Lenny970 Posted January 22, 2005 #26 Share Posted January 22, 2005 After reading through a countless number of posts here, I decided to book with Captain Bryan. It turns out that they were already fully booked for the day that I'll be there, and they suggested the Buccaneer, which seems to be through the same company. The timing of the Buccaneer actually works out better for us, since we won't be as rushed to get off the ship. It was a few dollars more than Captain Bryans, but not a big deal so I booked it. Lenny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rperksp Posted January 22, 2005 #27 Share Posted January 22, 2005 Most of the ship tours were cancelled the day we went because of rough seas. We booked separately through Sotos at $28.00 per person. Our tour proceeded as normal, and the boat was not crowded at all. The operators were very pleasant and helpful. The one diver with us knew exactly were to go while snorkeling, and enticed a nurse shark to come out of his cave. The diver then petted the head of the nurse shark. The stay at Stingray sand bar was fantastic, with much interaction with the rays. Would highly reommend Sotos--definitely one of the highlights of our cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creempuff0530 Posted January 23, 2005 Author #28 Share Posted January 23, 2005 Thanks to everyone for their input. I have decided to go with Soto's-everyone who used them seemed satisfied, the price is right($30), and their excursion time seemed to fit in best with my plans. It's 1030-1230, which means I don't have to worry about rushing off of the ship and I will still have time to go to seven mile beach afterwards since my ship doesn't leave port until 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted January 23, 2005 #29 Share Posted January 23, 2005 Thanks to everyone for their input. I have decided to go with Soto's-everyone who used them seemed satisfied, the price is right($30), and their excursion time seemed to fit in best with my plans. It's 1030-1230, which means I don't have to worry about rushing off of the ship and I will still have time to go to seven mile beach afterwards since my ship doesn't leave port until 5. I like Soto's and they have changed the tour since I was there last November, but I thought they morning tour was 9:30am-11:30am these days? Just checking. The website lists 9:30-11:30 but they can obviously change to accomodate customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_Bird Posted January 23, 2005 #30 Share Posted January 23, 2005 I loved the folks at Sotos Cruises. We were there 12/10/04. We did 2 snorkel stops (The aquarium and the barrier reef - we would have done coral gardens but there were 2 boats there already so we went onto the Aquarium, which was beautiful!) and then went to Stingray city. The tour was from 9:30-12:30 but we didn't head out until 10:00 and probably got back by 12:30. There was some trouble with the tenders and Sotos was nice enough to make several trips to the dock to make sure they got everyone. The guides were great! At the Aquarium, they lured a morey eel out for everyone to get a good look at and at the reef, he found a couple of moreys and also a small nurse shark. They were great at telling you where everything was. So if you wanted to see the shark, you could follow the guide and if you were more comfortable viewing fish and rays, they pointed out sections where that was all that you saw. We spent as much time at Stingray City as we wanted. We were never told that it was time to go. After everyone had their fill, they got into the boat and then we left. They did provide us w/ squid. We eventually ran out but that did not keep any stingrays away. They played with us until we got out of the water. Have fun in the Caymans! Tracey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creempuff0530 Posted January 24, 2005 Author #31 Share Posted January 24, 2005 The tour is 930-1130 but since I am going in April after daylight savings time that would put the ship I'm going on(mariner) 1 hr ahead of island time which would be 1030-1230 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYCchic Posted January 24, 2005 #32 Share Posted January 24, 2005 How long does it take to tender? Also - I don't want to snorkel or swim with the stingrays but my boyfriend does. I hate to split up with him for the entire day so would I be able to go out on the boat and just not actually do the snorkel or swim with the stingray? I don't mind paying - just would rather hang out on the boat. I hope to be able to get back to Sea Grape Beach for a big afterwards to enjoy the water without having to swim with fish :) !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted January 24, 2005 #33 Share Posted January 24, 2005 The actual time on the tender is minimal - loading and unloading the tenders can take a while depending on how many people. Can't really predict. I try to allow an hour. It might only take half of that, but I wouldn't plan on it. Some tours will drop you off at 7 mile beach afterwards, if you wish. Nativeway is one. For a couple of bucks a person, Soto's took some up to Hell and dropped them off. Don't think there is much snorkeling at Sea Grape, but that is only a small part of 7 mile beach. For best shore snorkeling areas you can start here: http://caymanislandsdiscounts.com/OffshoreSnorkeling.