Cruise Talk: Stingray City Grand Cayman

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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Stingray City Grand Cayman

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Topic: Stingray City Grand Cayman

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 03-25-2001 08:15 PM

I have read about this tour on the board many times, it sounded like fun so we decided to go on the tour when we cruised during March Break 2001. Well to say the tour is fun is a major understatement. It is awesome. If you are going to Grand Cayman you must must must go to Stingray City. As the guide on the tour said before we got to the area " I love to watch the grown men scream and yell and try to get back out off the water" he was right but it is an amazing experience. I swear if I never do anything else it will always be the highlight of our trip.

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Italian Cruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1684

posted 03-27-2001 05:10 AM

With no doubt this is the best excursion offered in Grand Cayman.It's simply a wonderful experience to take a swimn wit the mantas and if you'll try you'll have much fun.During your tour you will stop also at the fascinating Hell to send a special postcard and at the Turtle Farme to take a photo with this nice animals.Don't miss also the exquisite "Pirates'Rum Cake",simply delicious to taste.

Posts: 887 | From: Orvieto (Italy) | Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

Angie
Just Boarded
Member # 1805

posted 04-02-2001 04:15 PM

I just got back on a Princess cruise to the Caymen Islands. We also took the Stingray snorkle boat tour. IT WAS GREAT!!! My husband and I fed the stingrays. It was so much fun. The water was crystal clear. You are standing on a sandbar in the ocean. The stingrays would (Vacume suck) the squid from our hands. We were given plenty food (squid) to feed them...We got the computer disk of a picture of us holding one with the guide. It was amazing to watch so many (100's) of stingray swimming all around you. Just be careful not to step on any. Then they may sting if they are stepped on. The guide tells everyone to shuffle their feet constantly--so not to step on one. Everyone must do this (old and yound were there)..They give you life jackets you must wear and you're standing in about 3 to 4 ft of water...

Amgie

Posts: 6 | From: Aurora, Colorado | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 04-06-2001 05:37 PM

Just got back from there myself. Personally, the stingrays are very interesting, but for me, too many people. People running into me everywhere I went. I would never do this again unless I went on a small private boat.

I had some lady who I didn't know, throw her arms around me in fear.

I thought the sand bar where they lived was very interesting.

I only wish they didn't overbook the stupid tour boat. I don't like crowded tours with a lot of people.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 04-06-2001 06:27 PM

Ascendancy

I am speechless. What did you expect on a tour boat that is booked by a cruise line with how many people???????? I would love to hear someone else respond to this.(while I bite my tongue) :=)

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

M.S.Grumple
First Class Passenger
Member # 1340

posted 04-07-2001 10:14 AM

I agree with you 'hooked on cruising'!

Don't suppose the others on the tour boat were that thrilled to have Ascendancy with them either with an attitude like that.

The stingray experience was for me the highlight of that particular cruise - best thing about Grand Cayman as far as I'm concerned.

Posts: 280 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 04-07-2001 10:39 AM

To avoid this problem, why not announce that either the Queen of England or George W is coming.

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 04-07-2001 11:06 AM

THanks for the laugh Topgun. I am curious about one thing Ascendancy, what ship were you on?? Did you think they should book a tour just for you and the Stingray. The fear and closeness of the people just added to our fun, it's too bad you didn't enjoy it. Did you announce your arrival? maybe they would have cleared the sandbar and asked the other paying guests to wait while you had your own private swim with the Stingray.

Oops I just let go of my tongue

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 04-07-2001 01:22 PM

MS Grumple, I guess I wouldn't want to go with you on the Stingray tour either. Stay far away from me please!
Hooked on Cruising, I have booked many tours on a cruise ships. Most don't have people elbow to elbow in the ocean. What kind of a comment was that anyway?

Let me rephrase what I said; I thought the stingrays and the sand bar were interesting.
But I will never truly enjoy anything where I have people grappling, snorkelers running into me, shouting and screaming in my ear.
You enjoy it, knock yourself out.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

M.S.Grumple
First Class Passenger
Member # 1340

posted 04-07-2001 04:56 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ascendancy:
[B]MS Grumple, I guess I wouldn't want to go with you on the Stingray tour either. Stay far away from me please!

