Grand Cayman tours! Private company or ship tour?

[flippa]

Hey fellow cruisers. My girlfriend and I will be travelling all the way from Australia to cruise on Freedom of the seas. We want to go to stingray city and do some snorkling while we are in grand cayman. I have read that the tours that you book through RCCI have many passengers on the 1 tour boat, and the private tours have less people and is less frantic.

 

Can anyone give me their thoughts on this.

 

Also, what are some of the better private tour companies, and how do you book them? Do you need to pre-book them, or can you do it on the ship?

 

Cheers,

Flippa.

[sherin65]

you may want to post in the Grand Cayman forum and read some of the info there. We used nativeway twice and had a great time. Other tour compainies have also been well reviewed.

 

Sher

[boingy300]

We used Capt. Marvin privately and had a great time!

Karen

[GMoney]

www.captainmarvins.com

 

try to go in the morning. you may find fewer people and hungrier stingrays.

 

also be sure to buy a tour where you do stingray city and snorkel the coral gardens.

[vickiw0318]

I do not understand how tendering works for someone who books an early private tour. It seems like priority tendering is given to those who book the RCI tours. I had friends on my last Rhapsody cruise who had a private tour booked. To get on it, they had to be in the lounge before 7:00 a.m. to get off in a group that was actually a "pre-tender number" group. Anyway, I have always been concerned that if I booked an early private tour that there was the possibility that I couldn't get off the ship in time to make it there. Does anyone have any insight into this?

 

Also, I will have Diamond status the next time I cruise to Grand Cayman. Does any one know if RCI gives priority tendering to Diamond members?

[Cam6959]

I will be the lone voice saying I use the ships tours for Stingray City. I do the Cockatoo Catamaran and I love them used them both times. Small party of people all from your ship and they are the best! I have heard a lot of people talk about Nativeway and Capt Marvin's also so no matter what you decide to do you will have a blast! Good Hunting and have a great cruise!

[KarinaGW]

Grand Cayman is a docked port so you don't have to worry about tendering.

 

Following are my at-the-time-stream-of-consciousness-notes about GC:

 

Grand Cayman - Captain Marvin's ( http://www.captainmarvins.com ) tour was fantastic. There were about 30 people from Voyager, Carnivals' Victory and Inspiration. We went out on a cabin cruiser and it was so nice to just sit on the top of the front (can you tell I don't know from boats?) and watch the scenery and ocean pass (sun tan lotion is a must for this excursion). We took the 3 hour tour which stopped at

• The Water Gardens - eh. it was ...nice, but not terribly inspiring snorkeling.
  
• Sting Ray City - not at all like I imagined it, but quite cool. Got to pet and hold sting-rays. Got a super-hickey on my hand from being slightly off when feeding one a squid piece.
  
• The Barrier Reef - wowsers. I could spend the rest of my life snorkeling there. It was gorgeous
  

[GMoney]

Grand Cayman is a docked port so you don't have to worry about tendering.

 

 

I have never been on a cruise ship that docks in GC, nor have I ever seen any cruise ship dock there. All cruise ships anchor and tender.

[Sports Mama]

When did Grand Cayman become a docked port? When I went, which it has been a little while, it was tendered port and the last I had heard,it still is.

 

To the OP: I have used Native Way and loved them. I have found that using private tours instead of the ship tours is alot cheaper, in most cases. When we sailed the Rhapsody, I was there in the schooner lounge around 7 a.m. and received my passes and we were off the ship on the second or third tender. In fact, I don't think anybody missed the tour because of a tendering. I believe we could have waited a little later and had no problem at all (I was a little parnoid). These private tours realize that everyone has to tender in off of the ships and they wait a reasonable amount of time for everyone to get there. Not sure about the Diamond status getting priority on tendering? Wished I had that problem!!! :D

[Nanatravel]

Flippa, you do not book Private tours on the ship. You must make reservations before you leave home. Nativeway.com does a great job and does require a credit card to hold your space but the card is not charged before you sail. You can pay in cash as we have done. Tendering is a challenge and "everyone" tenders at Grand Cayman as there is no pier for ships to dock. You must go to the area that you ship assigns and get a tender ticket early. Although this may seem like a hassle, it really isn't.

 

Have a great cruise.

Bon Voyage

Nanatravel

[GMoney]

Georgetown doesn't even have a pier... :D

 

Diamond members generally do get priority tendering, but it varies by ship and by sailing. Some ships will issue tender tix, some won't. If yours does, then see the concierge for priority tender tix. If you are on a ship with no concierge, then try guest relations.

