Roatan Opens Mahogany Bay Cruise Center

The $62 million Mahogany Bay Cruise Center at Roatan in the Bay Islands has opened. The Yachts of Seabourn’s 208-passenger Seabourn Legend arrived on Nov. 28, followed by Princess Cruises’ 3,070-passenger Crown Princess on Monday. Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,974-passenger Carnival Valor was in port yesterday.

More than five years in development, and two years under construction, the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center encompasses 20 acres of waterfront property and includes a two-berth cruise terminal that can accommodate up to 8,000 passengers daily. It is a joint project of Carnival Corporation & plc and Roatan businessman Jerry Hynds.

This week’s ship visits are the first of 200 annual ship calls at the new facility, which is expected to host more than 500,000 passengers each year. In addition to the Yachts of Seabourn, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Princess Cruises, vessels from Holland America, Costa Cruises, and P&O Cruises, as well as non-Carnival Corporation brands, are expected to call at the new facility.

In addition to a two-ship cruise pier, the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center offers a welcome center, two themed bars, a restaurant and several shops. A transportation hub with the ability to accommodate taxis, rental cars and tour buses, along with a range of shore excursion opportunities, which can be purchased onboard the vessels, are also available.

Unique to Mahogany Bay is a new chair lift system that takes cruise ship guests from the welcome center to Mahogany Beach, a 10-acre, private island featuring an 825-foot-long, white-sand beach with a beach volleyball court and watersports opportunities.

Eight cabanas are also available for rent. The Magical Flying Beach Chair takes guests on a six-minute ride across nearly 1,200 feet of suspended cables. All-day passes for the beach chair lift are $5 per person. An elevated path also is available for those who prefer to walk.