Can you do this cruise port on your own?
Harvest Caye
DIY Score
Easy DIY
Book the Placencia ferry early if you want to see mainland Belize.
Tender or Docked?
Docked, walk straight onto the island. No tender; you step off the gangway onto Norwegian's private caye and can be on the beach in minutes.
How to Get Into Town
Ferry to Placencia: ~20 min, about $25 round trip. Buy tickets at the ship's excursion desk; only 400 slots exist per day.
Main Attractions
The free beach and resort pool are the heart of the day, with paid island activities and mainland Belize tours as the step-up options.
How Much Time You Need
The whole call for the island; book the early ferry if you want the mainland.
Keep in Mind
You can leave the island, but only on the capped Placencia ferry. Book it at the excursion desk as soon as you board, not the morning of.
Safety & Comfort
Very safe and easy; this is a controlled resort island. Belize is English-speaking, which makes the mainland simple too.
Tips from Cruisers
"We didn't realise until we boarded that you have to buy the Placencia ferry tickets right away and they sell out. By the time we a…" — by Karen S.
We didn't realise until we boarded that you have to buy the Placencia ferry tickets right away and they sell out. By the time we asked they were gone. Ended up having a lovely beach day anyway but I really wanted to see actual Belize. Book early if that's your plan.
honestly just did the beach and pool and it was exactly what i needed after a couple of busy ports. free loungers, easy walk off the ship. drinks are pricey and the package doesnt work here so that stung a bit
Easiest port of the whole cruise for us. Flat, paved, walked straight off. We sat under an umbrella all day and my husband managed with his walker no problem. Didn't bother with the mainland and had zero regrets.
Took the ferry over and did a river tubing tour with a local guy we booked ourselves. Way cheaper than the ship tour and just brilliant, floated through the jungle for a couple of hours. But I was absolutely watching the clock for that return ferry, they are strict about it.
It's a nice island but let's be clear, it's a resort, not Belize. If you actually want to see the country you have to make the effort with the ferry. Did that on our second visit and it was worth it, but the first time we just stayed on the caye and it felt a bit like being kept in a bubble.