Stone Castle Cameo Factory
Stone Castle Cameo Factory
Stone Castle Cameo Factory
4.5
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4.5
115 reviews
Excellent
68
Very good
24
Average
19
Poor
0
Terrible
4
alison S
Hendersonville, TN84 contributions
Jan 2020
My bestie took us to the Stone Castle Cameo Factory, she went on and on about the store. I was really impressed. We got there right at closing, they had already put most of the cameos away, they pulled about 12 trays out and I watched the young lady making a dolphin cameo. Quite impressed, I love dolphins and turtles. The best of both worlds, they explained the process of making these beauties. I will definitely say, if you are looking for something unique, this is the place. I am so glad we stopped, I think it was my best shopping experience yet, I cannot wait till we go back. You can see the ship from the shop, it is a hike from the ship, totally worth it. Bring cash, more for the bang of the buck. Love love this place.
Written 29 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nachi97
PR1 contribution
Oct 2011 • Family
If you want something there paid and take it, because we trust in the Owner that he going to send us the cameo by mail because he supposed to send it to another people to frame it and we wait and wait after our vacation trip, We call him several times and said I going to send it to you ..... We lost the chance to open a case with the CC and lost $ 1,270 . 03/06/08 We only have the receipt to remember not return to that place anymore.
Written 1 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jjgautreau
Poway, CA202 contributions
Dec 2012 • Friends
We visited the factory as part of a private tour of the island of Roatan by Rony. The person making the Cameo's was fantastic. Her art and pride of workmanship appeared in all of her pieces. Although a little pricey, you have to take into consideration that this is a piece of art and not a machine made pendant.
Written 20 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jan E
Huntsville, AL78 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
This is a unique opportunity to see the making of cameos. There are only 2 Cameo factories in the world, one in Italy and the one here in Roatan. My husband bought me a beautiful cameo and it will be a wonderful reminder of this beautiful island and the friendly people we met. They had a demonstration of the carving of the shells into cameos, it is a small place but very interesting. We also enjoyed a great boat trip off of West End, some shopping and a great bar/restaurant over some of the clearest water we have ever seen!
Written 27 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Becky S
Buffalo, New York40 contributions
Feb 2014 • Friends
We arrived on Roatan on a rainy day and just decided to take a cab tour "wherever". I had read about the Cameo Factory before we went on our cruise, and mentioned it to the cab driver as a possible stop. We were certainly glad we made the time to visit. The only artisan working on the day we were there was Janet, and we enjoyed watching her carving. She was such a sweet and beautiful young lady. We spent a good deal of time looking at all the different cameos and shell carvings. The craftsmanship and detail in the work is amazing. I purchased two cameos, for what I felt were very reasonable prices. If you enjoy watching artists at work this is definitely worth a stop. It is practically across the street from the Coxen Hole port and only a short distance from Mahogany Bay, so it is easy to slip into your agenda.
Written 19 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emil M
Salt Springs, FL167 contributions
Nov 2019
Visited the Cameo Factory in Roatan and was totally happy with the tour of the facility. The artist is now teaching the locals the art of Cameo making like he had learned in Italy. Wotrh the trip and money spent.
Written 14 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
retireeVancouver
Vancouver, Canada1,828 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
This excursion was bundled by our cruise ship with a semi-sub ride and shopping in West End Village. The Stone Castle Cameo factory is actually a small shop, located beside the main road and is not that far (5 minute drive) from the pier in Coxen Hole. There were no steps at the shop.
When our mini-van of 15-20 tourists arrived at the shop, a very friendly salesperson informed us briefly about the craft of conch carving and that the skill was only practiced in a few places in the world. Our visit lasted about 30 minutes and that was enough time to see the carvers at work, view their finished pieces, and have a free drink - coffee or pop - out back behind the shop. The washroom also was located here and, while not pristine, it flushed and had running water.
