question about GC

[jean6183]

We are going on a cruise with RCCL on June 14th. When we arrive at GC, should we just grab a taxi to the 7 mile beach or pay the 40.00 with RCCL?? We have an 11yr old and 8 yr old that love to swim. Do you think we will still see sting rays if we don't do the actual tour? Last question:) Is the food safe?? I remember on our first cruise in 1994, we were told to be careful in Mexico and wasn't sure if that was most of the ports. Thanks for any replys.

[10splyr]

You will not see the stingrays if you do not take a tour or boat because the sandbar is not close to any shore. You have to take a boat to the sandbar.

[jean6183]

I know the kids would love to see the stingrays. I'm sorta afraid because of the Steve Irwin thing. I know they say the stinggrays are pretty tame here.

 

Thanks,

Jean :)

[drew sailbum]

While the Stingray City and Stingray Sandbar sites are far from the various beach locations, your kids might still see stingrays. There are stingrays all around teh Cayman Islands, not just where the tours go.

 

Keep in mind that the stingrays at the Sandbar and Stingray City sites are a distinct sub-population which are accustomed to interacting with people. These rays stay in that general area and do not venture to the beaches.

 

If you see a stingray elsewhere, DO NOT attempt to touch it! It is a truly wild animal and may use its defensive barb if it feels threatened.

[10splyr]

You are so right! I was just walking back to the beach (from our looonng snorkeling adventure from our condo) when I almost stepped on a spotted ray in about 3 feet of water. She/he was gorgeous but not at all impressed with my almost stepping on him/her.

 

But even you must admit that the stingrays at the sandbar are pretty impressive and fun to play with, particularly if one has never done it!

 

The manta rays is Tahiti are HUGE, and really fun to interact with.

[twinkletoes4445]

We are going on a cruise with RCCL on June 14th. When we arrive at GC, should we just grab a taxi to the 7 mile beach or pay the 40.00 with RCCL?? We have an 11yr old and 8 yr old that love to swim.

 

I'd grab a cab. It's around $4-$5 per person depending on where you go, each way, to 7MB.

 

The beaches are public, so you can really go wherever you want. You just can't use the hotel and condo chairs. Some of the hotels offer day passes. Or you could take a cab to Royal Palms. RP's offers chair rentals, food, restrooms, and water toy rentals. Sea Grape offers the same thing, only it's not as close to the port area as RP is...but it's only another 15 minutes or so by car (and maybe less depending on the traffic).

 

Here's the Marriott Beach hotel website. You might check with them and see if they offer a day package.

 

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/gcmgc-grand-cayman-marriott-beach-resort/

 

Here's Royal Palms website (the Reef Grill is the restaurant there). They also have a webcam with a couple of cameras.

 

http://www.reefgrill.com/

 

Here's Kirk's Watersports website. They offer the water toy rentals at Royal Palms.

 

http://www.kirkseatours.com/diveshop.shtml

 

 

Here's Red Sails' website. They offer the water toy rental at Sea Grape (they are next door at the Marriott Courtyard-The Marriott Courtyard is actually on the opposite side of the road as the beach, but RS has a rental place on the beach). Scroll down to page two and you'll see what they offer and the prices.Sea Grape doesn't have a website, at least I don't think they do.

 

If' you'd like to see more of both of these places, go to http://www.webshots.com and do a search for Royal Palms Grand Cayman and Sea Grape Grand Cayman and all sorts of pictures will pop up.

 

http://www.redsailcayman.com/pdf/GC_LOA.pdf

 

 

Here's a map of the hotels/condos along 7MB. This will give you an idea of where everything is located. The bottom of the page (Coral Sands is the first place) is closest to the port area.

 

http://www.redsailcayman.com/pdf/GC_Hotel_Map.pdf

 

Do you think we will still see sting rays if we don't do the actual tour?

 

If you want to see the stingrays you've heard about (the ones you get to be near and touch), you'll have to book a tour with someone. Stingray sandbar is in the North Sound. Read through the boards here and see what people have to say about local tours. I'd try for a local tour, rather than the ship tour. A local tour will cost you less and it will be less crowded.

 

 

Is the food safe?? I remember on our first cruise in 1994, we were told to be careful in Mexico and wasn't sure if that was most of the ports. Thanks for any replys.

 

Grand Cayman is the Beverly Hills of the Caribbean. The only problem you'll encounter is that everything is very expensive there. You should have no problems with the food and water. We now visit GC on land vacations (after first visiting on a cruise) and love the fact that we can rent a car and go anywhere on the island and feel completely safe (just use the same safety precautions you'd use at home).

 

If you do happen to eat in a restaurant, make sure and look at your bill before you add a tip. Most of the time, the tip will already be added on. The first time we were there I missed this, and we double-tipped.

[hawkshoe]

Just wanted to pop in and say hi. We are on the same cruise. If you haven't already done so, come on over the the roll call and meet the others who will be sailing with you.