Is bar service still limited to the pool bar while tendering in Grand Cayman?

[davekathy]

We have always like Grand Cayman including our March stop. It is a bummer there's very limited places you can get a drink when back on the ship. I guess gamblers feel the same about the casino being closed while in port. Any port. 

Edited June 2, 2023 by davekathy

[mrgabriel]

1 hour ago, miched said:

 I wish all cruise lines would boycott that place and schedule another port.  

 

 

A friend lives in GC full time. She has told me that many living there would love to see a permanent ban on cruise ships. 

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

I’d love to know what % of people actually remain on the ship/get off in GC. 

 

We stayed aboard and I would guess thee was at least 25% of the ship either stayed aboard or were back aboard during lunch.  

 

While many do go ashore they also seemed to be coming back rather early.

[Georgia_Peaches]

37 minutes ago, mrgabriel said:

She has told me that many living there would love to see a permanent ban on cruise ships. 

I’m sure it can be quite disruptive to the residents. In my mind, a ban would be a win-win but I know many cruisers are intentional about having GC in their itinerary for the snorkeling and scuba. I prefer to breathe above the water so I’m not one of them. 

[C4HCG]

2 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

From all reports in this thread, stocking up the day before doesn't seem to be a need as it was described when this changed first occurred.  To that end, I am encouraged.  

My husband says you should always stock up on beer in the cabin fridge as you never know 🍺🍺🍺😡

Edited June 2, 2023 by C4HCG

[davekathy]

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

I’m sure it can be quite disruptive to the residents. In my mind, a ban would be a win-win but I know many cruisers are intentional about having GC in their itinerary for the snorkeling and scuba. I prefer to breathe above the water so I’m not one of them. 

We no longer snorkel (we no longer go to the beaches no matter the port) and still enjoy our stops at GC. We would be disappointed if GC no longer excepted cruise ships. Now Belize, we can do without. 

Edited June 2, 2023 by davekathy

[davekathy]

2 hours ago, C4HCG said:

My husband says you should always stock up on beer in the cabin fridge as you never know 🍺🍺🍺😡

Your husband is a wise man. 🍻

[miched]

22 hours ago, mrgabriel said:

 

A friend lives in GC full time. She has told me that many living there would love to see a permanent ban on cruise ships. 

The residents in Key West also wanted a ban on cruise ships in Key West.   Other places are spending millions to develop dock areas to accommodate them. 
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[TeeRick]

On 6/2/2023 at 9:05 AM, Josie201 said:

We’re an extended fam of 14 on Beyond stopping in GC in November.  We sure get weird looks from first time cruisers when we try to explain this farce.  We have no plans to get off so the beer drinkers will stock up the day before.  We’ll take turns lining up if we need to.  

Planning is the key to cruising!

[CHEZMARYLOU]

After our first experience we now know to have a bottle of wine in our suite if we are in GC.

[cruisestitch]

Still happening in November 2023

[hcat]

On 6/1/2023 at 8:14 PM, dateacher said:

They wouldn't have to force people off ship to spend money if there was actually something to spend money on.

we don't get off at GC anymore

..tendering  there is sometimes a chore or bumpy,  the time diff is confusing,   traffic is congested, and stores are expensive.. many years ago we dubbed it the home of the $25 tee shirt  That would probably be a bargain now!

 

we were charged a  local sales tax when we  booked and dined at a Specialty Rest while overnight in Ssn Francisco...It was a bad surprise!

 

 

[horseymike]

On 6/2/2023 at 10:51 AM, mrgabriel said:

 

A friend lives in GC full time. She has told me that many living there would love to see a permanent ban on cruise ships. 

They can have their wish. The problem with all these places who want to ban cruise ships is they want the $$$$$$ , they just don’t want us ( The people. ) .

 I used to really like GC years ago , it seemed like it really went downhill during the COVID years and has not recovered. The last time I was there 1 year ago it seemed to me that they were really struggling to get the place shaped up again.

[Cruise a holic]

You cannot even get drinks in the suite lounge?  Crazy ruling- Celebrity should pass grand cayman.  If all the cruise lines don't stop at  this port, let's see what happens.

Edited November 16, 2023 by Cruise a holic

[cruisestitch]

Suite lounge isn’t selling drinks so its bar is open.  Same with getting mimosas at Elite breakfast.  No ticket, no sales, so they could serve alcohol.

[39august]

Suite lounge bar not open for any of the 3 times I have been to GC on Equinox. Big sign on the bar.

[cruisestitch]

Suite lounge bar is Open today and suite hosts were unaware of any reason not to be.  I wonder what has changed?

[kk20]

13 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

Still happening in November 2023

We’re onboard as well and the ovc bar is serving alcohol too

[39august]

That is interesting. Wonder why the change in Retreat? We will see in Jan. on EQ. What ships are you both on?

[cruisestitch]

Reflection

[mnocket]

On 6/1/2023 at 3:31 PM, Jim_Iain said:

They got around it by setting up an auxiliary bar  on the pool deck next to Ocean View.

It's not clear to me what difference an "auxiliary bar" makes when it comes to the GC law.  Maybe you're referring to getting around something else?

[Sandy1975]

How is the Elite breakfast handled? We'll be in Cayman in December and wanted to have our cofees and mimosas at the Elite Breakfast.  Is that also closed when in Cayman?

Edited November 17, 2023 by Sandy1975

[cruisestitch]

1 minute ago, Sandy1975 said:

How is the Elite breakfast handled? We'll be in Cayman in December and wanted to have our cofees and mimosas at the Elite Breakfast.  Is that also closed when in Cayman?

It was not closed and tge morning alcohol was being served.  Of course we weren’t in grand cayman yet then

[cruisestitch]

7 hours ago, mnocket said:

It's not clear to me what difference an "auxiliary bar" makes when it comes to the GC law.  Maybe you're referring to getting around something else?

I don’t know how they did it, but when you ordered a drink at the Oceanview café, it showed up on the record as being from the pool bar

[Jim_Iain]

When we were in GC the only bar open was the pool bar and the auxiliary bar outside by the OV.  It really tampered the earlier problems of only one bar and long lines.    They put on extra serves and waiter were taking drink orders inside the OV, on both the pool deck and the upper pool deck.  No lines and saw waiters walking by with everything from trays of drinks to Champagne Buckets filled with Ice (and a bottle of course)    No complaints and no lines.  

I'm sure that it was just a way around the regulations.    Similar to what often happens in places that have a Tax on all sales while in port.   They usually get around it by holding the transaction until the ship set sail.

 

Edited November 17, 2023 by Jim_Iain