The Stone Castle Cameo factory is actually an indoor shop with display cases to showcase the final products and had work areas around the sides of the shop for carvers to work. At 8:30am only one carver was at work. The shop had several display cases, but actually the shelves were not loaded with the finished product since each design, depending on its size and detail, takes a week to several months to complete. There were no price tags on the pieces and I didn't ask as I wasn't in there to buy anything- cameo pins, rings, necklaces, earrings. There appeared to be just the one staff person at the counter who was helping another customer so no pressure buying by frenzied salespeople. What fascinated me in this shop was the many different colors in a conch shell that can be used to create the pieces on display and the intricate 3-D designs that can be carved from, what looked to me, to be such a thin shell.
If you come here on a cruise excursion, know what you want to buy as there is not much time to hum and haw about purchases. There were some conch shell carved pieces for sale at the shops at the cruise ship terminal, but this shop would provide the best selection. This craft is unique to this island and won't be seen on any of the other Caribbean islands.
When our mini-van of 15-20 tourists arrived at the shop, a very friendly salesperson informed us briefly about the craft of conch carving and that the skill was only practiced in a few places in the world. Our visit lasted about 30 minutes and that was enough time to see the carvers at work, view their finished pieces, and have a free drink - coffee or pop - out back behind the shop. The washroom also was located here and, while not pristine, it flushed and had running water.
The Stone Castle Cameo factory is actually an indoor shop with display cases to showcase the final products and had work areas around the sides of the shop for carvers to work. At 8:30am only one carver was at work. The shop had several display cases, but actually the shelves were not loaded with the finished product since each design, depending on its size and detail, takes a week to several months to complete. There were no price tags on the pieces and I didn't ask as I wasn't in there to buy anything- cameo pins, rings, necklaces, earrings. There appeared to be just the one staff person at the counter who was helping another customer so no pressure buying by frenzied salespeople. What fascinated me in this shop was the many different colors in a conch shell that can be used to create the pieces on display and the intricate 3-D designs that can be carved from, what looked to me, to be such a thin shell.
If you come here on a cruise excursion, know what you want to buy as there is not much time to hum and haw about purchases. There were some conch shell carved pieces for sale at the shops at the cruise ship terminal, but this shop would provide the best selection. This craft is unique to this island and won't be seen on any of the other Caribbean islands.
Written 7 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lovemycolt1911
6 contributions
Oct 2014
So this is my second review. I paid for and had a written agreement from Franco that he would make and mail my cameo. Guess what? He LIED! He took my money and NEVER sent my cameo. I emailed and emailed and emailed and was always blown off by him. I finally had to spend the money to go BACK and demand my cameo. I finally got it. But it wasn't very good quality. I will NEVER go back and NEVER recommend it! Don't trust this man
Written 3 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Topperdan
Oklahoma City, OK193 contributions
Feb 2012 • Couples
We have been here the last two trips to Roatan. It is part museum and gift shop. The folks here have taken the art of carving cameo's in sea shells to the next level. The detail is incredible. They have a person right on the sales floor carving a shell and there are many show cases of pendants/ear rings/bracelets and shells which all have been carved all on sale.The pricing is very reasonable considering you are dealing with works of art. It was not listed on any of the cruise ship tours but we felt it was well worth the trip. It is located 1/2-3/4 mile west of Coxen Hole port. Just a little far to walk but a cabbie can take you there and most likely wait for you while you shop. We picked up a beautiful pendent under $50. I suggest that you bring cash other than a credit card. We were able to get a better deal with cash.
Written 12 February 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nursejudy2016
Killeen, TX89 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
Very interesting to see actual cameos being created . Janice the designer is deaf --so if you ASL or ISL stop by and visit with her . All the work is done in freehand ..2 years ago I purchased a turtle pendant ..and was able to find the ear rings to match -prices are very reasonable and the quality is great
Written 5 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
coming on feb 28 to coxen hole doing morning tour with Daniel Johnson but want to make sure we visit Cameo Factory. what are your hours.
Written 14 February 2024
What hours is the Cameo Shop open?
