Help with Stingray Excursion-Cayman Islands

[noobiegirl]

We want to snorkel with the stingrays at Stingray City; which excursion do we book? I am so confused b/c it looks like there is 2-3 different ones listed in our cruise document book but the description all sounds the same.....I noticed the time and money but nothing else significant about it. Can you explain:rolleyes:

 

We are on RCCL if that helps.

[MrsKnuts2]

We did the Personalized Stingray Tour through Royal Caribbean. There were only 10 of us on the boat vs. 50-100 on some boats. We took the earliest one that they offered because the stingrays are pretty full by the afternoon tours :) We loved the tour so much on the Explorer that we did it again on the Mariner with our kids. Have a great time!

[bigsky]

We did our Stingray excursion through Cap't Marvins. He has his own website. He's very popular to use. Book online. Very easy to find him. Much cheaper than going through the ship. We used him in Dec. Not many people on the boat. They have bathrooms you can use and provide drinks as well. I think we paid 34.00 pp. He took us to three different places to snorkel. Would use him again if we go back there.

Check out http://www.captainmarvins.com

[Seaside2358]

Captain Marvin was absolutely the best. We had a group of 14 and we had our own boat. It was so much fun and our guide was wonderful. He kept us away from the crowds of the ship excursions...

[Tmeister]

One of the excursions takes you out to Stingray City, but you don't snorkel. You just look at the stingrays over the side or through a glass bottom in the boat. Make sure it says you snorkel or swim with the rays.

[lms564s]

we did captn marvins and absolutely had the best time!! Very personalized and fun, we saw the cruise ship excursions and I'm glad we did it with captn marvin. We got to touch the stingray, hold it and even have our picture taken with us holding the stingray. It was alot of fun, and the snorkling was very private!!

[Sheffie]

If you consider doing an independent excursion, I have compiled a listing of the ones recommended here on CC. (I don't think I missed any.)

 

We did the Buccaneer because of the time frame and had a marvelouse time! I would recommend them highly.

 

Here is the list:

 

Sailboats:

 

Buccaneer: http://caymanislandsdiscounts.com/Stingray_City_Buccaneer_Excursion.htm

 

Captain Bryan’s: http://grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com/StingrayCityCaptBryans.htm

 

Motorized:

 

Captain Marvin’s: http://www.captainmarvins.com

 

Nativeway: http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/shiptours.html

 

Sotos: http://www.sotoscruises.com

 

Kelly’s Watersports http://www.kellyswatersports.com

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Michelle

[KamloopsCruisers]

We booked our excursion through Nativeway this past February. Look on the Cayman Island board for a full review. Without a doubt, our best excursion - EVER! Highly recommend them. (We were on RCCL too - on the Voyager).

 

Have a great cruise and a wonderful day in Grand Cayman.

[gjules]

I am thinking of using Captain Marvin for my next cruise (Inspiration, 1/2/06). We dock in Grand Cayman at 7:00AM and the Captain Marvin excursion is at 8:30. I'm wondering if we will have any trouble getting off the ship in time to make it to Captain Marvins? I know that early ship excusion folks get first tenders. Perhaps we can blend in with them and hop on an early tender?:confused: When I was on the Miracle last fall, I booked through the ship, but I've heard good things about Captain Marvin and it's quite a bit cheaper than the ship excursion.

[alasgran]

I have to agree that Captain Marvin is the best. He was the first to do these tours and he and his third wife (I'm pretty sure) and his bundle of children all run the business. His guides and sons know the right spots and the stingrays well. You will be in good hands.

When we were with the stingrays we saw several other boats in the same area. They were all much more crowded than ours, a couple didn't let people out of the boat, and on the other boat people were screaming and simply terrified. They obviously were not prepped properly on how to interact with the animals. They kind of freaked us out.

Captian Marvin also made us a wonderful lunch and served it to us on a secluded beach. We dove for Conch and made a dish with it that was very good. Our guide shared some coconuts with us, and took us to a last location that other boats did not go near. It was near the outer reef and we visited with a huge eel and saw a small shark.

Plus, they have a website that is easy to navigate.

When are you going? Buy some of the coconut bread from Jamaca that they sell on Grand Cayman. It was some of the best bread I have had.

-alasgran.

[por911]

gjules- we are on the conquest 8/7 and arrive ingc at 7:00.We are booked with captain marvins for 8:30 they have assured me that the time would be ok.But I also have been wondering about anyone elses experience w/ this sort of time frame.

[gjules]

Captain Marvin's told us we'd be ok, too, but I know Carnival will give priority to the people who booked through the ship. I don't remember how long it takes the tenders to get from the ship to Grand Cayman. I don't think I had to show my shore excursion ticket to get on a tender, though, and that's why I thought we could just blend in with the ship excursion folks. I've also heard that if you tell them at the purser's desk that you have an early excursion they'll make sure you get on an early tender. But maybe not if it's not one of theirs? The time seems rather tight to me, especially when I will have my 78 yr old mother with me...she gets around fine and is looking forward to snorkeling, but she just doesn't move too quickly anymore! I'd really rather go with Captain Marvin!

