Cruise Talk: Snorkeling on Grand Cayman-with or w/o the stingrays?

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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Snorkeling on Grand Cayman-with or w/o the stingrays?

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Topic: Snorkeling on Grand Cayman-with or w/o the stingrays?

PeteG
Just Boarded
Member # 372

posted 07-04-2000 10:27 PM

I' cruising to Grand Cayman and heard the snorkeling is excellent,but I also hear alot about snorkeling with the stingrays. If I can do only one shore excursion,is it better to snorkle with or apart from the stingrays i.e. do they make the experience that much better compared to exploring a wider area than just by the rays?

Posts: 5 | From: Chesapeake,Va. | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 07-05-2000 10:48 AM

STINGRAY CITY! There are only a few places in the world that you can swim this close with rays in the open water. It is quite the experience. While there you will be able to snorkle along the reef not far from Sting Ray City. I would not miss this. If you go first thing you will still have time to walk seven mile beach or "go to hell" no offence it is a town where poeple send post cards from hell.
Have fun this is a great Island very clean
any othir questions let me know.
Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 07-05-2000 05:37 PM

We loved Stingray City! I have been to G. Cayman twice , and I love it. We also went to Seven Mile Beach. We walked up the beach to a fairly secluded spot and swam and layed out in the sun. It was great! The taxi driver said that you can pay a minimal amount to access the beach and don't have to buy an excursion from the ship. We didn't stay where our chair was anyway, because it was way too crowded. I love the Tortuga Dark Rum
and cakes! http://www.caribplace.com/foods/tortuga.htm

[This message has been edited by Mercy (edited 07-05-2000).]

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 07-06-2000 08:55 AM

I say snorkle with the stingrays.
We've done the other normal snorkling and it wasn't that good. You snorkle around this wreck. Or should I say, you snorkle around garbage in the ocean. They say fish enjoy building homes in the garbage, I didn't hardly see any fish there. Hmmmm.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 07-06-2000 11:21 AM

Mercy; Maybe the driver meant you could pay a little amount to use A hotels facilities? Unless they have changed the laws all beaches in the Caymens were public. Some even had to build seperate alleys next to there hotel so they could keep people from walking through the hotel. This is one of our favorite islands. After cruising to this island several times we flew into the Camens and spent two weeks.
Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 07-06-2000 11:29 AM

K&K... You are probably right. There were several people in our van/taxi. They asked the driver where they could access the beach. He said he would take them down the beach further to this other hotel that had a $5.or $7. ( I can't remember exactly) charge to go on the beach there. I didn't hear anymore because we got out at our stop. This was a few months ago in April. If you are right, then you could just ask a taxi to take you to the public beach access on 7 mile beach! We take a beach bag with an extra Sarong for a beach blanket to lay on, bottled drinks, and a couple of crousant ham and cheese sandwiches we made at breakfast on the ship

[This message has been edited by Mercy (edited 07-06-2000).]

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 07-06-2000 04:26 PM

I guess the only thing that you would have to worry about is getting a cab back to the ship on time. What is the availability of cabs from the public access areas?

Soundsgoodtome.

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 07-06-2000 05:24 PM

I would like to go to the beach with you Mercy! Never thought of making a sandwitch at breakfast what a good idea. I would go to the Holiday Inn. There is a access alley right next to it or just walk through the lobby. The cabs are always across the street from the hotel. The Holiday inn is not the nicest but the friendliest and they have a bar right on the beach you just can't use their chairs. Right up from the Holiday Inn is the governors mansion and if you snorkle out from there (follow the pipes) it is pretty good snorkeling.
Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 07-06-2000 09:06 PM

K&K...
Follow the food

I figure the ship is going to feed me lunch on or off the ship. I would LOVE to be on that beach right now!

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

kysteve
Just Boarded
Member # 1447

posted 07-24-2000 04:53 PM

I swam with the rays last Oct. Am going back this Sept. on the Zaandam. I loved the ray trip it was a highlight I'll always remember. My wife however thought they were ICCKKYY. Oh well, I'd recommend the Ray trip. Grand Caymen was a great day for us. However we got stuck in traffic and were about an hour late returning to the ship. Good thing we were on HAL's shore excursion. They had a tender waiting for us and even made sure we got a table for late dinner, (we missed first seating). I can't say enough good things about the HAL cruises we have been on. I just hope the one in Sept. is a great.

Happy Cruising
kysteve

Posts: 4 | From: Corydon, KY, USA | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

rekuehn
Just Boarded
Member # 1500

posted 08-06-2000 12:18 PM

A Great Big YES to those that recommended the snorkeling with the rays. It is NOT to be missed. As someone said you can always snorkel over stuff in the ocean but NOWHERE can you snorkel with the number of rays in Grand Cayman. I loved it, used a 36 roll of film (underwater) camera (have it developed on ship for better quality) and can't wait to go back and do it again!

Posts: 3 | From: North Fort Myers FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Laura
First Class Passenger
Member # 924

posted 08-08-2000 09:05 PM

You should DEFINITELY snorkle with the sting rays! You will never, never, never forget it. It is truly amazing.

We actually did BOTH in Cayman very easily. We had scheduled our stingray city excursion in the afternoon, so we had all morning to go ashore and do our own thing. There is actually a wonderful snorkeling area just to the right of the pier where you can snorkle on your own. You can rent some gear (if you need to) right there on the beach and you walk right into the water, where the snorkeling was the best we've ever seen. We heard about this little place from one of the staff members on the ship. When you get off the pier, walk a little ways to your right. It's a little snorkle/dive shop right there on the edge of the beach. There are steps that take you into the water. (Free, of course!) It's actually pretty deep in parts. There are coral reefs everywhere. It was great! The visability was excellent, and saw more fish there than any other island.

We snorkeled for about an hour, then walked into some shops on the way back to the ship, had lunch, and then hopped on the bus to the stingray excursion.

You could easily do both if you want. Just schedule your stingray excursion either first thing in the morning or late afternoon. Then you'll have the rest of the day to explore a little, do some snorkeling, shopping, etc...

Posts: 114 | From: Ohio | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

jmfleser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1141

posted 08-22-2000 10:48 AM

Obviously you can sign up for the Sting Ray City tour on your ship but does anyone know if you can book it directly? If so, how. We've often done activites on our own that the shp offers for much, much less money.

Posts: 183 | From: Esperance, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 08-22-2000 11:19 AM

jmfleser: I don't know about booking it before hand, but know that when you get off of the ship there will be several people offering it. In my opinion this is a very safe island and to book onshore and go on your own is very safe on this island.
Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

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