Cayman Islands

The Caymans are a beautiful island and a bit "hoitie toitie" - IMHO.  Do not expect to find $3 t-shirts - at least we never did. 

We have been to the Caymans once.  We planned to wander around and go back to the ship.  In the port we saw a woman selling "swim with the sting ray and snorkel" trips for half of the Carnival price.  We booked with her and picked the morning trip thinking if there was a problem we would have extra time to get back.  We got to the sand bar before Carnival and our small boat had ample room for everyone.   We thought we did great.   However looking at the Carnival web site - their prices appear to be more reasonable - or I've adjusted to the fact that things ain't cheap.  Sting Ray city, 7 mile beach and the turtle farm are the island's claim to fame.

Cayman Islands

Carnival Excursions

Carnival offers 45 excursions.  15 of these are over $100 per person.  2 of them are $99.99.

Two are scuba and one is snuba.

That leaves 25 excursions that are realistically less than $200 a couple.

Cayman Pirate Encounter ($47) Everyone with kids loved it.  Kids - lots of kids  No thank you.

Best of Cayman Island Tour ($52).  Basically a bus tour of the islands with stops at the turtle farma nd rum factory (store).

Cayman Kayak and Snorkel Safari ($76)  Close to port. Kayak out to platform and snorkel.  Good for first time snorkelers - not much challenge for experienced.

Kittiwake and Reef Snorkel ($60)  A snorkel excursion with two stops.  One over a sunken U. S. Navy rescue ship and then over a reef.  Gets good reviews if anyone wants to snorkel.  About 45 minutes over each stop.

Barrier Reef Snorkel ($50)  One stop for about an hour.  No free drink other than fresh water.  Medium reviews

Cayman Shore Snorkel ($40)   Short bus ride to place.  About 45 minutes in the water.  Problem - water very deep and nothing to grab onto.  Flotation devices are available but you do swim out to the site and back to the shore.

Nautilus Under the Sea ($48)   Am I the only one that noticed it was a 1 hour excursion - for $48?  Gets good reviews in spite of that.

Best of the East Jeep Safari ($90)   When I saw the words "endangered species" I basically thought prairie chicken and stopped reading. I think it said something about undeveloped areas.  I prefer ice in my drink and flush toilets.

Amphibious Bus Land and Sea ($55)  Gets good reviews.  Basically tours around the island and out into the water - like Duck tours here in the states.

Amazing Turtle and Wildlife Adventure ($50)  Bus ride to the turtle farm.  Viewing baby sharks, etc.  Swim in the pools at the farm. 4 hours  - but seems like lots of kids enjoy it . . . yikes.

Amazing Turtle and Wildlife Adventure with Lunch  ($60)  See above and add vittles.

Sting Ray Sandbar and Starfish Point (70)  Bus to marina and a boat ride to the starfish point where you can mingle with them, snorkel, etc.  Then out to see the sting rays.  Gets great reviews.

Coral Garden and Sting Ray ($69)  This is what we did (with a private vendor) when we went to the Caymans.  The reviews on this are really good -no one complained about the boat being overloaded etc. .  Even if you don't snorkel - it is a nice boat ride and the sting rays are fun to swim with (even though they freaked me out).  Micky kissed one which supposedly gave him 7 years of good luck. 

Sea Safari - Mangrove Kayaks and Sting Rays ($65)  About an hour kayak through the mangroves then a 30 minute boat ride to the sting rays.  This review gets almost 100% good reviews.  Leaves at 11 am and gets back at 3:30 - they said eat a big breakfast or take a snack. 

Allura Catamaran Sail to Sting Ray City ($72)  Basically you go to the sting ray sandbar via sailboat and return the same way.  They talk about snorkeling with the sting rays.  You get one free drink. 

Deluxe Sting Ray City ($50) This is another trip to the sting ray sandbar.  It offers snorkel equipment to snorkel around the sandbar. It has snacks and drinks (for sale) on the boat.  It is 2.5 hours and no kids under age 5.

Sting Ray City and Rum Point Beach ($60)  Sting ran encounter and then a stop at a beach.  Drinks are expensive and only about 60-90 minutes on the beach.  Gets mostly good reviews.

Sting Ray City and Tiki Beach combo ($73)  Sting ray encounter and then a stop at Tiki Beach.  One free rum punch an expensive ones after that.  Sting rays always get good reviews - beach not so much. 

Sting Ray Encounter and Turtle Swim ($85)  A bus ride to the boat, swim with sting rays.  A bus ride to the turtle farm where you can catch the little boogers and take pictures.  There is a nature hiiking trail and a beach for snorkeling.  Back to the port.  This gets good reviews.

Sting Rays, Hell and Turtle Farm ($72).  Good reviews from most.  A couple said it felt rushed and always hurrying to the next stop.

Top 10 of Cayman Best ($50)  Poor reviews.

All Inclusive Family Beach getaway - poor reviews.

All inclusive Tiki Beach getaway ($70)  Micky has always wanted to go to 7 mile beach but too many reviews are not complimentary.  Three and a half hours is the excursion - but it is 30 minutes there and 30 back means about two and a half hours on the beach.  a few of the reviewers said they don't limit how many they accept so it can get very crowded.  Rum punch, local beer, hamburger and lounge chair - plus the bus ride for $67.

Tiki Beach getaway (not all inclusive) ($43)  Same as above but without food and drink included.

Cayman Islands

other options

They are about the same price as the cruise but they liit the number of folks.  I'm not sure where they pick up - will need to email if we are interested.

I emailed and asked about 8 folks going to see the sting rays and making one snorkel stop.