Oh no! I'm shattered!

Posts: 280 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

other paul
First Class Passenger
Member # 1790

posted 04-07-2001 06:15 PM

We didn't like all the people either that were on the ships tour. So the second time we were in Grand Cayman we booked a tour through Captain Marvin. There were six of us on that tour and it was fantastic. He also took us to 2 other spots for snorkling. We saw a nurse shark and a moray eel close up. Highly recommend doing it this way. BTW as we were leaving Stingray city a boat with perhaps 100 people was about to pull up. Scary.

Other Paul

Posts: 11 | From: Southwest Florida | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 04-07-2001 06:18 PM

Ascendancy, which comment are you talking about? Also you didn't answer my question, which ship were you on???

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 04-07-2001 11:01 PM

Hmmm, let me think this one through. You book a cruise on a ship that has perhaps 1500 to 2500 folks on board, you arrive at Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island, there are perhaps three tours of interest to all on board. And you were surprised about the number of people that booked this tour?
Amazing!!

Fairtheewell.

Peter

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

hhornblower
First Class Passenger
Member # 1047

posted 04-08-2001 12:15 AM

I can sympathize and agree with Ascendency. Luckily, when I went to Stingray City, I took a tour with either Captain Marvin or another similar company . There were only 8 people on the boat. Not only did we go to two other fantastic snorkle sites, but the captain moored us away from the cruise ship crowds. Had a fantastic time. Whenever I can, I try to book snorkle tours on my own. When I go with the ships tours, there are so many people that I usually end up getting kicked by a fin or the children on the tour are chasing away the reef fish.
Although people forget, Stingray City is frequented by WILD stingrays. I know this is a popular tour, but maybe we should be concerned if large crowds are allowed to go. It may be only a matter of time before the eco-system is damaged, or , due to the number of people there, someone steps on a ray and is injured.

Posts: 84 | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 04-08-2001 09:05 AM

Hooked on cruising, you seem to stir up the pot every time you go away.

Concerning Ascendancy's ship, I believe that he/she was on a Celebrity vessel, but I'm not sure.

As to this bit about crowding of ports and facilities. It is bad and getting worse.

Envy those of us who tootled around the Caribbean in the early eighties on 20-30,000 tonners. The experience was relatively exclusive, relaxing and uncrowded.

The cruise industry has become a mass market and allows many the pleasure of vacations that they might never have dreamed of.

Its popularity has without question introduced some low life that I would never assosciate with at other times.

To the point, I believe that we have the choice of becoming "pompous asses" complaining about the new style cruising with the "cram em in" philosophy, or alternateively select the smaller and more intimate lines.Kids, lets get them aboard in the hundreds.

Bitching about the crowding is not a real option, just avoid them if it bothers you.There are other types of vacations that offer as much pleasure.

By the way, in retrospect, what would be your preference between Fascination and Bolero?

[This message has been edited by topgun (edited 04-08-2001).]

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 04-08-2001 08:01 PM

I was on the Vision of the Seas.
Incidently, this is a great ship and we had a fantastic time, minus the snorkling with the stingrays and many pompous asses.

I was looking forward to this excursion based on what everyone here was saying about this tour. I'm entitled to my opinion now that I've gone, like it or not.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 04-09-2001 11:18 PM

Ascendancy you are right, you are entitled to your opinion. I'm glad you shared your views with us. The idea of getting a little boat of 8 sounds wonderful to me. Topgun you are also right I do stir the pot a little, Don't I :=) It makes the board more interesting, don't you think??? I enjoyed the Sensation but my husband and I both agree that if we could put our beautiful cabin from the Sensation and put it on the Bolero, the bolero would win hands down. I think we like the smaller ship.

