We're going on a cruise in February and Paya Bay Beach Resort on Roatan, Honduras, is one of the excursions. Just wondered if it is worth going to. Sounds as if it's quite a haul from the port. Has anyone been there? Anything else to do at Mahogany Bay?

I doubt it is a nude resort at all, just a private resort that they have rented for the day. It was a LOOOONG time ago, but when we went on a BN cruise many years ago, there was an issue with the nude beach experience that they had set up, some issue with the authorities. At that time, nudity was not well received there in general. We want to see more of Roatan, so we did not go on that excursion. I have no idea whether this would be the same place or not. Hopefully someone who has been on one of their more recent cruises will have more current information.

We have been to Paya Bay. Be sure to check out the web site. Paya Bay has clothing optional sections all of the time. There is a cove with swimming, a deck, chairs, etc. During "naturist weeks", the entire resort other than Big Beach is clothing optional. This includes the really nice Bliss Beach. All weeks in February are naturist weeks other than the 9th to the 15th. Paya Bay is privately owned and has been in their family for decades. It is run as a regular full-time resort.

We really liked Paya Bay a lot and plan to go back some time. But, don't drink any dairy and only drink bottled water. We had some problems with that on our trip. There's a small number of rooms, about 20 or so, but the property is huge with lots of marked trails and small places to hang out. It's a good romance place. If it's a naturist week, you can be nude everywhere but the big beach, which is public, and the restaurant, where they expect you to cover up.

It did seem like a long ride from the airport, since the roads are not that good, but I understand a lot more has been paved since then.

OK, thanks for the correction. Their website doesn't seem to mention nudity at all, but maybe I missed it. As I said, a long time ago when we were there, the government was not at all nude friendly.

Naturism is shown under the Leisure and Activities tab on papabay.com. Their 2014 calendar shows that several months have 2 or more weeks dedicated to naturism.

Thanks for the replies.
We decided to go ahead and book Paya Bay and we'll let you know how it works out. It looks good on the internet.
This is one of the ports on our first-ever nude cruise in February. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> We'll let you know how that works out, too.

We were there last year. Paya Bay is about an hour from the dock. It is a really beautiful spot and has a lot or trails to walk. We really enjoyed the trails. Paya Bay has nude weeks and I would assume if the cruise is stopping there they have made arrangements. I would make the trip to see it. Mahogany Bay has a lot of shopping but nothing else

We're on the same cruise and taking the same trip. After reviewing the website and our proclivity to only do so much shopping, we're looking forward to the excursion.

Glad to hear we won't be the only ones going there. Looking forward to seeing you. Three more weeks, but who's counting?

I was on a cruise about two years ago, and Mahogany Bay was one of the stops. Once you walk uphill past the shops, the walkway takes you back to a large area that has a beach and quite a few drinkning establishments that also serve food. If you don't want to walk that far, you can catch a gondola type mode of transport (2 person chair), that rides high over everything to the end of the island. Once there, you can enjoy a beach, or some of the very loud music that is blasting from several different bar/restaurants.
As usual in most ports of call, there is plenty of shopping, drinking spots, and eating spots.
As avid cruisers, we found Mahogany Bay to be one of the more interesting stops.

We were there in March 2011. We experienced everything chazo described plus twice-a-day snorkel trips included in the price as well as an all-day boat trip to a tiny secluded island for snorkeling for a fee. Those excursions may have changed by now. I haven't checked their web site to see.

Oh, even though the restaurant required clothing, at dinner a pareo was fine for men or women. There are fewer off-resort visitors at dinner than at lunch.

sand

Carol,

Nan and I were on that cruise with you. I recall that the owner of the resort sought refuge on the ship to get away from the police. There was another excursion that delivered us to a restaurant rather than a nude beach. Most of us on the tender refused to get off the boat and returned to the ship.

Not sure if you were also on the nude cruise where everyone on the excursion refused to get off the tender at Isla Mujeras, except for us? We called that one 'the beach bash bomb'. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> We had a great time that day! Had to talk to the captain of the ship on the radio to confirm that we knew that WE were responsible for getting ourselves back to the ship! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

That was the cruise. You and Eric ventured out to tour the island and the rest of us went back to the ship.

Yes, we had a great time that day. Had some cash, no credit card. Island tour, swam with a shark - Carol took photos, so she could sue somebody if I had gotten eaten! Fast small john boat with locals back to the main island, lot of fun. Some jewelry shopping on the way -- easy to negotiate the price, especially when I turned my pockets inside out to show them there was no more money to negotiate with! The jewelry price also had to include a taxi ride back to the ship! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Returned to the ship with zero money left but she got her jewelry! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

OK, I didn't remember that it was the same cruise! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> As Eric said, we had a blast that day too! That ship was my favorite ship of all time though! I love that smaller size ship.

As I recall, it was the Cunard Star. It was brand new in 1993. I can't believe it was that long ago.

Nope. Cunard Crown Jewel or Dynasty, both of which were the exact same ship. I think it was the Dynasty.

I think you are right about Crown Jewel. I wonder if it is still in service.

I'm getting old and can't remember, but for a while one of those ships was sailing for Princess, as the Tahitian Princess, as we sailed on her in Tahiti. Not sure if it is still there or not.

Carol,

Take a look at this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Gemini

Jim

Ah, that's too bad. Loved that ship!