[familycruises]

Grand Cayman IS a tendered port. We have used Captain Marvin for stingray city and the difference was 20 people on a boat or 100+ on a boat. We got to the area at a different time and had it all to ourselves. If you do not mind paying more and being in a large group go through the ship. If you want a more personal experience book private. I HIGHLY recommend Captain Marvin's. We are chartering a fishing boat from them in December and cannot wait.

[KarinaGW]

I have never been on a cruise ship that docks in GC, nor have I ever seen any cruise ship dock there. All cruise ships anchor and tender.

 

Totally right. Major brain fart.:( Apologies to all.

[Sports Mama]

Totally right. Major brain fart.:( Apologies to all.

 

It's okay, just go have another cup of coffee!!:D

[noah10]

We always go through the ship for our excursions, just for the fact if anything goes wrong, they take care of it. We did do the stingrays in cayman (just two weeks ago)...and it was on a smaller boat, maybe 20 people...very awesome for us...we had three tour people with us 1 taking photos and two playing/holding the stingrays with us (one was the captain of the boat). I was concerned about the big numbers 9which we didn't have) and being rushed, but we spent 1 1/2 hours out there. We did the Stingray City ADVENTURE because I had kids (7&9) so that one was actually near/on the bar where you could stand all the time in 3-4 feet of water...and swim out a ways for as long as you want.

 

Also, if you run late on an excusion, if the ship booked you they will not leave you. We were 45 minutes late (supposed to be on at 5pm, boat leaves at 6pm...we got there by 545)...but it was tulum/xel-ha and our bus had problems (minor-A/C not cooling enough)...and I know they knew we were on our way. Rather safe than left behind. Worth the $$ difference. Also, if you miss or arrive late at port you can handle any changes right on board. No problem.

 

One word of caution, we did our excursions through the ship (registered online weeks ahead) and had planned on two one day-according to their scheduled times, but when we got on the boat our tickets read different times, so we had to cancel one. It is not 100% that your tours will be at the exact time listed online. Check you tickets when you get on!

 

Enjoy your trip!

[deltachi96]

We did Capt. Bryans tour a couple of weeks ago and by the looks of things, we had the best tour out there. He only will take about 20 people, spends more time with the stingrays than the other tours (there were boats anchoring and leaving while we were still out ther) and his crew is the best as well. They will hold the rays for you so you can hold them and he educates you about them. He also takes you to the reef to snorkle and brings out nurse sharks and moray eels!!! People who were on other tours tried to come over to ours to see what we were doing! I would not do many tours a second time but I would do his everytime!!!

[superjerryw]

Another vote for Captain Marvins.

[GeoBell]

We booked a private tour (I can't remember which one) it was one that we read about on these boards. We went to Stingray City and snorkeling off of a reef.

 

We missed our driver because we got off of the boat late. There was also another couple waiting that booked the same tour. We called and they came back to get us. There might have only been 10 (maybe 15) on our boat.

 

-Michelle

[KarinaGW]

Thanks to all these Grand Cayman posts that have been flurrying about lately, I've ben looking at my pictures from that trip and remembering how much I really loved that excursion. Almost makes me wish I wasn't on an Eastern Caribbean cruise in September. :o

[flippa]

Thanks everyone for their responses.

As I am travelling on freedom of the seas, we do not arrive in grand cayman until 9:00. Does anyone know what time you actually get off the boat, as most tours start at 9:00, therefore we would probably miss them!

 

Cheers,

Flippa.

[Son of a Cruiser]

I will be the lone voice saying I use the ships tours for Stingray City. I do the Cockatoo Catamaran and I love them used them both times. Small party of people all from your ship and they are the best! I have heard a lot of people talk about Nativeway and Capt Marvin's also so no matter what you decide to do you will have a blast! Good Hunting and have a great cruise!

 

I'll second that. Due to the tendering this is one place we usually book ships tour. We have done Cockatoo twice and the first time they held the ship since we were late, the second time we got we escorted to the first tender since it was an early tour. Cockatoo was great both times. For what it's worth DD did Capt Marvin last year, and while it was very good and she had a great time:) , she said she enjoyed the Cockatoo better:D .

[WECoyote]

Thanks everyone for their responses.

