ColSavLan Posted January 22, 2014 #1 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I am trying to decide on who to use for a Stingray City Tour with snorkeling. I am getting very confused from reading posts and just trying to figure out which company to go with. Any help would be greatly appreciated! There will be 5 in our party, my husband and I and an 18,15 and 9 year old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgunn1978 Posted January 23, 2014 #2 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I am trying to decide on who to use for a Stingray City Tour with snorkeling. I am getting very confused from reading posts and just trying to figure out which company to go with. Any help would be greatly appreciated! There will be 5 in our party, my husband and I and an 18,15 and 9 year old. In May, I did the Stingray City tour in Grand Cayman! It was perfect! I was on a Carnival ship, and booked an excursion called Deluxe Stingray City Sandbar through Carnival. The company they use is called MarineLand Tours. They have contracts with Carnival, but I don't know about other cruise lines. The tour was the coolest thing I have ever done. I have a sever low back injury, so the appeal for me was the boat they use. it has steps on the back that go all the way down to the sand bar. Its very easy to get into the water and very easy to get out. The people that operate the tour are amazing! Here is where they differ from other companies: You are allowed to take all of your own pics, and videos!!!! On the ride out, they had workers walking around on the boat asking us if we wanted them to take a pic of us with our cameras! Then after helping everyone get into the water, they took pics of us holding and feeding, and kissing the stingrays, and they gave us information about the rays, and how they live, their predators, etc. it was awesome. They sell beverages onboard, but you can bring your own food and drinks. THEY HAVE CLEAN RESTROOMS ONBOARD THE SHIP AND SHOWERS OUTSIDE AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS TO RINSE THE SALT WATER OFF WHEN YOU ARE DONE!!! I live in Texas, and I do not work for them. I kinda wish I did! It was an amazing experience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColSavLan Posted January 23, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) When you went with Marineland Tours did you go anywhere else to snorkel with them or just to Stingray City? Thanks for the information! I love that you can bring your own camera! Edited January 23, 2014 by ColSavLan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDNJehn Posted January 24, 2014 #4 Share Posted January 24, 2014 (edited) I am trying to decide on who to use for a Stingray City Tour with snorkeling. I am getting very confused from reading posts and just trying to figure out which company to go with. Any help would be greatly appreciated! There will be 5 in our party, my husband and I and an 18,15 and 9 year old. We used ToursCayman dot net. They were great, and very reasonably priced. We did three stops...stingray city, northern reef and starfish point. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Edited January 24, 2014 by CDNJehn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Tango Posted January 25, 2014 #5 Share Posted January 25, 2014 We've gone with Nativeway tours a couple of times and have been very happy with them. You get one or two snorkeling stops, Stingray City and then on to Rum Point where you get lunch on the beach. I think we paid $62.50 pp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
internetwhiz Posted January 25, 2014 #6 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Captain Marvin's tours are wonderful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alvinsr Posted January 26, 2014 #7 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Captain Marvin's tours are wonderful. agreed, have used them twice, very satisfied both times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
internetwhiz Posted January 27, 2014 #8 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Captain Marvin's tours are wonderful. agreed, have used them twice, very satisfied both times. 67.50 was great for 2 snorkel stops, stingray city, starfish point, and lunch on an island! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseGirlKS Posted January 27, 2014 #9 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Captain Marvin's tours are wonderful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk x2, I highly recommend. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mitsugirly Posted January 28, 2014 #10 Share Posted January 28, 2014 I highly recommend Nativeways. They are absolutely wonderful and not crowded like you would get with a cruiseship. If you go to my signature line (for my Jewel cruise), I have a complete review with tons of pictures of our day with Nativeway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQmom Posted February 4, 2014 #11 Share Posted February 4, 2014 We have done Stingray City twice, once on a private Zodiac Eco tour with Captain Neal (great experience, but really pricey) and last time we booked with Soto's Cruises and loved it! For only $35 per adult they picked us up at the port, provided snorkel equipment, took us to Stingray City sandbar, a snorkel stop on the way back, and transportation back to the port. The boat was great, with both shade and a potty, and they limit the number they will take to around 20, so the experience was personal. We ended up with only 9 on our tour. We have a trip planned to GC in November and I have already booked again with Soto's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenanderic Posted February 6, 2014 #12 Share Posted February 6, 2014 From good reviews on here and trip advisor we are doing Captain Marvins. Can't wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie51 Posted February 6, 2014 #13 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I am worried about getting off the ship and then having to stand around for an hour waiting for others perhaps from another ship. Am I over thinking this? I'm probably making a big deal out of nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LetTheGoodTimesCruise Posted February 6, 2014 #14 Share Posted February 6, 2014 No you are not overthinking this because it does happen but not much you can do about it. We arrived at 8:00 am, the rep walked us over to a big tent area where we were told to come back to that same spot by 9:00. We returned at 9:00 and more waiting as the different tour operators tried to get their groups together. We left in a vehicle by 9:30ish to go to the area where we board the boat. Now more waiting on the boat because some folks from Carnival were booked but were late. We didn't get going until 10:30ish. We had a wonderful time with Nativeway's Rays, Reef and Rum Point tour but not happy at all with the waiting around. If people are reasonably late that’s fine but unacceptable to keep a boatload of people waiting around. It was a very busy port the day were there at around 5 or 6 ships and so that may have made a difference to the chaos that day because Nativeway does have really good reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marie51 Posted February 6, 2014 #15 Share Posted February 6, 2014 No you are not overthinking this because it does happen but not much you can do about it. We arrived at 8:00 am, the rep walked us over to a big tent area where we were told to come back to that same spot by 9:00. We returned at 9:00 and more waiting as the different tour operators tried to get their groups together. We left in a vehicle by 9:30ish to go to the area where we board the boat. Now more waiting on the boat because some folks from Carnival were booked but were late. We didn't get going until 10:30ish. We had a wonderful time with Nativeway's Rays, Reef and Rum Point tour but not happy at all with the waiting around. If people are reasonably late that’s fine but unacceptable to keep a boatload of people waiting around. It was a very busy port the day were there at around 5 or 6 ships and so that may have made a difference to the chaos that day because Nativeway does have really good reviews. Well it would seem better if the tour operator told you to be there at 9 instead of 8. Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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