The Roatán cruise port is really two terminals on the south coast of the island, a few miles apart, run by Royal Caribbean and Carnival. This guide explains which ship docks where, how long it takes to reach West Bay and West End, when a tour beats going it alone, and how to make sure you are back on board before all-aboard.
Roatán Town Center, also called the Port of Roatán, sits on the waterfront of Coxen Hole, the island's main town. It opened at the end of 2008 as a joint project of Royal Caribbean, the Roatán municipality and the Honduras Institute of Tourism, and in December 2019 a second pier opened, so two ships can now berth alongside at the same time. The terminal has a small shopping plaza, an ATM, car rental desks and a taxi area, and the streets of Coxen Hole start right outside the gate.
Mahogany Bay, at Dixon Cove about 3 miles east, is Carnival's own port. It opened in 2009, and in May 2026 Carnival relaunched it as Isla Tropicale, with a new pool area; many passengers and other lines still call it Mahogany Bay. It is a fenced resort-style complex with two berths, shops, restaurants, bars and a chairlift to its own beach. Our Mahogany Bay guide covers it in detail.
Mahogany Bay is reserved mainly for ships of the Carnival Corporation family: Carnival Cruise Line, which lists more than 15 of its ships calling there, plus Princess and Holland America, which sell their excursions under the Mahogany Bay name. Other lines can use it, but rarely do.
Town Center at Coxen Hole takes Royal Caribbean, its co-owner, and most other lines, including Norwegian, MSC and Celebrity. Your cruise documents or app name the berth; if they just say "Roatán" and you are not on a Carnival brand, it is almost always Coxen Hole. The two ports are separate, so a tour or taxi booked for the wrong one is a common, avoidable mistake.
Both terminals are on the south coast, while the island's best-known beach, West Bay, and the village of West End are at the western tip. From Town Center the ride to West End or West Bay usually takes 20-30 minutes; from Mahogany Bay allow 30-45 minutes, more when several ships are in and the main road is busy.
Taxis wait at both terminals and are not metered. There is no fixed published rate we could verify, so agree the price before you get in and ask whether it is per person or for the car; cruise passengers commonly report around $20-25 for one or two people to West Bay. If you arrange the return trip with the same driver, fix the pickup time and place and pay at the end. Water taxis link West End and West Bay, and our getting around guide explains the minibuses and car rental.
Going it alone works best for a simple beach day: a taxi to West Bay, a day pass at a beach club such as Tabyana Beach or a restaurant with loungers, and snorkeling from the shore. It is cheaper and more flexible, but the timing is your responsibility, and West Bay gets crowded on multi-ship days.
A tour makes more sense for anything that needs a boat, equipment or several stops: reef snorkeling from a boat, a visit to a sloth and monkey park plus a beach, a zipline, or the cays of Little French Key and Maya Key. Choose one that picks you up at your terminal and ends at least an hour before all-aboard. Our Roatán excursions page explains how to pick one.
Roatán keeps Central Standard Time all year, which is one hour behind US Eastern time in winter and two hours behind in summer. Many ships keep their own clock, so check whether all-aboard is given in ship's time or local time, and set your phone accordingly.
The ship waits for its own excursions, not for independent tours or taxis. Aim to be back at the terminal at least an hour before all-aboard, which leaves room for traffic on the single main road, a slow return boat or a queue at security. Carry your cruise card and a photo ID, some small US bills and the ship's port agent contact, usually listed in the daily program.
Most ships berth alongside, but on peak days, when more ships call than there are berths, a ship may anchor off Coxen Hole and bring passengers ashore by tender. Before the second Town Center pier opened in 2019, this was common. If your ship tenders, expect queues for the first boats, and for the last ones back, which usually leave well before departure.
The high season runs from about October to May. In the 2026-2027 schedule, November to March carries 60 to 76 calls a month, with December the busiest, and up to six ships share the island on some Wednesdays, such as January 6 and February 17, 2027. Around the holidays, December 23, 24 and 30 have five ships each and December 31 has four, while no ships are listed for Christmas Day or New Year's Day. Our Roatán cruise ship schedule explains how to check your date, and our guide to Christmas in Honduras covers what is open over the holidays. On busy days it pays to book tours that avoid West Bay at midday, or to head east instead. Check our weather and best time to visit guide: from June to November a storm can change the itinerary, and in rough seas a ship may skip the port altogether. For safety around the terminals, see Is Roatán safe?.
At one of two terminals on the south coast: Roatán Town Center in Coxen Hole, used by Royal Caribbean and most other lines, or Mahogany Bay (Isla Tropicale) at Dixon Cove, used by Carnival and its sister brands.
About 20-30 minutes by taxi from Town Center at Coxen Hole and about 30-45 minutes from Mahogany Bay, depending on traffic.
No. Mahogany Bay is Carnival's port at Dixon Cove, about 3 miles east of the Town Center terminal in Coxen Hole. Check which one your ship uses before booking a tour or taxi.
From Town Center you can walk into Coxen Hole's shops and market streets; from Mahogany Bay you can walk to its own beach. The beaches of West Bay and West End need a taxi or tour.
No. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere; bring small bills, as change may come in lempiras.
A good fit for travelers who want to see more than the water, mixing time on land with a boat outing and snorkeling. Plan for about 5 hours in a small group.
from ~$65 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
A simple option for cruise passengers who want a relaxed beach day without crowded attractions. Direct transportation runs between the port and the beach.
from ~$20 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
A simple, unhurried plan for first-time snorkelers or anyone who prefers a single stop before a beach break. The tour runs about 4 hours.
from ~$45 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
Catamaran day on the north side for groups of 10 or more, with several snorkel stops, music, drinks and snacks. Round-trip transfer from the cruise port or resorts is included.
from ~$56 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
A relaxed choice for anyone who wants sand and calm water without a packed itinerary. The outing lasts about 4.5 hours, which leaves room in a cruise day.
from ~$29 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
Suits nature lovers who want to paddle past mangroves and reef while watching herons, kingfishers and ospreys. Afterward comes a swim to snorkel over the reef.
from ~$56 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
Build your own day with a local guide, mixing snorkeling, wildlife, culture and beach time. Pickup is offered at Mahogany Bay, Roatán port, hotels and rentals, timed around your ship's schedule.
from ~$56 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
Combines a zip line course of 3 km (1.8 miles) through Roatán's jungle with a swim in Caribbean water, a compact way to mix adventure and beach time on a port day.
from ~$66 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
Prices are indicative and may change. The final price is shown by the booking platform. Prices checked: October 29, 2026.