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYCchic Posted January 25, 2005 #34 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Thanks for the info. Do you think it's silly for me to go along for the boat ride if I have no intention of swimming with the stingrays or snorkeling? I figure I'll enjoy the ride and enjoy watching everyone swim withe the rays...I can take pics and enjoy the sun. I don't really care what they charge me to just go along for the ride. I just hate the idea of us splitting up for quite a few hours and not really knowing where to meet up when he's done on the boat tour. I checked and our ship is in port from 7am to 5pm - so it sounds to me like we'll have plenty of time to hit the beach after we're done on the boat. I will go with either Nativeway or Captain Bryan's...thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted January 25, 2005 #35 Share Posted January 25, 2005 I think there are people on every stingray city tour that have no intention of going in the water. Absolutely bring a camera. Maybe a book. Not sure about on a catamaran, but on a powerboat with a swim platform, there is always a chance the crew will bring a stingray to you! And you never know, you might take the plunge. You certainly don't have to stay in the water if you don't want to. You don't even have to be able to swim. A catamaran might allow you to work on your tan better, but might take longer to get you there and back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellcruise Posted January 25, 2005 #36 Share Posted January 25, 2005 About the Stingray excursion, if you book through the ship (which it does not sound like too many people do) what is the difference in the Stingray City swim and snorkel (3hrs.) and the Stingray City snorkel? They are both the same price! :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted January 25, 2005 #37 Share Posted January 25, 2005 About the Stingray excursion, if you book through the ship (which it does not sound like too many people do) what is the difference in the Stingray City swim and snorkel (3hrs.) and the Stingray City snorkel? They are both the same price! :confused: Lots of people book through the ship which is why some look for tours on their own. Must not be Carnival. What ship? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYCchic Posted January 25, 2005 #38 Share Posted January 25, 2005 OK I've actually decided to just hit the beach for the day while my boyfriend does the snorkel / stingray trip - we booked with Capt. Bryan's for him. Catamaran sounds fun. I figure he can just meet up with me on the beach afterwards...they say they will drop him anywhere on Seven Mile Beach on the way back - so I'll just tell him where I'll be. Question though - our cruise ship gets into Cayman at 7am. Looks like only 1 other gets in that early - the other 4 or 5 in port that day all get in at 8 or later. Is there enough time for tender if we get in at 7am and he has to meet up with Capt. Bryan by 8:45? I thought this was enough time for sure but he wanted me to check it out. THANKS!!!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmmal Posted January 27, 2005 #39 Share Posted January 27, 2005 I tried the number posted on their website and it says not in service. Can anyone help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lss111 Posted January 27, 2005 #40 Share Posted January 27, 2005 I highly recommend Capt. Marvin's , they have been in business for many years . I have snorkelled with the several times and each very enjoyable. Their office is only 2 blocks from the cruise ship docks, easy 10 minute walk. lss111 http://www.captainmarvins.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zachnlucy Posted January 28, 2005 #41 Share Posted January 28, 2005 Okay, I know this is going to sound infantile, but here goes: We went to Stingray City in May, 2004 on a private charter. I was already nervous about the rays but decided to give it a shot. The problem was the water was over my head. Now I can swim just fine, and I had a lifevest on, but the darn vest kept floating up to my face, and I was bobbing in the water, and the rays were all around me, and it was JUST TOO MUCH. As I was climbing the ladder to re-board the boat (already slightly hysterical), a ray slid right up my back. My scream must have been heard for miles. Everyone else in our party had a fantastic time of course. Now to my question: Which tours take you to Stingray City where the water is only chest deep? I really really want to try again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted January 28, 2005 #42 Share Posted January 28, 2005 Now to my question: Which tours take you to Stingray City where the water is only chest deep? I really really want to try again. 1) Was the water always over your head - and everybody else's? If so, it sounds like you went to the original Stingray City, which is usually thought of more for divers than snorkelers, although you can certainly snorkel there. Was the water about 12 feet deep? The shallow one is Stingray City Sandbar. Both places tend to be called Stingray City - by tourists and operators and even cruiselines. So first is to make sure you are going to the SANDBAR. That is where the usual suspects mentioned here go, but it still doesn't hurt to verify. 