Jamaica, Grand Cayman & Holland America

[jeaniebean]

Hi-

My family and I are scheduled for a western carribean cruise with Holland America soon. Although I've been on Princess many times doing the WCarribean, we will be stopping at different ports on this cruise.

I've done a search reguarding Jamaica,and concerned about getting off the ship there. Should we? If we take a private tour, would that be better? Any suggestions?

 

Also, and info on 7 mile beach and Holiday Inn in Grand Cayman would be appreciated. Is there a fee? I will be searching for info on that as well. I heard that Paradise Beach was wiped out from the hurricanes.

 

Is there any shallow swimming with the stingrays anywhere?

 

Last time I was in Cuzamel I wasn't too impressed with the shopping, and my credit card number got ripped off and used before I got home. I've been there twice so thinking of sitting that one out as well.

 

Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

Jeannibean

[garydm]

Last year we were on Statendam and stopped in Jamaica. We were very glad we had booked a private guide. We used Carolyn Barrett. I think you can google the name and find her website. I thought it was a bit pricey for what was provided, given we were a group of six. But, she will pick you up at the pier and get you back safely.

 

Gary

[lougee1043]

Hi-

.

I've done a search reguarding Jamaica,and concerned about getting off the ship there. Should we? If we take a private tour, would that be better? Any suggestions?

 

i will say that the vendors are quite aggressive in jamaica-- you could get around either way-----dunns falls gets a lot of attention -- imo you would want to do this privately before it gets really crowded with the tours from the ships

also an enjoyable river ride on a bamboo raft is martha brae -- we did this thru the cruise line as a last minute thing

 

Also, Grand Cayman would be appreciated.

Is there any shallow swimming with the stingrays anywhere?

 

we booked this on our own with captainmarvin -- you first stop for some snorkeling and if you dont want to do that you can just sun yourself on the boat ---then they go to the reef where the stingrays are --- waist deep for an adult--lots of fun

 

Last time I was in Cuzamel I wasn't too impressed with the shopping, and my credit card number got ripped off and used before I got home. /quote]

 

sorry about that but the way things are going these days it could happen in your own town --hope you have got that squared away by now

[Krazy Kruizers]

If your port stop in Jamaica is Ocho Rios - be forwarned - you will not be docked at the main pier. On all of our HAL cruises we have always been docked at the Reynold's Pier - the old freight pier. You can walk to the Island Village - you will be pestered by the natives but we didn't let them bother us. There are shops there and Jimmy Buffet's - go there early to get a rable by the wall at the pool so that you can see the ocean watch everyhting. It gets crowded early.

[airlink diva]

With your stop in Jamaica, I suggest that you go under the Jamaica board and book a private tour guide. You will notice several great suggestions on tour guide (I used Phil Lafayette in the past and friends have used Marva Shaw both are great!!). They will meet you in an area right off the dock and escort you to the various popular stops. You can go outside the area and make you own arrangements, but I would not reccomend it.

Sadly, the vendors are very aggressive, but if you are firm about you no, you can handle it (I'm a primary solo traveler).

The same goes for Caymans, look on the board for a tour. Unlike Jamaica, the people are not pushy about their offerings. Unlike Jamaica, you can offer find a great deal once you are off the boat.

My only negitive item is the tendering at Caymans. When I went last November, there were 9 ships in that day and it took forever to tender in and out. The last tender was 3:30 p.m., but at that time the line for returning to ship was a very loooong one and people were still boarding at 4:30 p.m. If I ever visit the Caymans, I will not get off the boat.

But in closing, I love HAL and there ships and you will have a great time.

Use this website to it's fullest. Because of cruisecritic, my cruises were enhance!!

[Islandbuoy]

we were there last week and people by the hundreds taking the minibusses to 7 mile. I believe the Holiday Inn has changed names and many of the trees are gone. I heard that the beach was quite crowded, we were on the Ryndam, but Costa Magica and RC Brilliance were in town and had lots of passengers, can't imagine how crowded with 12 ships?

[lougee1043]

My only negitive item is the tendering at Caymans.

quote]

 

tru e for us too- last march on celebrity there were a bunch of ships anchored --- the sea was a llittle choppy which also slowed things up a lot-- celebrity finally hired a big tender boat to get more people on board and that was still a bit tricky ---especially the step from the tender to the ship-------------------we were on line waiting for the tender for well over an hour & 1/2 in the hot sun ---my b/w went shopping in the a/c mall across from the line while i worked on my tan

[moricoman]

We've used Jamaica Cruise Excursions and were quite pleased. If you talk to them on the live help they offer on the site, they will explain your port times and ship arrival info so they will recommend tours that work for you or that don't.