Grand Cayman Excursions which one to pick?

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deanhamy

Guest
My wife and two teen daughters 16,17 are considering booking an excursion in Grand Cayman. We sail the liberty 3/26/2006. We are considering the Buccaneer Stingray city Sanbar cruise, or the Native way Cruise that includes Turtle farm, Hell, Totuga rum factory, 7 mile beach and govenors house. Can anyone compare the two. All previous posts seem to indicate both tours are great. I love to snorkel wife and one daughter probobly not They would swim and play with the rays. Are the other things worth seeing? So Iwas wondering what some of your thoughts were.
Thanks
Deanhamy
 
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smoose

Guest
IMHO I would clearly do a tour with the stingrays. The water is only about two to three feet deep so no snorkeling is required. I believe this is a must-do carribean excursion. I personally booked through Carnival, but from reading reviews it wold seem that many people book through Captain Marvin's and also have great luck. I liked the trip that was 2 hours long because it allowed us time just to walk around the Island afterwards. Hope this helps.
 
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RosieRosie

Guest
Do not miss sting ray city - there is nothing else like swimming with the rays! It is amazing to see these huge rays swimming all around you. Bring an underwater disposable camera with you for some great photos.
 
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serene56

Guest
I never heard of buccaneers. Nativeways-- Comes highly reccommended as is Capt marvins. You can save tons of money using any of those vendors.

You can book Nativeways for jsut the stingrays too. Those other places will give you a feel of the island--maybe 10-15 minutes in each place. I am sure you will get your monies worht with Nativeways.
 
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Woodrow3

Guest
You have to do Stingray City. My family has been to Grand Cayman three times, and Stingray City is the coolest thing you'll ever do. I was there in November, and would go back right now if I could.

The best way to do it is through Captain Marvin's. While I did the excursion through Carnival the first two times, Captain Marvin's is much nicer. They work to ensure you have a great time. They give you time to snorkle a reef. And they have far fewer people in the group than the other excursions.

AND, they also off a Hell/Island tour before or after your Stingray City trip.

Check out their website. I highly recommend them.

http://www.captainmarvins.com/index.htm
 
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Robinflannery

Guest
We're visiting Grand Cyman as well in April. I am nervous about booking an excursion outside of the cruiseline because I am afraid that we may somehow miss the boat. My Mom especially gets very nervous. Is the quality of the excursion that much better with Capt. Marvin? If it is only the $$$, I'll gladly pay Carnival for my Mom's peace of mind! Any thoughts?

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kimmimom

Guest
we did sotos snorkeling and stingray. since we have 3 kids, it was perfect. our tour began at 9:30 and lasted until 11:30 so there was no chance of missing the ship. in fact, some went back on the island to shop after we returned from the excursion. http://sotoscruises.com/info/trips.shtml

Highly recommend them. also they take underwater pics and pics of you interacting with stingray with the opportunity to buy them on CD. When we were out snorkeling (about 10 ft deep), a boy started panicking. One of the men from the excursion jumped right in and got the boy. I had not even noticed that anything had happened. We were going to do Capt Marvins, but read a post about how they left someone out who had to catch a ride with someone else. After seeing Open Water, I just couldn't risk it-LOL. Sotos was great!
 
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Wuollebear

Guest
Yep, I'm with everyone else. Don't miss the stingrays, you will remember it forever.
 
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jenbren

Guest
Hey deamhamy we'll be on the same cruise! It's our first and after a bunch of research I booked the Buccaneer Stingray City tour. Hopefully it will be as wonderful as it sounds! My two girls (9 and 13) and excited about it (me too!)

See you onboard!
 
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Hal

Guest
We visited Stringray City with Captain Marvin. the price is a bit less than the cruise ships and the attention is wonderful. Our boat to Stingray city had no more than a dozen people and many of the other boats had literally hundreds on board. I would strongly suggest going the private tour route. We took a morning tour to stingray city with a second stop to snorkel a reef, which my son did and I skipped. While we were swimming, really wading, with the stingrays, my wife and other son took the island tour you described. They enjoyed it but stingray city is not to be missed, unless you are very afraid of water, as is our youngest. Captain Marvin's was nice that there were only 12 of us and Captain Marvin himself at the helm, two crew members and a videographer. Plenty of nice personal attention.

Hal
Enchantment of the Seas - Christmas 2005
Voyager of the Seas - Christmas 2004
Zaandam - Christmas 2003
Norwegin Sea - Christmas 2002
Monarch of the Seas - Christmas 2001
Color Festivale - summer 2001
 
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Babushka

Guest
I was going to add my 2 cents and tell you to NOT miss the Stingray City tour but looks like everyone elso has already told you that! It really is a great excursion...definately one of the best I've ever been on! I really hope your family doesn't miss it! They really will love it!
 
