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PLANNING YOUR ROATÁN PORT DAY

Roatán time vs ship time: which clock should you use in port?

Pick your ship and your day in Roatán. See every excursion that fits your port window, in seconds.

Your exact times in both clocks (home-port time and Roatán time), and your price.

See which excursions fit my port window →Private tours from $49 per person

Staying on the island, not on a cruise? Plan your island tour or transportation for 2–30 guests →

The time difference between Roatán and your home port

Roatán observes Central Standard Time year-round and doesn't change for daylight saving time. Your ship's clock may stay on home-port time or switch to Roatán time. It's the captain's call and isn't published ahead of time, so ship time and island time can differ by up to two hours. Here's what that means for your all-aboard time, and why we always show both clocks to eliminate any confusion.

Your home portEarly Nov to mid-MarchMid-March to early Nov
Eastern timeFort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral, TampaRoatán is 1 hour behindRoatán is 2 hours behind
Central timeGalveston, Mobile, New OrleansSame time as RoatánRoatán is 1 hour behind

US daylight saving time runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

Why book with us

Your private day ashore

Private vehicle & expert local driver included, never shared, sized to your party. Prices are per person, all-in, no surprises.

Daniel Johnson's · Roatán Chocolate Factory · Rum Company · West Bay Beach Break
Sloths & island flavors

Daniel Johnson's · Roatán Chocolate Factory · Rum Company · West Bay Beach Break

$79 / person · all-in, no surprises
6–7 hrs · private vehicle & driver · round-trip port pickup · entries included
See what's included
  • Daniel Johnson's Monkey & Sloth Hangout — meet sloths, capuchin monkeys, macaws and parrots up close at a warm, family-run sanctuary
  • Chocolate factory — bean-to-bar sample tasting
  • Rum house — sample tasting with Caribbean views
  • West Bay Beach Break (Beach Access) — swim and relax on world-famous white sand to finish the day
  • Iconic Roatán Sign photo stop
Check this tour for my sailing →
Gumbalimba Park · West Bay Beach Break
Gumbalimba Park

Gumbalimba Park · West Bay Beach Break

$89 / person · all-in, no surprises
5–7 hrs · private vehicle & driver · round-trip port pickup · entries included
See what's included
  • Gumbalimba Park admission — about two hours, self-paced
  • Staff-supervised monkey interaction — friendly white-faced Capuchin monkeys
  • Free-flying macaws, parrots & hummingbirds, plus Roatán's black iguanas
  • Coxen's Pirate Cave — maps, weapons & Roatán's pirate history
  • Botanical gardens, jungle nature trails & the suspension bridge over the turtle lagoon
  • West Bay Beach Break (Beach Access) — swim and relax on world-famous white sand
  • Iconic Roatán Sign photo stop
Check this tour for my sailing →
Island Tour · West Bay Beach Break
See the island

Island Tour · West Bay Beach Break

$59 / person · all-in, no surprises
5–7 hrs · private vehicle & driver · round-trip port pickup · entries included
See what's included
  • 2-hour guided island tour — breathtaking scenery, scenic viewpoints, local culture & villages, hidden gems and amazing photo stops
  • West Bay Beach Break — time to swim and relax on world-famous white sand
  • Iconic Roatán Sign photo stop
Check this tour for my sailing →

See which excursions fit my port window →See all 18 excursions & details that fit my port window →

Real sailings, both clocks

Upcoming Roatán calls from the cruise lines' published schedules. Notice how the same docking and all-aboard times read differently on each clock.

ShipDateDocksAll-aboardBack at the port by
MSC World Americafrom MiamiMon, Oct 26, 202611:00 AM home port
9:00 AM Roatán		7:30 PM home port
5:30 PM Roatán		6:30 PM home port
4:30 PM Roatán
Carnival Jubileefrom GalvestonWed, Oct 28, 202610:00 AM home port
9:00 AM Roatán		6:30 PM home port
5:30 PM Roatán		5:30 PM home port
4:30 PM Roatán
Carnival Miraclefrom GalvestonMon, Nov 2, 20268:00 AM home port
8:00 AM Roatán		4:30 PM home port
4:30 PM Roatán		3:30 PM home port
3:30 PM Roatán
Icon of the Seasfrom MiamiTue, Nov 3, 20268:00 AM home port
7:00 AM Roatán		4:30 PM home port
3:30 PM Roatán		3:30 PM home port
2:30 PM Roatán

Check your sailing

Pick your ship and your day in Roatán to see your docking, all-aboard and back-at-the-port times in both clocks.

Party · 2 min

Ages 3 & under are free, car seats included.

See which excursions fit my port window →

Why it matters on port day

  1. You only know your ship's clock once you're aboard. It's the captain's call whether the ship stays on home-port time or switches to Roatán time, and published schedules don't say which.
  2. All-aboard is in ship time. It's printed in your ship's daily planner, in the ship's own time.
  3. Excursions on the island run on Roatán time. Opening hours, boat departures and lunch all go by the island's clock.
  4. So we plan in both. Every Tour Roatán day shows both clocks on the site, your reservation and your timeline. Your reservation even has a place to circle the one your ship is on.

How we plan your day

Ships usually spend about 8½ hours docked in Roatán. That leaves roughly 6¾ hours for your private day.

