filled with human sacrifices, of laid-back Caribbean islands and the most turquoise water youve ever seen. Butif I went on this trip, I would be writing about it anyway. . Or join a longer voyage between Valparaiso, Chile and Los Angeles, calling at Puntarenas on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE PLEASE LOOK AT TOP OF PAGE FOR CURRENT RATES: Crew Pay: 1 Captain @ $365 per day +. Thanks for contacting us. View Details. Should you be delayed in Morehead/Beaufort by continual gales, one option is to continue along the I.C.W. Find the best value cruise sailings from Texas to Belize City. Norwegian Cruise Line Guests can choose Caribbean cruises from Galveston starting in 2022. Tourists are given a 30-day stay, after which a Belize Visitor's Permit Extension can be applied for in one-month increments for up to six months. We woke up to a Mexican patrol boat circling us with machine guns. Enter the 4-digit confirmation code below: The code you entered is incorrect. The fee will differ based on whether you leave Belize through its . Belize is mainly a cruise destination with more than 600,000 visitors arriving by ship and nearly 300,000 arriving by air for hotel stays every year, according to the Belize Tourism Board. If you do not have any b accessibility guidelines, Pinterest. Our boat was an elegant white catamaran that had lots of space to chill out on board, including a net above the water. Is it even real?! Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line. Dozens of times Ive gone south to the islands from the U.S. East Coast, but only once, in 1960, when I was young, foolish, and overconfident, did I sail south via Bermuda. It was probably the nicest meal I had in Central America! Times in port range from four to 11 hours. Find the best value cruise sailings from Galveston to Belize. This puts you farther away from St. Thomas than from Morehead, and the Gulf Stream is well offshore and too far for a reliable weather window. How long will your water and other provisions last? Last time we sailed from Galveston to Matagorda, the wind was nil along the galveston coast, and mounted to over 30 knots as the night wore on. Perched on the Gulf Coast, Galveston was a major commercial port in the late 1800s and has the restored architecture and proud history to show for it. The town was flooded, but the beer was cold and the people were great. At one point he randomly said, You know how Shaggy said it wasnt me?It was me.. And they're all yours to explore when you take a cruise to Belize, where surprises await around every corner, including underwater. I've clocked it some times at 9 mph. Souvenirs at a Local Marketplace. By the time you haul anchor and set the sails and drop anchor on the other end, even a three-mile trip will take you an hour. Because the trip was so short, I feel like I didnt get to know my fellow travelers as well as I have on past trips, like my weeklong Croatia cruise. The trip from Miami to Cuba was a breeze. Book online with iCruise.com or call 1-800-427-8473. 2. Port of Galveston, United States. Bring a TON of strong sunscreen and reapply several times a day. Your form has been submitted successfully! Cookies and chips would make their way out in between meals. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Cruises to Belize. The other three guys stood in the cabin and laughed as the wind tried to blow me away, and waves crashed over the entire boat. No one can really appreciate land, a dry bed, and a hot meal as much as we did. My Imray-Iolaire Chart 100 covers this route and includes weather and routing information. And Ill be honest Erisa and I weremiserable the entire time we were there. The flight time between Houston Hobby Apt (HOU) and Belize City Goldson Intl Apt (BZE) is around 3h 48m and covers a distance of around 1522 km. Of course, the trip across the Gulf of Mexico is different depending on your destination. Be sure to buy travel insurance before heading to Belize. (See Hard Lessons Learned in the North Atlantic, February 2012.) In Placencia, we stayed at Lydias Guesthouse, which had comfortable doubles with shared bath for $60 BZD ($30 USD). 7 NT WESTERN CARIBBEAN & PERFECT DAY. First, they are for reference only NOT FOR NAVIGATION. A 22 foot boat crossing the Gulf of Mexico (or, trying to navigate around the Gulf of Mexico) is a really, really bad idea. While many languages are common to hear, English is the official language. If you end up reaching only the western end of Puerto Rico, all is still well. My plan is to sail off from Southern California and go offshore about 15-20 miles and sail down Baja. The water was dark and opaque, not the trademark clear turquoise of the Caribbean. Prices start at $99 per night, and houses and . We would then set up camp for the night on an island, have a delicious dinner, and keep the drinks flowing until we fell into bed, exhausted. Captains Guide: Six Reasons to Choose the BVI for Your First Charter, Captains Guide: Preparing for your first charter, Bareboat Sailing- Letter from the skipper to the crew. The cars are right out of the fifties. With 50 gallons of diesel in plastic containers, our bellies full of tacos, and a case of Mexican beer, we headed back. Once we were re-fueled (which is a whole story in itself), we decided to stay overnight and get some rest (and possibly check the weather). His great nephew, Bret Slocum, died in Tropical Storm Gilda in 1973 while en route to the islands. Meanwhile, the recent docking port in southern Stann Creek Districtthe Harvest Caye Cruise Port currently caters only for Norwegian Cruise Line passengers. And for ultimate relaxation, dig your toes in the sand anywhere along the breathtaking 200-mile-long coastline with hundreds of tiny islets called cayes (pronounced keys). Should I pitch them? I asked her. Bareboat charter co. Massachusetts, New Hampshire. There are toilets on both islands, though. I dont mind paying. You might have noticed that I rarely