Day 6 of this 9-day Western Caribbean cruise aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth brought us to our second port of call — Mahogany Bay, Roatán, Honduras. If you’ve been following along, you know this wasn’t part of the original plan. We were supposed to be heading to Montego Bay, Jamaica, but Hurricane Melissa had other ideas, leaving behind enough destruction to keep cruise ships away for a while (mid-December it looks like ports will be able to welcome ships once again, but that is subject to change). So instead, we find ourselves here in Roatán — which, honestly, is better than Jamaica, in my opinion. I’m not a Jamaica fan by any means mainly due to the constant pitches for drugs and prostitutes near the port facilities.
Now, Mahogany Bay isn’t your typical Caribbean port. It’s not a town, there are no streets lined with souvenir shops, and random guys trying to sell you excursions they “swear are safe.” This is Carnival Corporation’s own private destination — built, owned, and operated for its family of cruise lines (Cunard included). It first opened back in late 2009 after about $62 million in construction, in Roatán’s Dixon Cove on a 20-acre parcel. The port can handle two large ships at once, with a passenger capacity north of 8,000. So on busy days, it can feel, well… busy. But today it’s just the Queen, as no ships were scheduled to be here anyway, Melissa you know.
But change is coming — and it’s not a small one. Carnival recently announced that Mahogany Bay is getting a serious makeover and a new name: Isla Tropicale. Starting in 2026, the port is set to undergo a transformation into a more modern, resort-style destination with new beaches, a pool with a swim-up bar, upgraded cabanas, and a private beach club experience. The idea is to give Carnival and its sister lines something that competes a little better with Royal Caribbean’s “Perfect Day” destinations.
Mahogany Bay Renamed to Isla Tropicale Ahead of 2026 Transformation
So while today we’re walking through the original Mahogany Bay — complete with its shops, bars, and the famous chairlift that glides passengers from the port to the beach — in just a couple of years, this place will look completely different. We’re basically seeing the “before” photo of what’s going to be a very glossy “after.”
Video Tour of Mahogany Bay
Queen Elizabeth pulled alongside the pier at Mahogany Bay just before 8 a.m., and not long after, guests got the all-clear to head ashore. Now, Mahogany Bay isn’t the kind of port where you can just wander around and explore a nearby town — this is a “stay-in-the-bubble” kind of stop. Unless you’ve booked a shore excursion, you’re spending the day right here within the port complex, which is perfectly fine because there’s plenty to keep you busy.
As soon as you step off the pier, you enter the obligatory shopping zone — you know, the one every Caribbean port seems to have. You’ll find the same chain stores you see everywhere plus a few stalls with locals selling handmade crafts and souvenirs. This area is also where all the ship-sponsored excursions meet up. There’s even a restaurant and bar right by the entrance, perfect if your idea of exploring is ordering a cold beer at 9 a.m.
If your goal is the beach there are three ways to get there. You can take a short, scenic walk along a paved path lined with tropical foliage; opt for the more rugged nature trail (not recommended if you have mobility issues because it’s steep and rocky); or hop on the “Magical Flying Beach Chair” — basically a slow, scenic chairlift that takes you from the shopping plaza to the sand. It’s not free, of course. A pass for unlimited rides during your stay runs $14 per person (may vary by day / cruise / cruise line), which isn’t bad if you plan to make a few trips back and forth.
The beach itself is clean and has plenty of loungers. Most of the chairs are free to use, but if you want one right near the waterline or under a clamshell shade, those cost extra. There are also plenty of shady spots under the trees for those who prefer their beach time without frying like a lobster.
If you’re into watersports, Mahogany Bay has a full menu of options with prices current as of November 2025:
Mahogany Bay Watersports & Activities
(as of November 2025)
- • Snorkel Mask & Fins – $20
- • Float – $10
- • Hydro Bike – $20 (30 min) / $30 (1 hour)
- • Paddle Board – $16 (30 min) / $27 (1 hour)
- • Aqua Cycle – $26 (30 min) / $46 (1 hour)
- • Aqua Cycle (2 pax) – $60 (30 min) / $80 (1 hour)
- • Hobie Kayak – $30 (30 min) / $50 (1 hour for 2 pax)
- • Paddle Boat – $26 (30 min for 2 pax) / $46 (1 hour for 2 pax)
- • Fun Cat – $40 (30 min) / $60 (1 hour)
- • Sea Clam – $60
- • Sea Hammock – $34
- • Clamshell Chair – $30
- • Single Kayak – $19 (30 min) / $34 (1 hour)
- • Double Kayak – $26 (30 min) / $46 (1 hour)
- • Umbrella – $30
Prices are current as of November 2025 and subject to change — so plan accordingly (and maybe bring extra sunscreen just in case).
The weather today was a bit overcast, which probably explains why the beach was surprisingly quiet. Actually, scratch that — this was the emptiest I’ve ever seen Mahogany Bay, and I’ve been here plenty of times. It felt almost like I’d landed on a private island. Then again, most of my fellow Queen Elizabeth passengers aren’t exactly the beach-going crowd. They’re more the “I can’t possibly miss afternoon tea” type. So while everyone else was back on board nibbling scones, I had most of the beach practically to myself — and honestly, that’s not a bad way to spend the day.