  1. Two clocks, both shown. Your ship keeps either its home port's time or Roatán time. It's the captain's call, and no schedule says which. We show both, always, and your reservation has a place to circle the one your ship is on.
  2. Off the ship and to your driver. About 45 minutes to get off the ship. Your reservation has clear directions to the pickup spot, where your private driver waits with a sign showing your name. Your driver's name and phone number are sent to you before you sail. If it takes longer to get off, your driver waits.
  3. Every excursion mapped to your port window. Real durations plus drive times, against the hours you actually have ashore, starting when your first stop opens.
  4. An hour held for the trip back. You're back at the port an hour or more before all-aboard. That hour is never counted as touring time.
  5. Your driver watches the clock. Your reservation lists all your stops and how long you'll spend at each.

Getting off the ship in Roatán

Carnival, Princess and Holland America ships dock at Isla Tropicale (formerly Mahogany Bay). Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Celebrity, Virgin Voyages, Margaritaville at Sea, Regent, Oceania and Crystal ships dock at Port of Roatán (Coxen Hole). Your reservation shows your port and the exact steps.

Port of Roatán (Coxen Hole)

  1. When you get off the ship, head to the shopping area and turn right under the double stairway (you'll also see a sign for taxis).
  2. You'll pass the independent tour sellers. They'll try hard to sell you an excursion; just tell them you're already booked.
  3. At the end of that section, turn left, then right toward port exit gate #1.
  4. Your driver is waiting across the street with a sign showing your last name.

Isla Tropicale (formerly Mahogany Bay)

  1. When you get off the ship, head toward the duty-free shop and walk through.
  2. Walk up the hill and turn left toward the taxi parking lot.
  3. Turn left toward the port exit gate and walk up the hill.
  4. Your driver is waiting with a sign showing your last name.

Can't manage the hill? A taxi is $2 per person; tell the driver your private driver is waiting at the gate.

Before you sail: your driver's name and phone number are on your reservation, sent to you before you sail, so you can reach them if you need to. Only go with the person holding a sign with your name.

Turquoise water off West Bay, RoatánA guest with a capuchin monkey at Gumbalimba ParkHorseback riding into the sea on RoatánThe mangrove tunnels at Oak Ridge, Roatán

Who plans your day

Oak Ridge on Roatán's east end

Hi, I'm Jen, your US-based Roatán Excursion & Transportation Specialist.

I first came to Roatán as a visitor and used the same local team every trip. That's how this partnership began.

— Jen

One team, two locations

In the US

Planning, your questions and every detail before you sail, with prompt answers by phone, text or email.

In Roatán

The driving, the logistics and fifteen years of local knowledge, with licensed & insured vehicles and English-speaking driver-guides trained through the Honduran Institute of Tourism.

Prompt answers from the US. Fifteen years of experience on the island.

Questions people ask

What time zone is Roatán in?

Roatán is on Central Standard Time (UTC−6) all year. Honduras doesn't use daylight saving time, so Roatán's clocks never change.

Is my cruise ship on ship time or Roatán time?

It depends on the ship. Some keep their home port's time all week, others move their clocks to match the ports. It's the captain's call, and published schedules don't say which, so you only know once you're aboard. Check your ship's daily planner and listen for the onboard announcement. That's why we always give you both times.

What time do I need to be back on the ship in Roatán?

By your ship's all-aboard time, which is in ship time. If your ship keeps home-port time, its clock can be an hour or two ahead of Roatán's. We plan you back at the port an hour or more before all-aboard and show every time in both clocks, so whichever one your ship is on, you're covered.

Is Roatán the same time as Miami?

No. Roatán is 1 hour behind Miami from early November to mid-March, and 2 hours behind from mid-March to early November, when Miami is on daylight saving time.

Is Roatán the same time as Galveston?

From early November to mid-March, yes. From mid-March to early November, Roatán is 1 hour behind Galveston.

See your day, timed to your ship

Pick your ship and your day in Roatán. See every excursion that fits your port window, in seconds.
Your exact times in both clocks (home-port time and Roatán time), and your price. Private tours from $49 per person.

Group savings: 5 or more guests pay less per person on most tours.

See which excursions fit my port window →

More for planning your Roatán day

Roatán shore excursionsEvery private excursion from both cruise portsCruise line or independent tour?An honest comparison and how to chooseRoatán cruise ship scheduleHow many ships are in port, every dayRoyal Caribbean Roatán excursionsPrivate days for Royal Caribbean guestsCarnival Roatán excursionsPrivate days for Carnival guestsNorwegian Cruise Line Roatán excursionsPrivate days for Norwegian guestsMSC Cruises Roatán excursionsPrivate days for MSC guestsDaniel Johnson's Monkey & Sloth Hangout toursSloths, monkeys and macaws up closeRoatán snorkeling toursGuided reef snorkel at West Bay from the cruise portRoatán island toursPrivate island tour and beach, from the port or your hotelMayan Eden Eco Park toursSloths, monkeys, macaws and the hummingbird sanctuaryWest Bay Beach toursBeach breaks and the West Bay resort day pass, from the portChocolate factory & rum toursChocolate and rum tastings, West End and West BayHorseback riding & beachRide the shore and the shallows, then West Bay BeachCustom toursBuild your own day, or just the car and driverMangrove tunnel tourOak Ridge, Punta Gorda and the east endRoatán cruise port guideGetting off the ship and meeting your driverGumbalimba Park toursCapuchin monkeys, zip line and pirate cave