do comps or advertising on the site these days. Copyright 2023 Cruising World. (CNN) More than two dozen cases of Covid-19 have been detected among crew and passengers aboard a Carnival cruise ship, according to the Belize . (Raggamuffin is the only company running a three-day trip like this.). Princess returns to Galveston, sailing once again from this city tucked within a quaint Gulf Coast barrier island. If you are a U.S. citizen and cruising out of the United States (meaning your cruise begins and ends in the United States), then you do not need a passport. I cant stand travel blogs that arenothing but comp after comp after comp. After 15 years & 25,000, the Western Caribbean, the Keys, Cuba and Bahamas, they decided to change the dream. More than 4.000.000 distances. We had it for dinner that night and itwas delicious. Just off the coast of Belize is the second largest barrier reef in the world along with a chain of countless isnads. Sailing to Belize from the USA by way of Cuba Opens in a new window. The North Atlantic is no place for a cruising boat with a shorthanded crew when fall gales rile the sea. accessibility guidelines. Review the Searoutes API documentation or contact Searoutes today by visiting here. Theworld traveler and resident gentleman. So I had to do something to take my mind off of the chill. View All Results. With Christmas just around the corner, here are Commuter Cruiser's 2012 Stocking Stuffer Picks! Opens in a new window. Port Tack 220-235 degrees. Honestly, Erisa and I spent the whole trip hanging out with them. There are other spots but depends on your draft. You can also fly anywhere in the country via Belize City, which would cut down travel time massively. The Carnival Vista arrived in Belize City with 26 infected crew members and one infected guest, according to theBelize Tourism Board. That wasn't so bad, we were running out of diesel anyway. Instead, head south inside the Stream, where youll find either no current or possibly a small countercurrent helping you as you make your way to about Jacksonville, Florida. One wanted flashlight bulbs. The average current is between 1.5 and 2.5 knots running south to north. August 13, 2021 / 11:13 AM / CBS/AP. Also did you sail west and then down to get out of the current, Any info on this passage would be great! Except this garage had more cardboard, and much less tin. It was a little strange since sugar is their largest crop. Your phone number is required so the owner & the captain can contact you during your trip. Youll find recommended and guaranteed stores with duty-free deals on luxury items. It is very difficult to get any sleep with only two hours to fall asleep, which wasn't really possible anyway since it seem like we were on an eternal roller coaster ride. That includes the fee for the captain. That night we hit a storm. From meaty Texas BBQ and steaks to sumptuous Tex-Mex favorites, the only thing bigger than the Lone Star State itself is the appetite you'll need to savor all its flavors. One of these days I will figure out which one is left, and which one is right. As many tankers that crossed us on the Miami leg, it was a little nerve-racking to sail around in a storm without radar. And it was the best decision ever. Make sure your maps are current, some friends ran on a sandbar near Isla Mujueras last year as weather has a way of moving things around faster than buoys or maps can be changed. Hard Lessons Learned in the North Atlantic, Exhausted In Singapore, For All the Wrong Reasons, Cruising World Takes Multiple Honors in Annual Writing and Photography Contest, Best Marine Electronics and Technology Awards 2023. By this time about the only thing still working was the CD player, so at least we had some tunes. I really liked the group. In a sailboat, that would equal about 6 days if you move at an average of 5 knots. The one we finally found did not allow Cubans to shop there. While some years saw two or three boats lost, and other years, none, Ill say with confidence that the long-term average over the past 57 years is one boat lost every year. He laughs and jokes with all those officials. Calculate the total nautical distance of your sea voyage with ease. I kept a running diary on my computer, along with digital photos of Cuba and the trip, but a particularly large wave sent it slamming across the galley. From there, I said to head east-southeast until the butter melts and the trades fill in, typically between 66 degrees and 65 degrees west, then head south. If you have no experience and a boat. And unlike other similar trips Ive taken, we didnt have to do any dishes. Round trip per person fares start at $120 and go up to $750. Belize. And I was glad it didnt appear until then. Ive seen dolphins in the wild before (in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa), and I hope I never get tired of this sight. Questions or comments? Belize is a small country of about a half of a million people, located just south of Mexico at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula. The trip costs $350 USD. I used to do a ton, but its a lot of pressure. Best anchorages. As to lives lost, I gave up counting about 30 years ago when my 29th friend or acquaintance was lost while bound for Bermuda. Some, as in the Rio Dulce, Google Maps wont let me zoom in far enough to even find the bay we anchored in, and since not all places on the Rio Dulce are safe to anchor, Ive noted that along with the name of the bay and how to find it in my note on that spot. The first thing to go was the autopilot, which meant someone had to be out on deck to steer. Built to bring you closer to the sea, Carnival Vista opens things up with outdoor spots like Havana Bar & Pool, SkyRide at SportSquare, and Seafood Shack. Entering Matagorda we had roughly 6'-8' short period seas. Please make sure that your number is correct or try another mobile number. There is no entry fee for Belize but there is a mandatory departure fee. Hideaway is