Excursion dilemma

[LUV THE SEA]

I have read many posts where they tell you to book a private excursion and I usually do it on my own...but here is my dilemma I have a lot of onboard credit...so I was thinking of doing the Carnival Grand Cayman Stingray City to use up my OC ...is this a bad idea...Has anyone gone with the ship and enjoyed it...It is our first trip to the Caymans and I don't want to have a bad time...PLEASE HELP Thanks for your advice.:)

[Yazoo cruiser]

We have done it twice and loved it. Nice relaxing boat ride to the area, very helpful employees and a hour or so in the water. Out of our 47 cruises, Stingray city and climbing Dunn's river fall in Jamaica have been our 2 favorite excursions.

[LTC loves to cruise]

Seen the boats, they hold alot of people. Why not do the supper club, buy alcohol to take home, jewelry... I can help spend your OBC.

[sappygirl]

I have read many posts where they tell you to book a private excursion and I usually do it on my own...but here is my dilemma I have a lot of onboard credit...so I was thinking of doing the Carnival Grand Cayman Stingray City to use up my OC ...is this a bad idea...Has anyone gone with the ship and enjoyed it...It is our first trip to the Caymans and I don't want to have a bad time...PLEASE HELP Thanks for your advice.:)

If I had quiet a bit of OBC that is what I would use it for. If you are a big drinker you might want to use it for that instead.;)

[deeceedub]

I'm pretty sure if you have extra OBC you get a check slipped under your door on the last night to reimburse you.

 

We've used Captain Marvin's in Grand Cayman and FatFish Adventures (waverunners) on our cruises to do the stingray thing. The boats that are holding the Carnival crowd look like cattle movers, there are so many people on there.

 

Capt Marvin's is much less expensive than Carnival, too.

 

I'd book independent and take the cash back on the last day... jmo!

 

Have fun. Our next vacation we're planning to just fly to Cayman instead of cruise- we just can't get enough of the island in 6-8 hours!

[mizLORInj]

We did that excursion with Carnival years ago and it was fine. A bit crowded but once you go the 30 mins or so to the sandbar area where the stingrays are, there was room for all.

I don't think we've done a ship-sponsored excursion since that one and we have never had any issue in any port with any outside-Carnival company.

Things like auto-gratuities, drinks, etc. will go against your OBC too.

[CruiseLover824]

We did the Carnival Stingray City and Coral Reef excursion on our last cruise. Our group had an awesome time!! Sure, there was a large group of people on our boat, but at no time did it feel crowded. The tour guys were fun and made sure we enjoyed the whole experience! I really didn't find the price of $65 that bad either since it was stingrays and snorkeling, and included the transportation.

[Whimsy]

I would book the excursion myself and take the extra money home. Why pay almost twice the price just to use up money you could get back or spend on something else?

[Perfect Stranger]

Not everyone is a big drinker and the onboard credit should be considered "money" and not necessarily wasted (although some don't see it that way) on booze. I'd either put that money toward an excursion and/or the supper club.

[mafiadon]

You need to make sure that all your OBC is refundable as all OBC is not refundable. If it isn't then I would spend it however you want, you could always go to the casino and put the money on your bank and then cash it out and have the money in hand.

[Georgia Peach 4]

You can also go to the casino and if you don't gamble, just cash it out.

[Caligirl33]

We are using our OBC for our gratuties.

[caribbean dreams]

I have been on both the ships excursion and the private excursion, Stingray City is great either way but the ships excursion has lots of people (a bus load full) the private excursion had 14 people, we arrived before the ships huge group and we were not near them so we had plenty of room in the water. After we were taken reef snorkeling, then had the option to be dropped off back at the pier or at the beach.

All the $35pp.

 

If your OBC is able to be cashed out, i would do that, if it is not able to be, i would use it towards the tipping or other on board purchases.

 

Whatever you choose, have a great cruise.:)

[GOLDENBONNY]

I have read many posts where they tell you to book a private excursion and I usually do it on my own...but here is my dilemma I have a lot of onboard credit...so I was thinking of doing the Carnival Grand Cayman Stingray City to use up my OC ...is this a bad idea...Has anyone gone with the ship and enjoyed it...It is our first trip to the Caymans and I don't want to have a bad time...PLEASE HELP Thanks for your advice.:)

 

Stingray City one of the best excursions we ever had.I would book it only with ship,its 40 min aprox. by boat only, and no need to say its old boats and if they break....you on your own ,ship will not wait for you.

