Belize City Cruise Port Guide — Ships, Excursions & Tips

Currency

Belize dollar (BZ$), pegged 2:1 to the US dollar; USD accepted everywhere.

Language

English (plus Spanish and Kriol).

Time in Port

Typically around 8am–5pm; this is a tender port.

Pier Location

Ships anchor offshore and tender to the Fort Street Tourism Village in Belize City; excursions depart from there.

Best For

Maya ruins, cave tubing, jungle, and reef snorkeling

About Belize City

Belize blends ancient Maya ruins, the second-largest barrier reef on Earth, and English-speaking Central American jungle. Ships anchor off Belize City and tender in, putting cave-tubing, ruins like Altun Ha and Xunantunich, and the world-class snorkeling of Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley all within reach. It's an adventurous port best enjoyed on a tour out of the city.

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Insider Tip

It's a tender port, so build in time getting ashore and back. Cave tubing and the Maya ruins are the headline experiences; if you'd rather be in the water, the Shark Ray Alley snorkel is world-class but a boat ride out from the city.

Highlights

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Altun Ha & Xunantunich
Accessible Maya temple sites — Altun Ha is close to the city; Xunantunich is a grander day trip near the Guatemala border.

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Cave tubing
Float on an inner tube through a river-carved cave system once used by the Maya — Belize's signature adventure.

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Hol Chan & Shark Ray Alley
Snorkel the barrier reef among nurse sharks and stingrays in a protected marine reserve.

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Zipline & jungle
Canopy ziplines and rainforest hikes pair naturally with the cave-tubing rivers.

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Belize Zoo
A small, beloved zoo of native rescued animals — jaguars, tapirs, and toucans — great for families.

Local Food & Drink

Rice and beans with stew chicken — the everyday Belizean plate.
Fry jacks — puffy fried dough, a breakfast favourite.
Fresh ceviche and conch fritters from the reef.
Belikin, the national beer, with a dash of Marie Sharp's hot sauce on everything.

Shore Excursion Ideas

1 Cave tubing and zipline combination adventure.

2 Altun Ha Maya ruins with a city tour.

3 Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley reef snorkel.

4 Xunantunich ruins day trip (longer drive).

Sailings to Belize City

Upcoming Royal Caribbean & Celebrity cruises that visit Belize City

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Belize City

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