Very short visit, what to do?

[Cruisa Loosa]

We will be in Grand Cayman in early December for a short time, from 8:00 to 1:00.

Is there a beach within walking distance of the port where we could do some swimming and snorkeling for the morning?

Or should we just plan on walking around the town and go back to the ship as it is such a short stop?

Thanks!

[maldenmusic]

I think 7 Mile Beach is fairly close to the port.

[Capt_BJ]

7 Mile IS close, you can walk or taxi or bus

 

if you want to snorkel EDEN ROCK dive center is closer than even 7 Mile, less than 10 minute walk from the tender landings ... if you have equipment there is no charge to hop in. If you need equipment the shop is 'right there' and a set will run about $14. Be warned tho this is 'big boy pants' snorkeling, the water can be 40' deep ... NO STANDING .. and no beach but there is a ladder to get in/out. They rent lockers fro a small fee. http://www.edenrockdive.com/snorkeling.html

 

p.s. IMO in Cayman you either go to the beach and get sand ... or you snorkel. These two events happen at different parts of the island. On 7 Mile, if you snorkel you might see a few fish but what you WILL see is sand sand and more sand. If you go to a place like ER, there is no sand beach as this area (south of the tender landings and 7M beach) is 'iron shore', so called because the coral runs right up to where it is exposed and out of the water ... so when you get wet the reef is 'right there'

 

iron shore at Sunset House ... this picture is from Sunset House looking towards town .... Eden Rock is near where the ship on the right is parked ... this was taken on a blustery day in March while the ships were having some difficulty getting everyone back aboard from the tenders ...

Edited October 30, 2016 by Capt_BJ

[cb at sea]

Hop on the bus...go to Seagrape Beach...and have 2 hours there. Traffic returning to the ship can get slow...so keep an eye on the road...you can see the road from the beach! There is no good snorkeling close to the ship.

 

For this short amount of time, it's almost a wasted day...there is shopping right across from the tender dock.

[bookbabe]

Hop on the bus...go to Seagrape Beach...and have 2 hours there. Traffic returning to the ship can get slow...so keep an eye on the road...you can see the road from the beach! There is no good snorkeling close to the ship.

 

For this short amount of time, it's almost a wasted day...there is shopping right across from the tender dock.

 

 

Why do you insist on giving out incorrect information? I know you probably mean well, but you confuse people and it isn't helpful.

 

As Capt BJ says above, there is great snorkeling very close to the ship, at Eden Rock.

 

There is also not bad snorkeling at Smith Cove, about 15-20 minutes or so walk (or a short taxi ride) past Eden Rock in the opposite direction as Seven Mile Beach.

Edited October 31, 2016 by bookbabe

[Cruisa Loosa]

7 Mile IS close, you can walk or taxi or bus

 

if you want to snorkel EDEN ROCK dive center is closer than even 7 Mile, less than 10 minute walk from the tender landings ... if you have equipment there is no charge to hop in. If you need equipment the shop is 'right there' and a set will run about $14. Be warned tho this is 'big boy pants' snorkeling, the water can be 40' deep ... NO STANDING .. and no beach but there is a ladder to get in/out. They rent lockers fro a small fee. http://www.edenrockdive.com/snorkeling.html

 

p.s. IMO in Cayman you either go to the beach and get sand ... or you snorkel. These two events happen at different parts of the island. On 7 Mile, if you snorkel you might see a few fish but what you WILL see is sand sand and more sand. If you go to a place like ER, there is no sand beach as this area (south of the tender landings and 7M beach) is 'iron shore', so called because the coral runs right up to where it is exposed and out of the water ... so when you get wet the reef is 'right there'

 

iron shore at Sunset House ... this picture is from Sunset House looking towards town .... Eden Rock is near where the ship on the right is parked ... this was taken on a blustery day in March while the ships were having some difficulty getting everyone back aboard from the tenders ...

 

Thank you so much for the very useful and detailed response! Just what I was looking for. I had seen reference to Eden Rock elsewhere on CC, so happy to hear it is good snorkeling. We have snorkelied in deep water off of rocks in other parts of the world, so that does not bother us. The proximity to the port is the best part! We can walk over in early morning and snorkel for a couple of hours and still have time to walk around the town a bit before the ship leaves. I am surprised at such a short stop at the port, but better than nothing I guess.

Thanks again. And happy sailing in the future!

[Cruisa Loosa]

Why do you insist on giving out incorrect information? I know you probably mean well, but you confuse people and it isn't helpful.

 

As Capt BJ says above, there is great snorkeling very close to the ship, at Eden Rock.

 

There is also not bad snorkeling at Smith Cove, about 15-20 minutes or so walk (or a short taxi ride) past Eden Rock in the opposite direction as Seven Mile Beach.

 

Thanks for the info, much appreciated!

[Cruisa Loosa]

Hop on the bus...go to Seagrape Beach...and have 2 hours there. Traffic returning to the ship can get slow...so keep an eye on the road...you can see the road from the beach! There is no good snorkeling close to the ship.

 

For this short amount of time, it's almost a wasted day...there is shopping right across from the tender dock.

 

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated.

[OCruisers]

Even if you don't normally take excursions offered by the ship, a very short port stop is a good time to consider doing so especially when tendering.

No worries about getting back to the ship in time. :)

[Capt_BJ]

a little more perspective .... compare to my earlier pictures ... this was taken about an hour earlier from the same place .... the blue and white ship is the same one. Just ahead of the bow of this ship you see a smaller boat. That's a dive boat picking up divers who've been on Eden Rock/Devil's Grotto site ....

 

 

{this also shows how fast the tender conditions can change .... that's the same CARN ship too ... in the later shot it was moving around trying to get the folks back aboard from the tenders. TO do this they were turning the ship trying to shield the wind and waves ... what sailors call 'providing a lee' .....}

Edited November 2, 2016 by Capt_BJ