As I am travelling on freedom of the seas, we do not arrive in grand cayman until 9:00. Does anyone know what time you actually get off the boat, as most tours start at 9:00, therefore we would probably miss them!

 

Cheers,

Flippa.

 

All of the local excursion companies live and die off of the business they get off the ships. Yes, they have scheduled tours, but believe me they are flexible to accommodate the people off the ships. For example, Capt. Marvin states a 1030 start time for his half day excursion. If you book thru him, they will wait until they have the majority of people that are booked on shore. With that said, you need to make every effort to be one of the first off the ship. I am not sure how the Freedom will work, but usually you can contact the purser's desk to find out what the disembarking procedures are for the tenders. Be ready early, and enjoy. I know I am using Capt Marvin on 18 Oct 06 (assuming we anchor there, Capt Marvin {who prefers cash} will refund all of your deposit if you bypass the Grand Caymans).

[skiiergirl]

I'll second that. Due to the tendering this is one place we usually book ships tour. We have done Cockatoo twice and the first time they held the ship since we were late, the second time we got we escorted to the first tender since it was an early tour. Cockatoo was great both times. For what it's worth DD did Capt Marvin last year, and while it was very good and she had a great time:) , she said she enjoyed the Cockatoo better:D .

 

Please tell me more (anything and everything you can think of) about Cockatoo. Thanks!

[Son of a Cruiser]

Please tell me more (anything and everything you can think of) about Cockatoo. Thanks!

 

OK - you asked for it!!

 

Cockatoo is a catamaran (you are bussed from the tender pier to the marina). Depending on the wind, you may have to motor to the sand bar (about 20 minutes) or if you're lucky you will sail. You can sit in the rear on seating or lay out on the mat up front (my preference:D) On the trip out you are intructed on how interact with the stingrays and how to keep you and THEM safe (no shoes or jewerly allowed) Once at the sand bar the crew gets out with you and makes sure everyone is comfortable and gets acquaited witht he stingrays. Squid is provided as part of the tour and placed in a floating bait bucket in the middle of the group (the smell helps attract the stingrays) You are welcome to get more squid and feed the stingrays as long as your are there. (Note: it has been a couple years since our last trip and I saw a thread about operators are being asked to limit the food as the rays are becoming unhealthy due to overfeeding:eek:, so don't know for sure if this is still how the squid is handled) Crew both times was very attentive - really went out of their way to make sure all had a good time. They'll teach you the "stingray shuffle" (how to hold them) and how to "kiss a stingray:D" This is not the 100+ person tour, I'm estimating 30 to 40 people. Video is taken and available for purchase and they get the video to the ship before sailing (even the time they held the last tender for us). The cockatoo is not a luxury boat, no bar or air conditioning, but its comfortable and a lot of fun.

 

Any questions?:D

[skiiergirl]

OK - you asked for it!!

 

Cockatoo is a catamaran (you are bussed from the tender pier to the marina). Depending on the wind, you may have to motor to the sand bar (about 20 minutes) or if you're lucky you will sail. You can sit in the rear on seating or lay out on the mat up front (my preference:D) On the trip out you are intructed on how interact with the stingrays and how to keep you and THEM safe (no shoes or jewerly allowed) Once at the sand bar the crew gets out with you and makes sure everyone is comfortable and gets acquaited witht he stingrays. Squid is provided as part of the tour and placed in a floating bait bucket in the middle of the group (the smell helps attract the stingrays) You are welcome to get more squid and feed the stingrays as long as your are there. (Note: it has been a couple years since our last trip and I saw a thread about operators are being asked to limit the food as the rays are becoming unhealthy due to overfeeding:eek:, so don't know for sure if this is still how the squid is handled) Crew both times was very attentive - really went out of their way to make sure all had a good time. They'll teach you the "stingray shuffle" (how to hold them) and how to "kiss a stingray:D" This is not the 100+ person tour, I'm estimating 30 to 40 people. Video is taken and available for purchase and they get the video to the ship before sailing (even the time they held the last tender for us). The cockatoo is not a luxury boat, no bar or air conditioning, but its comfortable and a lot of fun.

 

Any questions?:D

 

thanks so much! How is it getting "off" and "on" the cat while at the stingrays. what "type" ladder do they have? no bar and no a/c are ok with us. do they provide any kind of beverages (soda, bottled water, etc.) or do we need to take our own (and are we allowed to take our own i.e. bottled water)? is it all "open" or any "shaded" area of the boat? thanks so much!