By late afternoon, the skies decided to remind us that, yes, we’re still in the tropics. A heavy bit of rain rolled in about two hours before all aboard time, effectively clearing the remaining sunbathers off the beach and back to the comfort of their cabins. All aboard was set for 5:30 p.m., but with everyone accounted for early, we pulled away from Mahogany Bay just before six — slightly ahead of schedule.
Tonight’s dress code was “smart casual,” which is basically Cunard-speak for “you can finally ditch the tux.” The two gala nights are behind us, and the rest of the cruise will be a bit more relaxed — though, let’s be honest, there’s nothing “casual” about this crowd. Once again, the Queen Elizabeth turned into a floating ghost town after dinner. It’s become a running theme at this point — the moment the clock strikes 9:00 p.m., it’s like someone hit the shipwide “sleep” button.
Wandering around after dinner, I couldn’t help but notice how eerily quiet everything was. The casino? Empty. Bars and lounges? Empty. Even the Queen’s Room — the ship’s beautiful ballroom where the band was playing — was completely deserted. I poked my head in around 9:30, and after finishing a song, the singer looked over at me and joked, “I could’ve sung to myself back in my cabin tonight!” Honestly, he wasn’t wrong.
It was hands down the quietest night I’ve experienced on this voyage — maybe the quietest I’ve ever seen at sea. It almost felt like sailing in the early post-pandemic days when ships were running at 25% capacity. Back then, I was on a 3,500-passenger ship with maybe a few hundred onboard, and tonight was pretty much identical — peaceful, but also a little… spooky. Maybe everyone wore themselves out at Mahogany Bay, who knows. Either way, the Queen Elizabeth was quiet!
Dinner at Bamboo on Queen Elizabeth
In yesterday’s report, I gave an overview of the different dining options onboard Queen Elizabeth and talked about the rotating pop-up restaurants that take over a section of the Lido buffet each night — La Piazza for Italian, Karibe for Caribbean flavors (a new addition for QE’s Caribbean season), and Bamboo for Asian-inspired dishes. Having already checked out La Piazza on day two (you can read that review here) and Karibe on day four (that one’s here), tonight was the grand finale — Bamboo night.
Like the others, Bamboo comes with a $35 per person cover charge and features a three-course menu. You get a bento box packed with appetizers, followed by your entrée and dessert. Want more? Of course you can — extra appetizers run $10 each, extra entrées are $15, and extra desserts are $5. There’s also an additional entrée option with a $22.50 upcharge for those who feel like living dangerously (or just really, really hungry).
Bamboo Menu
I had an 8 p.m. reservation and, keeping with the Queen Elizabeth evening tradition, there were only three other tables occupied. Dinner kicked off with a serving of prawn crackers before the bento box arrived — and it looked fantastic. Inside were Kataifi shrimp, smoked tuna tataki, yakitori chicken, balsamic sweet and sour beef short ribs, and enokitake vegetable stir-fry. Everything in the box was excellent — flavorful, well-prepared, and presented nicely.
For the main, I went with the Mandarin crispy chili beef, which came with a side of fried rice. It was good, but the sauce leaned a little too far on the sweet side for my liking. Dessert was another trio: sticky rice with diced mango, coconut ice cream, and a green tea sponge cake. All three made for a perfect ending to the meal.
Of the three pop-up experiences, Bamboo ended up being my favorite. The presentation was spot-on, and the dishes had the most variety and balance of flavors. That said, I still don’t quite see the $35-per-person value in these dinners — they’re fun, well executed, and definitely a step up from the buffet (which still has hot dogs out for dinner), but for the price, I think Cunard could improve the menu, portions, and add a bit more value. Still, if you’re sailing on QE and looking for something different from the main dining room, Bamboo is absolutely worth trying.
After dinner, I decided to take another stroll around what I’ve now dubbed “The Ghost Ship.” Sure enough, it lived up to its nickname. I popped into the casino to try my luck, but let’s just say Lady Luck took the night off. Some might say the slot machines don’t get enough play here so they’re “tight,” but we won’t go down the rabbit hole of cruise ship casino conspiracy theories. All I know is that I fed a few too many dollars into the machines and got nothing in return.
With my wallet a little lighter, I went to see what else was happening onboard. Over in the Yacht Club, the DJ was doing his best to hype up the crowd — except there wasn’t really a crowd to hype. So, I made my way up to the Commodore Club, where there was at least a little more life. I grabbed a stool at the bar, ordered a cocktail (or two), and enjoyed the evening’s entertainment — the ship’s talented piano player and singer who performs here nightly. She’s got one of those voices that makes you forget you’re on a ship full of early sleepers.
After a few drinks and some good tunes, I called it a night. We’re now sailing toward our next stop — Belize City, Belize — where Queen Elizabeth will drop anchor in the morning, and guests will be tendered ashore. More on that adventure tomorrow. As always, thanks for following along!
Daily Schedule