a small island owned by a family of three. Its the closest thing Ive found so far to the tropical paradise of my dreams yes, even more so than Little Corn Island! There was music everywhere in the small alleys, along with artists, cigar makers, carvings, and fabric. Chinchorra and Turneffe. Click here for a story on driving to Belize from the US through Mexico. View 10 deals and more information. Then follow the sailing directions given to me in 1956 by the late Bob Crytzer, whod been a captain in the U.S. Navy and was the man who sold me Iolaire for $3,000 down and $1,000 a year for four years, with no interest and no repossession clause: Wait until a norther is predicted, and take off 24 to 36 hours before it arrives. When we finally got a window mid-May, the first 20 miles the wind was blowing then it went dead flat calm and we had to motor. Erisaand I decided to travel to Belize together after our tour, and while I was looking forward to Belize, itwas a much biggertravel dream for Erisa. There is no way to put actual lat/long waypoints so Ive just dropped markers as close as I can to our anchoring spots. You felt safe in Manny's hands as he always was the foremost captain waking before you rose, sailing the boat all day, with you on all excursions/snorkels, spear fishing fresh fish or setting the trolling gear, getting whatever you needed and going to bed after you. Dinners had tons of dishes from which to choose; lunches were more simple but hearty and filling. . I think there is definitely a market to make it a five-day cruise, or even a weeklong trip. Essential Info: Raggamuffin Tours Overnight Belize Sailing cruise lasts three days and two nights and sails from Caye Caulker to Placencia. Set sail to Shark Ray Alley, a shallow part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and snorkel alongside nurse sharks, southern stingrays, and colorful coral. Distance: 1380 nautical miles. Gulf Of Mexico. Departs: Galveston. (And various spots.) The infected crew members are now in isolation, but most are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms, Belize officials said. And be sure to spice things up with hot sauce an essential condiment in Belize. The water around thereef is quite shallow and you could almost always see the bottom. The Tipsy Tuna was a fun bar and restaurant with good casual food and the best internet I found in town. If it's blank on arrival/to, there's only a single island destination in that country. Hopefully theyll be useful to those sailing in our wake, just as sv Island Spirits East Coast anchorages will be helpful for us someday when we cruise the east coast. If he wasnt part of a joke or conversation or a photo, hed throw himself in! A Carnival Vista cruise ship traveling in the past week from Galveston, Texas, to Belize City, Belize, had a Covid-19 outbreak along the way. Needless to say we had to keep our eyes peeled, not that it really would have helped because by the time we would have seen one, it really would have been too late anyway. Sailing to Belize from the USA by way of Cuba. If you are sailing you are going to need your engine between Isla Mujeres and off Cozumel, the current can be strong. accessibility guidelines. Cruise to Belize and trek to the tallest building in the nation an ancient temple built by the Maya. He did. After the trip, we took a 6:00 AM bus from Placencia back to Belize City, which took about five hours and I believe cost around $40 BZD ($20 USD). Departs From Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I was talking to my friend Alexabout Belize a few months ago and he suggestedthis cruise, saying he did it a few years ago and had an incredible time. There is allot to be said for owning a dozier with a diesel engine. Heres the link: Cruising Dry Tortugas, Keys to Rio Dulce, Guatemala, Hi Jan, I knew this cruise would be right up her alley. Just off the coast of Belize is the second largest barrier reef in the world along with a chain of countless isnads. Whether mountain biking through a lush. Since 2001, Jan & her husband, David have been Commuter Cruisers. Thank you . Go exploring, old-school-style, with local ancient ruins Cahal . Lunch was next. Thats why in heavy-weather conditions, all crew must clip onto safety lines before they come out of the hatch and stay clipped on until theyre back in the companionway. Wait there for a weather window that will enable you to cross the Gulf Stream, then follow the same east-southeast course, forgetting about Bermuda. Why are you concerned with allowing crew to, My last trip Port Aransas to Isla took 7 days. The day we saw dolphins! Your email address has not been confirmed yet. Behind the ATOLLs is the best place to get some sleep. 237 Reviews. Search for great cruise deals and compare prices to help you plan your next Belize City cruise vacation from Galveston. The lighthouse there is nice, I only wish they had lit it. Direct flights under three hours are available from Dallas, Miami, and Atlanta. Youre also below the worst of the North Atlantics gale area. Realistically, your plan is ill advised. (check out sv Island Spirit here for some great maps of their US East Coast travels as well as their Bahamas cruises). It was like a movie and everyone gathered to watch the action. Belize City. No matter what. The food was universally delicious. 3 Months for Florida to Trinidad Run starting now! This cruise was one of the best things I did in Central America. Now for some reason it no longer boots up. The team at Carnival noted that all positive cases have been isolated and contact tracing has ended with no additional positive cases found, and that the infected crew and passenger do not pose a threat to guests, crew or frontline workers in Belize, the statement read. It looks like a cartoon! All guests will need a negative rapid test to leave the ship at the next port, even if they are vaccinated, according to the release. 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