[simkoreb]

IMHO...

 

I have done 3 excursions to sting ray city on my own, and no way would I use my OBC for a carnival snorkeling excursion. I just can't stand that many people with me. At most I had 10 people on my tours. Besides the fact that they were so much cheaper, I would feel ripped off just paying for the carnival tour.

 

I tried a snorkeling excursion this past April in Belize and did not enjoy it mainly because of the number of people. I can't tell you how many times I was kicked with flippers, bumped into, etc. It got annoying real fast.

 

Now there have been 2 Carnival excursions I have done and loved, just not overcrowded boats...Dolphin swim and the Altun Ha ruins tour. I researched them a lot before booking and was very happy with them.

 

If it was me, I would look into a different excursion at a different port, or I would find another way to spend the money, or if you can get the cash at the end of the cruise. Who knows, maybe lots of bingo?

[cruisin1982]

We use Carnival for this and loved it. There was 10 peoples on our boat seems like everyone bashes Carnival saying they charge too much and are always packed. We did the Turtle farm, Hell and stingray city.The turle farm was great, Hell sucked not worth the time and stingray city was great. If Carnivaled charged so much then why are they packed as others claim.

 

Mike

[LUV THE SEA]

May I ask...which company did you use ofr $35...the ones I have seen are $40-$45 the same price as on the ship..that was one of the reasons I thought of just doing it through Carnival.

 

I have been on both the ships excursion and the private excursion, Stingray City is great either way but the ships excursion has lots of people (a bus load full) the private excursion had 14 people, we arrived before the ships huge group and we were not near them so we had plenty of room in the water. After we were taken reef snorkeling, then had the option to be dropped off back at the pier or at the beach.

All the $35pp.

 

If your OBC is able to be cashed out, i would do that, if it is not able to be, i would use it towards the tipping or other on board purchases.

 

Whatever you choose, have a great cruise.:)

[kyrisong1]

We did Nativeway, they are about 45 I think but they include lunch, we loved them so much we have gone twice on the Rays Reef and rum point.

You might google them and look at the info.

Our biggest group was about 16 people, which they had 5 staff for, our smallest group was 8 which they had 3 staff for.

We loved the individualized attention, and also the guys (captain chris) makes sure that if the sandbar is too crowded he'll do the snorkle first to give his passengers more room and time with the stingrays.

Loved it!!!

Carole

[BlueJacketsFan1]

My wife and I did that excursion and had a great time on it. We have done all of our excursion with Carnival and have never had anything other than a great time. For the one I have checked in the past it really was that much different between private and Carnival. Maybe are doing the right excursions or checking the wrong private companies, I don't know which.

[TTz]

I have read many posts where they tell you to book a private excursion and I usually do it on my own...but here is my dilemma I have a lot of onboard credit...so I was thinking of doing the Carnival Grand Cayman Stingray City to use up my OC ...is this a bad idea...Has anyone gone with the ship and enjoyed it...It is our first trip to the Caymans and I don't want to have a bad time...PLEASE HELP Thanks for your advice.:)

 

We did it through Carnival and it was just fine. Wasn't crowed, great crew and had a really good time, overall. I don't remember how much it was, but I remember thinking it was well worth it. Of all the excursions I have done, that one is still my favorite.

[LUV THE SEA]

We did it through Carnival and it was just fine. Wasn't crowed, great crew and had a really good time, overall. I don't remember how much it was, but I remember thinking it was well worth it. Of all the excursions I have done, that one is still my favorite.

 

 

Thanks...can't wait to sail...on the FREEDOM...with 3 ships in I am thinking the private tour companies may be full and I am doing this last minute. :D

[Froufie]

Also try Captain marvin's or De soto's - both very reasonably priced!

[jbroons]

We used Native Way in April for the Rays, Reef & Rum Point Beach excursion....excellent. $62pp for 5 hours: 45 mins with the rays, 45 mins snorkeling and the included hot lunch waiting for us at beautiful Rum Point Beach. Then lounging on the beautiful beach for about 90 mins. Save the OBC for OB stuff and do this excursion. About 15 people on our boat...wonderful!

[LUV THE SEA]

Thank you all...it sounds like other than having more people the excursion with Carnival is $45 and that is aobut how much it is with the other vendors...so if they are booked I have Carnival as an option, at least I am not paying twice as much...but with 3 ships in I doubt I will be able to find too many spots available elsewhere.

 

Thanks for your suggestions.