[Cavscout]

I'm on the Inspiration 4/30/05 and using Capt. Marvin at 8:30 and docking at 7:00. I'm 99.99% sure we are going to have time but as this is our first trip I am a bit unsure. My logic tells me that these companies do this for a living and they know the cruise ship and tender schedules better than we do as it makes the difference between a full boat going out or an empty boat sitting at the dock. In the past two months of scanning this board I have not seen a single post stateing they missed their excursion because of a time conflict.

 

I'm sure we'll be fine on time and I'll post when we get back to put your concerns to bed.

[gjules]

I would, very much, appreciate an update when you get back from your cruise! This is the only possible 'glitch' in our trip and I made the BAD mistake of mentioning it to my mother! You know...at 78 she tends to worry about everything! My 21 yr old daughter and I are pretty comfortable with it, but we need to have info to reassure grandma!

I agree that these people probably do know what they are doing. Otherwise, they would have a very hard time making a living!

:D Enjoy your cruise! I wish it was time for mine, but still have quite a while to go!:(

[ladycaveat]

After reading all the wonderful reviews, I booked with Nativeway. Leaving on Saturday and am very excited. :p I think you'll do just fine booking with any of the tour companies listed on the Grand Cayman board.

[bigsky]

Answering concerns about getting there in time. I had the same concern when we booked. Our ship would "dock" at 8:30 or close to that. Since you have to be tendered in, I was concerned how long that process took. I remember there was one in the early morning, 10:00 and 1:00. We took the 10:00 excursion. We just down to the tender boat asap. Once you get off, take a left and walk up a few blocks. He's on the right hand side.

It didn't take long at all.

Someone was concerned about an elderly person in their party? She can go out and just watch from the boat. She'd enjoy her time as well.

 

With Cap't Marvins, they give you sqid to feed the stingrays. So cool! This excursion was the highlight of our trip. Would love to do it again!

 

Have fun whoever you go with.

[smudge's mom]

Captain Marvin's was excellent. They took good care of me - a non-swimmer - hauling me over to the site where you can stand up to play with the stingrays.

 

No matter which excursion company you chose - do not miss the stingrays. It was one of the best excursions I've done. :D

[weechloe]

We loved sotos cruises and are going again with them in May. Ask how many people are with the RC tours. I called and the girl said anywhere from 30 to 300. I think the smaller ones are better. Our boat had 18 and it was great. Our guide showed us a moray eel and a shark and the stingrays were awesome.

[alasgran]

I have to agree that any of these tour operators that are reputable will know how the cruise system works. If they say that you have time and they can get you when they say, I would believe them. Cruise tours are their bread and butter and they are going to treat their guests right.

I have only cruised with Captian Marvin and he has been doing this for I believe 39 years. I have met people in several countries who have taken his tours. Word of mouth gets these operators their business so I would trust what they say.

 

As an fyi:

When your boat is parked at the island if you look from the transport directly to your right there is a scuba shop. This is where Edens Rock is, which is a great rock/shelf formation with a huge drop off. Great for scuba or snorkeling. I highly recommend it. We saw a huge barracuda and some great fish, and the drop off is incredible...if not a bit eerie.

The shop rents equipment.

[Ehpride]

Bigsky,

 

Grandma isn't worried about the excursion itself. We're all going to have a blast. But she's worried we won't be able to get there in time because of the tenders and because we didn't book through Carnival. But Mom and I figured we'd rather pay less and have a smaller group and we'll just tag along and not make a big deal about not having booked through Carnival!

 

I'm sure that we're all going to have an awesome time, with New Year's Eve in Tampa and then the cruise a couple days later :)

[Ms. gcurry]

Capt. Bryan's is a good one as well, large Cat, three stops, about the only one to have a bar on board for the trip back.

Believe me when I say they are all motorized, and anything beats the ship's tour for price and quality.

[ginger123snaps]

We took this excursion through the ship and I would NOT recommend this. There were 40+ passengers and by the time we all got out of the boat, it was time to get back on again. I would recommend booking on your own. You will have more time there and will get more attention on feedings.

[texancruzer]

My husband and I were there in Nov.2003 with in-laws on Rhapsody. We took my father-in-law as a birthday present (which we celebrated on board) and booked thru RCCL. Our tour was great. We chose to take the earliest one we could (had to be in theatre at like 7:30 am) but allowed us to come back to ship- clean up and get my mother in law and have late lunch and shop on Grand Cayman even though we had to tender back and forth AND SHE WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR. Was not crowded when we first got there, had plenty of time in the water, and leave as crowds started coming out. My wonderful travel agent who goes on escorted cruises all the time informed me that when you book with cruise line they keep better track of you and don't leave you if you are late getting back. To me that is a big plus as you never know when stuff happens. One large boat near us refused to start as we were leaving- did they get left? Anyway something to think about.

[spocruiser]

We really enjoyed Captain Bryan three weeks ago. The catamaran was spacious and had a great open air feel to it, although there was room for those to be under cover if they wished to do so. The captian and crew were personable and it was a great time.

[DaddysAngel3210]

After reading all the wonderful reviews, I booked with Nativeway. Leaving on Saturday and am very excited. :p I think you'll do just fine booking with any of the tour companies listed on the Grand Cayman board.

__________________

We have reservations with Native way in June. DO tell how was your trip. What ship were you on. Highlights appreciated. Hope you had a wonderful vacation.

:D 41 days till we sail