Princess Cruise Offers Cultural Experiences in Western Caribbean
A seven-day Western Caribbean cruise aboard the elegant Sky Princess provides plenty of opportunities to snorkel, dive and soak up the tropical sun on white sand beaches, but there are other reasons to travel to the region. The round-trip sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, docks in Belize City, Belize; Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Costa Maya, Mexico, offering immersive cultural experiences that stay with passengers long after their tan has faded. Here are a couple of trip highlights:
Belize City, Belize
In northern Belize, a party of explorers penetrates the dense, humid rainforest, determined to reach the Mayan ruins of Lamanai. Like many before them, they have come to learn about the rituals and polytheistic religion of this ancient culture that thrived here for 3,000 years.
The 950-acre archeological reserve on the edge of the New River Lagoon was once home to an advanced Mesoamerican civilization that excelled at architecture, astronomy, pottery, and hieroglyph writing. There are many theories about its collapse, such as famine and endemic warfare, but the real cause remains a mystery. What is known is that Lamanai (Mayan for submerged crocodile) was continuously occupied from 1,500 B.C. until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, making it the longest-occupied Mayan site in Belize. During its Golden Age (A.D. 300-900), Lamanai was a robust trading city.
Lamanai’s powerful mystique makes it a popular shore excursion with Sky Princess cruise passengers.
As a knowledgeable guide leads the group deeper into the jungle, the unsettling growling of howler monkeys competes with the screeching of parrots and other native birds, creating an ear-splitting cacophony that adds to the eeriness of this long-abandoned town. At last, the wilderness opens onto a clearing where crumbling pyramids and temples reach heavenward.
The High Temple is where the spirit of the ancient Maya is most palpable. Built around 100 B.C., the 11-story structure was probably the tallest building in Mesoamerica at the time. Adventurous types who make the steep climb to the top enjoy the same sweeping view of the New River Lagoon as early Maya rulers centuries before.
Nearby stands the Mask Temple, still majestic despite centuries of deterioration. Built around 200 B.C., it is flanked by a pair of 12-foot-tall limestone masks. Each has a headdress adorned by a crocodile, an iconic symbol of Mayan culture. Archaeologists discovered two fifth-century tombs inside the temple. The burial style suggests they were a succession of rulers.
The Stela Temple is home to a replica of an intricately carved standing stone known as Stela 9. It was erected around A.D. 625 to commemorate the accession of Lord Smoking Shell, a god-like king. The imagery and hieroglyphic text are believed to be symbolic of an astronomic event that held religious significance, such as the aligning of celestial bodies.
The original stela is on exhibit in the on-site museum.
Roatan, Honduras
For a less strenuous but equally memorable outing, join a shore excursion to Roatan, the largest and most developed of Honduras’s Bay Islands. Passengers dive into the storied history and rich culture of the Garifuna Afro-Indigenous population, descendants of the Black Carib Indians.
In an African-influenced ancestral song and dance performance, barefoot young women in white turbans swish full skirts to the hypnotic rhythm of drums and maracas. An exuberant, smiling dancer breaks from the group for a wicked-fast, hip-shaking solo. She’s followed by men in elaborate traditional headdresses that are so light-footed, they seem to dance without touching the ground.
After the performance, the audience is encouraged to join in the fun.
Sky Princess Dining and Nightlife
Back on board the 3,660-passenger Sky Princess, guests gather at dinner to discuss their exciting day in port. With more than 25 restaurants and bars, dining and drinking at all of them on a single cruise can be a challenge, but it’s fun to try. The three main dining rooms, Soleil, Cielo, and Estrella, serve standards such as perfectly marbled prime rib and pan-seared salmon, and the meals are included in the cruise price.
Specialty restaurants that provide next-level dining for a small upcharge are ideal for celebrations. Whether it’s a big birthday bash with the whole family or a romantic dinner for two, you’ll find the perfect venue on the Sky Princess.
Bistro Sur La Mer, a new specialty restaurant created by Michelin-starred French chef Emmanuel Renaut, puts a modern spin on traditional bistro-style fare. Your dining adventure kicks off with an amuse-bouche of crunchy polenta fries and “olives” that are actually creamy balls of goat cheese.
Seafood lovers often go for the restaurant’s unique take on fish and chips (fish sticks that are way better than what you had in elementary school) or savor Coquille St. Jacques, roasted jumbo scallops in a delicate lemon butter sauce. Diners who prefer land-based offerings cut into tender magret de canard, duck breast from ducks raised for foie gras. A black currant demi-glace perfectly complements the dark, rich meat.
The restaurant is on a busy walkway that overlooks the central atrium, so while the cuisine is noteworthy, it doesn’t have the romantic ambiance you might expect. Best to think of it as a French sidewalk café where you can watch the world go by, not an intimate enclave to whisper sweet nothings to your partner (the band in the atrium is a bit loud for that).
The Crown Grill, Princess’s signature steak house, is a palace of meat that serves some of the best steaks and chops at sea. The menu also features several tasty seafood dishes, including grilled jumbo prawns in a chili and garlic marinade served over onion-fried rice.
Can’t decide between steak and seafood? Go for the old-school surf and turf. A tender filet mignon paired with a Maine lobster tail is sure to satisfy both cravings. Whatever you order, an extensive wine list ensures you will find the ideal pairing. The romantic vibe is perfect for date night or a wedding anniversary.
After dinner, catch a Broadway-style show at the Princess Theater. Two Princess- original productions, Rock Opera and 5 Skies, deliver powerful, high-energy musical performances that will leave you wanting more.
Everybody has their own ideas about what the perfect Big Night Out looks like, so the ship has lots of nightlife options, including the new Take Five Jazz Club. It’s where all the cool cats come to boogie-woogie to a live band. Channel your inner flapper on theme nights.
If that’s not your scene, hit Crooners retro piano bar or Club 6. The former invokes the glamour of the Rat Pack with swanky 1950s martinis (If you like them shaken, not stirred, the 007 is for you), while the latter is a DJ-led epic dance party.
All that dining and dancing can be addictive. Some passengers are so swept away by the cruise lifestyle, they book a future Princess cruise before disembarking the ship.