Will a taxi driver take us to the shop from the Coxen Hole cruise port?
Written 9 April 2019
Yes, but just about every taxi driver will want to take you on a tour... and we have had to agree to a price to take us just to the Cameo Factory. We have been there many times and really do not want to do the other stops.
Written 28 May 2019
Can I get a taxi right from the cruise ship to the cameo factory?
Written 22 October 2017
I remember steps going out of the retail shop side of the building. Not sure on the entrance/info hall side. If no steps there, you could easily reverse course and exit that way. At worst, it's 2 or 3 steps. If going with family or on a guided tour, I'd hope it would be possible to be assisted up and down a couple of steps. There may be no steps out the back door to the restrooms, and there might be a path from there to the front parking area (this property is the size of a city residential lot, with the building around the size of an average home, maybe 2,000 feet on main floor). The building appeared to be on level ground, and with multiple workers who seemed friendly and would likely assist if needed.
Written 6 June 2017
Can I get to the the Stone Castle cameo factory on my own? Is a taxi the best way to get there? Can I take public transportation? Thank you
Written 1 October 2016
As I was on a coach excursion, I am not sure how far it was from the cruise terminal. I would think you could get a taxi, but I do not know if you would be 100% safe, or how far it would be. If you can book a tour or private guide, believe me it is well worth it. Italian people settled here years ago with these cameo skills. The most interesting part of this place is that the cameos do not only depict ladies heads. There are cameos with sea creatures (sea horses etc) and they are wonderful. Most of the cameos are set in silver. Hope this helps.
Written 1 October 2016
Could anyone tell me the days and hours of operation? Their email does not appear to be working.
Thanks
Written 13 March 2016
They are typically open when ships are in port. They are aware of the schedule and are open then. They may close 30 minutes prior. Some days there are several people working and other days only a couple. It depends on how many ships are in port.
Written 14 March 2016
thomas p
Paradise Valley, Arizona
I would like to know if Franco Tamaro is still at the Stone Castle Cameo Factory, i was there in 2013 and bought several cameos and corresponded with Franco for several months. He got very sick and all correspondence with him stopped. i was wondering if he is ok?
thank you, thomas prasil
Written 15 February 2016
I'm sorry but I didn't interact with him when I was there in July 2015 - doesn't mean that he's not around, but a lovely woman helped me when I was there.
Written 17 February 2016
Does one have to take a tour to get to Stone Castle? Or can we take a taxi? Thanks.
Written 20 December 2015
You don't have to take a tour - not sure how far it is from the port, but a taxi would still probably be cheaper than a tour (unless you wanted to see other places that a tour might go). In hindsight, there wasn't much on the tour that I couldn't have done without and would have been perfectly happy just going to the factory on my own. Not to mention that we had barely any time at all to shop - and I didn't even stay for the presentation (I had read a post where someone said they wish they skipped the presentation in favor of more shopping time, so that's what I did) - I just went straight in, grabbed a salesperson and went to work!
Written 22 December 2015
Sebastian R
Edmonton, Canada
Hey there!
I'll be visiting Coxen Hole in two weeks and am wanting to bring home a souvenir from this factory. Could anyone help me out with how much I should expect to pay for a larger shell?
Thank you,
Sebastian Q
Written 19 November 2015
Yes only cash.so make sure if your interested in a piece. It's cash only.
Written 25 November 2015
What is the pricing like at the cameo factory? I'm registered for the excursion that goes there in July and am hoping to purchase something memorable, but don't want to spend an arm and a leg. Can you give me an idea of the price range for, say, some of the smaller to medium size pendants? Thanks!
Written 12 June 2015
I think the smallest were ~$20. My mom got a ... I'd call it medium sized...there are certainly bigger ones. I can't remember for certain, I want to say it was $80-$100 range though. She looked at another that was maybe $40 more. I think my reviews have pictures of them side-by-side for reference, if that helps.
Written 15 December 2015
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