Freedom of the Sea in Aug.

[boocicle]

Here is the deal...

 

It will be me, wife, mother, and 3 yr old Daughter.

Wife is 5 months away from giving birth to our second.

Mom's first cruise.

Daughters second but she is only 3.

Wife loves the beach but Mom is not a big beach person.

 

We are looking for something that might work for all of us. I guess a cultural type excursion would be the best followed by a short stay at the beach.

 

We have been to Grand Cayman twice before and have just snorkeled both times. We have not tried the Stingray excursion but we would like to try it.

 

Do you guys think our 3 yr old would be "freaked out" by the stingrays? Could she even stand up in the water?

 

I have been to Seven Mile Beach before and I think we will try this again for a few hours. Unless the CC members have a better suggestion.

 

Any thoughts on this would be great. I am sure someone has asked this question before so if so...sorry.

[bookbabe]

The 3yo would probably be too short to stand on her own. The main areas of Stingray City are hip to chest deep on an average-sized adult. However, she'd probably manage fine with a life vest and help from the adults, provided she's comfortable in the water.

 

As for being "freaked out" by the stingrays, only you can tell that. Is she normally comfortable around strange animals and new situations? Does she get freaked out easily by sudden movements of enthusiastic animals looking for pats and snacks? Has she ever been to a petting zoo? If so, how'd she handle that?

 

Standing at Stingray City holding a piece of squid is much like standing in the middle of the deer pen at the local petting zoo holding a cone of treats...complete with getting mobbed and/or bowled over accidentally sometimes. :D Stingrays will swim by, looking for squid, nose about, flap enthusiastically, etc. and then swim away when the squid is gone.

 

She could avoid much of the stingray "direct contact" by sitting up on your shoulders, and by staying away from the squid and the squid bucket. The stingrays will pretty much ignore you if you don't have any snacks for them.

 

I've seen some small children love Stingray City and not want to leave, and I've seen others crying and screaming to get back on the boat. Then again, I've seen adults react both those ways as well. :D It really depends on the individual, and how comfortable they are in the water and around strange animals.