Enjoyed Stingray/Snorkel with Soto's on 9/1/04

[cantwait2cruise]

Here's an excerpt from my Sensation review regarding Soto's:

 

Ports

 

Grand Cayman

 

My sister and I booked the stingray/snorkel tour prior to our cruise online with Soto’s. Easy communication with them via email. Once we tendered, it was a short walk to where their van was parked. It was about a ten minute drive to the waterway where we got on the boat. We checked in and got snorkel equipment. I’m not sure how to describe the boat. I guess it was kind of like a larger version of a pontoon boat. There were several crew members and then about 20 to 25 passengers. We sped across the water for about 10 minutes. We then stopped and snorkeled some at two different spots. The water was pretty choppy so the snorkeling wasn’t that great. We then went to the stingray sandbar. It’s just in the middle of the ocean but you can stand up. The water is a about waist high. I enjoyed interacting with the stingrays. It’s a little scary at first but then you realize they won’t hurt you. My sister got a little freaked out when the guy from Soto’s was kind of putting the stingrays on people, so she wouldn’t come near them.

 

The boat has coolers with water and lemonade. There is also a underwater videographer that swims with everyone. You can buy a VHS or DVD of the trip. We did the tour from 9 to noon (which is 10 to 1 ship time since G.C. does not observe daylight savings time). I’m not sure what time they dropped us off at the pier but we were able to shop for a few minutes. The last tender leaves at 1:15 but the line was really long, so we just walked around a few more minutes. I would definitely recommend the tour with Soto’s; for $24.00 per person it is a much better deal than the ship’s excursion.

[lauren0309]

When I last corresponded with Soto's they told me their prices are going up. I dont know how much but I'm going in February and he said he can't give me a confirmation yet because the prices will be changing.

[cruisinqt]

Thanks for the review. I'm also booked with Soto's for this November.:) I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself. Is the water and lemonade you mentioned free or is there a charge for it?

[Sunwind]

I´have booked SOTOS - planned tour October 11 - Price ist still 24$

payable in cash.

[touche]

Hate to put in a negative word but we just returned from a tour with Soto's. Their price is good, but the trip is definitely no frills. The boat was nice, but we stopped next to a Capt. Marvins boat and it looked a lot nicer. The lifevests Soto's uses are the bulky orange things. Capt Marvins had on the yellow flatter style which seemed better for moving. My wife never did get the mask to fit right and they weren't helpful with that problem when we were boarding the boat. In contrast, when renting equipment in Chankanaab park in Cozumel, the guy saw that the first mask didn't fit her right and tried a couple more before finding one that fit better. Ester was the one taking pictures and she was the most friendly of any of the crew. When one group complained about being worried about missing their ship, the guy in charge of the boat (can't remember if it was Randy or Billy) was swimming in the water and told her not to worry, they never leave anyone behind.

 

Next time I'm in Caymen, I think I'll pay a little more and go Capt Marvins. They seemed to have about the same amount of people (30) and looked like a nicer setup. The cruiseship tours are packed with 50+ people and definitely aren't the way to go.

 

I'm sure everyone sees things differently and there was another couple on the boat from CruiseCritic who talked to Ester. Maybe they have a different take on it.

 

One last thing, make sure you bring extra cash, the pictures are well worth it but $25-50 extra. We purchased the $50 package (all the pictures of your group) and were glad we had brought some extra money with us.

[cantwait2cruise]

touche,

 

Someone was taking pictures??? We had a guy the was filming underwater and then you could purchase the VHS or DVD (you could give a CC number), but no one was taking pictures. I didn't have any problems with any of my equipment and didn't use a life vest, so I can't comment on that. The water was so choppy though that I prob. needed a life vest. The only negative I can say about the crew was that one of the guys in the water freaked my sister out with the way he was putting the stingrays on people, so she wouldn't come over and touch them with me. But all in all it's something you should do at least once in G.C. and I think it was definitely worth $24.

[cantwait2cruise]

Thanks for the review. I'm also booked with Soto's for this November.:) I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself. Is the water and lemonade you mentioned free or is there a charge for it?

 

free, you just help yourself to it.

[touche]

Nope, no video here. The boat was called the Sea Hunt.

All we had was one woman (Ester) in the water with a Nikon digital

camera in a waterproof setup. She was snapping pictures of everyone

touching/kissing/etc with the stingrays. She mentioned that she was

different from Soto's and rides with them and sells the pictures she takes.

If you want a video, I would suggest making sure Soto's will have one

on board.

 

The guy in charge (Randy/Billy) was doing the same thing, ie, putting the

stingrays on people who weren't expecting it. A few people were screaming,

and a teenage girl ran from the water. I got the feeling that he enjoyed

scaring the women by putting a stingray on their backs when they weren't

expecting it.

 

When the feeding started, my wife become frightened at all the rays and I

had to escort her back to the boat. There were about 5 women on the boat

at that time.

 

They did deliver what they promised, but I guess I didn't feel like the crew

cared about the passengers. Maybe he was having a bad day.

 

What I failed to mention earlier was that we arrived at the pickup spot and

there were 4 people that never showed up. The ones that did show up were

all sweating there and the driver was hesitant to leave. A couple people told

him that we needed to get in the A/C van and leave because is was so hot.

He didn't seem in the best of moods after that. This is the same guy who

drove the boat out. He never introduced himself so I'm assuming he was

Randy or Billy as the e-mail I received said one of them would meet us.

 

Again, it was cheap, they took you where they said, but if I had to choose

over, I would pick another tour operator. Just my personal opinion.

[cantwait2cruise]

Well I would have preferred a setup with still pictures. A video of the trip is just not something I would watch in the future. But I would like pictures for an album. The video guy was also from a separate company, not Soto's. I guess if someone wants one or the other they may need to investigate further as to which company is going out with them on a particular day.

 

When we walked up to the van there were two people in it and the van was running with the AC. So we just got in and relaxed for a few minutes.

 

Who knows...it's just like anything. One day can be good, another bad. Same thing with cruises from sailing to sailing or some people can even be on the same sailing and have two different experiences.

[aggieastrosfan]

Has anyone heard how Soto's fared this weekend? I have them booked the first week in December.

 

Even if I don't get to do the stingrays, I sure hope we get to visit. Not just to see the island (never been), but to have an opportunity to spend some money and help the economy there. The pictures are devastating.