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Budman

Guest
=docdanceHas anybody out there done the Atlantis Submarine? Leaving on the Miracle SundayX(
 
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Hal

Guest
Wife and youngest son did the Atlantis in Cozumel. They absolutely loved the trip. The tour starts with a short tender ride to an ocean platform where the submarine is moored. They were briefed on safety matters. Then they spent approximately 40 minutes or so submarine. They dived to a depth of just over 100 feet. Apparently, that is the depth that separates submarines from others and got a certificate of their dive. They said the trip was a blast and the view outstanding of the underwater life. However, the real benefit was being able to say they dove on a submarine. Sounded like a great tour to us. While they were submarinig, my oldest and myself were helmet diving. IF you don't scuba or wear glasses, that is a great tour, as well. Walking on the bottom at 30 feet or so is a blast and just like the astronauts.

Hal
Enchantment of the Seas - Christmas 2005
Voyager of the Seas - Christmas 2004
Zaandam - Christmas 2003
Norwegin Sea - Christmas 2002
Monarch of the Seas - Christmas 2001
Color Festivale - Summer 2001
 
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Babushka

Guest
We did the Atlantis submarine tour the first time we went to Grand Cayman. It was nice but I'd much rather do the Stingray City tour. In my opinion there is no comparison!!! We also did the island tour which was also good....you get to try the delicious rum cake at every place you stop at on the tour. Be sure to pick some up to take home with you...very yummy!!!
 
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doodlefan

Guest
Hi Kimmimom

I have a question for you about Soto's stingray tour you did.

My Mom, sisters and daughter will be in Grand Cayman in April and we are on a 5 night Carnival INspiration cruise. The problem is that the ship is scheduled to be in port from 7 am to 2 pm only. We would like to book Soto's tour but really really want to hear from someone who has done it, what time you were back at the dock. When we go, the ship time will be ahead one hour. So when we leave on the tour at 8:30 Grand Cayman time, it is actually 9:30 ship time. SO my question is how long was the actual tour from the meeting time at the parking lot just past the Atlantis Submarines office until you returned back to the dock.

We are supposed to meet at that parking lot at 8:30 am GC time and the tour is at least 2 hrs so I am thinking we will get back around 11 or 11:30 ish GC time which makes it 12 or 12:30 ish ship time, which is enough time to get a tender back for a 2 pm leaving time.

Sorry this sounds so confusing, the time change is throwing a wrench in our plans.

Knowing how long the tour was from pick up at the parking lot to the return to the docks would help us a ton. Thanks so much

Tara
 
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kimmimom

Guest
We stayed on ship time the entire time. We met at the parking lot at 9:30 ship time. We were back at the parking lot probably about 11:45. I think we were in port until 4 or 5 ship time that day. We went back, ate lunch, changes clothes, and went back to Grand Cayman (not me, but my husband, one daughter, etc) to do some shopping with plenty of time. I would email them your concerns. They will make sure you are back to the ship in plenty of time or else they risk you telling horror stories of missing the ship and then they have bad press, causing them to possibly lose business. Email them to confirm it, but I am sure you would be fine.
 
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doodlefan

Guest
Thanks Kimmimom

I appreciate your response. I did e-mail Soto's and they are aware of the early departure time on that day of the Inspiration and said that they make sure they leave in plenty of time to make it back to the ship. They also stated that they have never had a problem getting back for it.

I have booked with them and am looking SO forward to it.

Thanks again

Tara
 
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kimmimom

Guest
have a great time. i fyou think you might want to buy the picture CD, be sure to bring cash!
 
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jaxblast

Guest
IT IS A MUST!!!! -Stingray City with Catptain Marvin - I've been 3 times to Stingray City and the last one I did with Captain Marvin and he sets anchor away from the maddening crowds to"walk" with the rays and then he will take you to the area to snorkle. Don't be afraid of the snorkle - it is beautiful - they bring the fish to you - remember - you'll have a vest on - no chance of sinking in these waters.

I'm not doing this year in Cayman - going to rent the jeep for jeep safari and tour the island - I'll see how that goes and will report back.

Mary
 
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jaxblast

Guest
IT IS A MUST!!!! -Stingray City with Catptain Marvin - I've been 3 times to Stingray City and the last one I did with Captain Marvin and he sets anchor away from the maddening crowds to"walk" with the rays and then he will take you to the area to snorkle. Don't be afraid of the snorkle - it is beautiful - they bring the fish to you - remember - you'll have a vest on - no chance of sinking in these waters.

I'm not doing this year in Cayman - going to rent the jeep for jeep safari and tour the island - I'll see how that goes and will report back.

Mary
 


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