2) Even at Stingray City Sandbar, don't think any operator CAN guarantee the water won't at some point be over your head - particularly getting off or back on the boat. It should not be over your head most of the time. 3) One tour company you might want to think about is Soto's Cruises. All of the tour companies will at least have snorkel vests (the kind you inflate) for you to use. Soto's has real life jackets for you to use. You don't wear them like you would normally, so they aren't confining and can't ride up. You put it around your chest, so if the water is ever over chest high, you will bob along, but it won't ride up on you. Easier to show than explain. Caveat - this was as of Nov 2004, and I doubt they have changed from life jackets, but you might want to verify. On the snorkel vests - you don't have to inflate them, unless you need or want to. If look at my (too many) pictures from GC last November, you should be able to get an idea with the life jackets. The water was a little rough that day - all the cruiseship Stingray city tours cancelled. You would have bobbed some that day with either, but you can see people are easily standing up and many are using neither: zydecocruiser's Album:Conquest 11/7/04 Zydeco Cruise Click on the link above to view the 118 pictures in this album. As the recipient, you can download, re-share and order prints and merchandise containing these pictures. Please do not use the owner's pictures in an unexpected way. <IMG id=pageCounter height=1 width=1 border=0> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zachnlucy Posted January 28, 2005 #43 Share Posted January 28, 2005 That's it! It was about 12' deep, I just called my husband and he confirmed it. Your photos are fantastic. I was especially enamored of those that showed all you people in WAIST deep water with the rays. That's where we thought we were going. Anyway, I will definitely check with Soto's. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellcruise Posted January 28, 2005 #44 Share Posted January 28, 2005 The ship is Royal Caribbean, Explorer. They still have both tours open. Since the prices were the same, I was a little confused and wondered if anyone had gone on either one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted January 28, 2005 #45 Share Posted January 28, 2005 The ship is Royal Caribbean, Explorer. They still have both tours open. Since the prices were the same, I was a little confused and wondered if anyone had gone on either one. Good question. One difference seems to be the duration. My guess is that they are basically the same thing, but with two different operators. I may be wrong, but if not, Carnival does something similar. A few years ago, I was on the Cockatoo catamaran, which is also a stingray tour and enjoyed that, but costs more. Have you called RCCL to ask? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disneylynn Posted January 29, 2005 #46 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Wow Great pictures! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXBRIT Posted January 29, 2005 #47 Share Posted January 29, 2005 zydecocruiser's Album:Conquest 11/7/04 Zydeco Cruise Click on the link above to view the 118 pictures in this album. As the recipient, you can download, re-share and order prints and merchandise containing these pictures. Please do not use the owner's pictures in an unexpected way. <IMG id=pageCounter height=1 width=1 border=0> Your pictures are beautiful. all 118. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RondaRed Posted January 29, 2005 #48 Share Posted January 29, 2005 I would love to do the swim with the stingray's. I am however concerned about getting back in the boat. We have a small boat for local lakes. Probably a 15 foot fish and sky combo boat. It has a ladder on the back but it is extremely difficult for me to get back in the boat using this ladder. It angles under the boat and it is narrower than I am. So someone tell me about the ladder's used to get back in the boat. Is there a platform? Are the ladder's wide, do they angle under the boat. Which provider or boat would be the easiest for me? Ronda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disneylynn Posted January 29, 2005 #49 Share Posted January 29, 2005 RondaRed, Look at zedacocruiser's pictures, I think you can see the back of the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydecocruiser Posted January 30, 2005 #50 Share Posted January 30, 2005 I would love to do the swim with the stingray's. I am however concerned about getting back in the boat. We have a small boat for local lakes. Probably a 15 foot fish and sky combo boat. It has a ladder on the back but it is extremely difficult for me to get back in the boat using this ladder. It angles under the boat and it is narrower than I am. So someone tell me about the ladder's used to get back in the boat. Is there a platform? Are the ladder's wide, do they angle under the boat. Which provider or boat would be the easiest for me? Ronda The powerboats will have a platform, the catamarans may not. Often on a catamaran, you will need to climb up further. I know what you are talking about, but don't think any of the usual tour groups mentioned here will have a ladder like that. These are commercial operations. Also, the crew is available to help anyone that is having trouble in or out of the water or in between. If you don't want to look through all 118, you can find my ladder highlights here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=2692505 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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