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 04-10-2001 06:23 AM

However after it is all said and done. It has been mentioned many times on this board and in a variety of posts that cruise ship tours are over booked, to the point of ridiculous at times.
We are going to stingray city next cruise and probably with the ships tour, I accept the fact that it will be crowded. I'm going on a ship with over 2000 other pax. What else should I expect.
Now if it was a tour of a raw sewage plant, I would suspect that it would not be over crowded, but seeing as it is a tour offered by the cruise ship it would probably still be full and I'm sure that some folks would come back and say they want their money back because they didn't see enough S**T or because all they saw was S**T on the tour.

All barbs aside, I can appreciate your view ascendency but I guess it comes down to buyer beware.

Lets face it though, the same crowd mentality applies when the cruise director says that this or that shop are great places to go, bear in mind that when you shop at those places, they are paying the cruise companies to be listed. You can almost always find better buys at some of the non-listed businesses. Those that won't or can't pay the vigarish that the cruise companies might want to extract as their pound of flesh for the shop listing.

Again, buyer beware. Know your merchandise or pay the extra and go with someone that the cruise line recommends.

Happycruisin'

Peter

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 04-13-2001 03:29 PM

One thing everyone seems to be overlooking is that it is not just the tours from the Vision of the Seas it is tours from every other ship in port at the same time. Ships tours are overcrowded and maybe necessary in some areas or ports but, sting ray city is not one of them I would get my tour off of the island very friendly and safe Island. Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

hhornblower
First Class Passenger
Member # 1047

posted 04-14-2001 04:20 PM

Ships tours are convenient for people who have never been to a port and they take the guesswork out of figuring out what to do while in port. Plus you won't get left behind if your tour runs late. But for every convenience, there is a sacrafice.

I only go on ships tours when I am traveling with friends who are not as "adventuresome" as I am. When I cruise alone, I almost never book a ships tour - I do tons of research and take into consideration the safety of the island/port.
I hope the majority of still take ship shore excursions - that insures that I will not have crowds at the places I visit in port!!!
Ascendency, next time you go to Grand Caymen, book with an independent company. You will have a far better time.
As for Stingray City, I just hope this very special place does not become the next Yosemite Valley - crowded and polluted.

Posts: 84 | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 04-14-2001 05:30 PM

Yesterday I had an e-mail from the Maasdam (no not from Joe - my friend hasn't met him yet) and this past week there were 6 ships in Cozumel, 5 Grand Cayman, 4 Ocho Rios and today they were going to be in Half Moon Cay with another HAL ship. Crowded - I think so. Not like the good old days, when you had no more than 2 ships in any of these ports. I don't think these islands are big enough for all these extra thousands of people - where's it all going to end! Soon it won't be pleasant going into any of these ports. They will all become like St. Thomas.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

hhornblower
First Class Passenger
Member # 1047

posted 04-15-2001 09:46 AM

You are right Sympatico. That is one of the advantages of cruising in the summer. Most of the cruise lines pull their ships out and it leaves fewer ships in port. Still, if a ship like the Voyager is in port with 1 or 2 other megaliners....its more like vacationing in NYC.

Posts: 84 | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

jmfleser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1141

posted 04-24-2001 09:47 AM

We lucked out at Sting Ray City last week, it was "relativly" uncrowded. There was only one other ship in port that day, I think it was the Veedamn.

You have to remember even if you don't take the ship's tour but go on your own, you're still going to meet up with the same people your ship eventually... and the people from all the other ships in port as well as those folks on land based tours. You have to take into account where you're going. If you're gong to a little sand bar 6 miles out in the ocean you have to figure there's not going to be a ton of room. You either accept that fact or don't do the touristy things. One woman near us started floundering around and screeching. I yelled over to her to STAND UP! When she remembered that she could stand she was fine and we all laughed. One's attitude goes a long way in your enjoyment or distaste of a situation. Yep, I got bumped, elbowed and had a flipper in my face so I just moved over. I always try to remember, relax and enjoy, you're on vacation. It can definately help a trying situation.

Joan

Posts: 183 | From: Esperance, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

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