IS STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN SAFE FOR CHILDREN?

I doubt that there are any visitors to Grand Cayman in the Caribbean who are not aware of the world famous Stingray City Sandbar. Excursions take guests to interact with, feed and even kiss the Southern Stingrays here, and many of these visitors are families on vacation.

This begs the questions "is the sandbar safe for children"? 

We would be foolish to take this concern lightly - these stingrays are after all armed with their barbs so that they can defend themselves against predators. They are not "trained", and interact with visitors  of their own free will. Some may disappear for months and then suddenly (and to our great delight) make a reappearance for daily kisses. Some never return (and we have our suspicions about them), but that is another story entirely.

Read up on the history of Stingray City, and you will learn that our stingrays have had over 30 years of interaction with human beings and do not automatically see us as either predator or prey. A reputable tour operator will know how to treat the stingrays, and should be in the water with you to show you how to do the same. Respect is key - no "cowboy" antics should be tolerated, from anyone, ever. That is asking for trouble.

So, we would advise that this attraction is no more dangerous for children than it is for adults, and we have hosted countless children from 3 months of age and up. In fact, our experience is that the kids have an enormous natural respect and awe for these beautiful sea creatures and become mesmerised when holding the stingrays. Of course, every child is different and each one has a different taste for adventure, so while we encourage all of them to partake in this experience, we never force it upon anyone, no matter the age.    

A child holds a stingray at Stingray City in Grand Cayman

Ultimately, it is the decision of the parents whether to take their children or not. Us? We love sharing it and feel it can only be a good experience and can't wait to do it again with the next young adventurer!

This youngster snorkels with Barbara

STINGRAY CITY TOURS (AND FREE PEDICURES!)

INTRODUCING "DARK VADER"

One of the biggest surprises for most visitors to the Stingray Sandbar in Grand Cayman, is how the stingrays display personalities and character traits much like we do.

"Barbara" is without doubt Captain Mario's favourite, while "Snowflake" has captured Duayne's heart for good. But over the last 2 or 3 months of excursions, we have started noticing a gorgeous looking lady who is fast making her way into the "Acquarius group".

"Dark Vader" settles in for a while

And what a beauty she is ....... forget shades of grey and bring black back! This girl is one slinky, sexy stingray caped in black velvet, bearing a mesmerising aura that weaves a spell on many a guest cradling her.

After playing just enough hard to get, she is oh so content to settle in for cuddles and kisses, and yesterday had her heart quite set on kissing a young male who refused to take his snorkel mask off ....... a disappointment she no doubt seldom suffers. Not sure if he was more afraid of the kiss or the stingray???

We love growing relationships with these awesome creatures and watching them come out of their "shells" and to the fore - it is an absolute honour and privilege.

So next time you are on vacation in Grand Cayman, come join us on a tour to meet the "ladies" - it's a memory you will never forget!

FROZEN IN CAYMAN

It would have to be a really bad voice that would motivate Catholic Christian Brothers to ask a child to do anything, anything,  ANYTHING, except SING, during mass.

I would be hard pressed to believe that any adult would be so hurtful towards a child, let alone believe that a group of religious teachers preaching generosity of spirit to others would be behind this.

BUT. We are talking about Captain Mario here, and around him, nothing is impossible. "Sticks and stones may break his bones" but those words have never hurt his indomitable spirit, and he has carried on singing to his heart's content whenever he has felt like doing so. Loudly. Vigorously. And with all his heart.

Suffice to say love is blind, but possibly also deaf, as two people in this world adore listening to his singing, one being his wife and the other being his daughter.

You may ask - why write about this on a blog about Stingray City Sandbar in Grand Cayman, where kissing stingrays and tours that take you there are the prime subject....................???

Because Captain Mario loves sharing the experience of cradling and feeding the stingrays at the sandbar, and he will do just about anything to encourage intrepid excursion guests. Even sing......

And so it was on an absolutely gorgeous Caribbean day, that he found one of his guests frozen to the boat platform ladder, half way up and half way down, really wanting to meet the stingrays but feeling simultaneously terrified at the prospect. Forcing a guest into the water is not an option, and her vice grip on the ladder was not going to be easily loosened.......

So, what's a guy to do? Well, summing up the situation and falling back on his hours of watching a certain movie enforced by his 4 year old daughter, he sucked in an enormous lung-full of air and burst forth with his rendition of "Let it go". Loudly. Vigorously. And with all his heart.

Did it work? You betcha! She was in the water before you could say "Olaf". Was it because of Captain Mario's encouragement or to get away from his singing? We shall never know........ but we do know she got her stingray kiss and Captain Mario steered back to dock a happy man. Who will NOT stop singing.

Kiss accomplished! Stingray City in Grand Cayman

SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS.......

Sigh. Just plain stupidly, daftly and ridiculously lucky.

First of all, we live on Grand Cayman - naturally, we think this is the best Caribbean island you can visit. 

Yes, we do have traffic jams. But while we wait 15 minutes to get through these, we can smell the ocean, look up at open azure skies and enjoy either a view of the Caribbean blues or at the very least, the natural vegetation and palm trees that surround us.

Yes, it gets hot and humid. REALLY hot and humid. But that's when we jump into awesomely beautiful caribbean water which is no further than a 10 minute drive from any point on the island.

Yes, we have a hurricane season. But we are very lucky and usually only suffer tropical storms, which actually just wash off dusty plants and make every thing shine even more (never mind that glorious post-storm fragrance which is so head-swirlingly refreshing).

So all of the above (and so much more) is pretty awesome. But then, we also get blessed with days like these, when we seriously need to pinch ourselves to make sure it's real:

Looking at the barrier reef in Grand Cayman

Yesterday was one of THOSE days. When, even as blessed as we are, we get treated with something even more special. Our boat trip to the Barrier Reef in Grand Cayman for snorkelling left us mesmerised - skimming over the waters you could actually spot the Starfish in the sea grass!!

And what is the first treat we get at the snorkel site?

Not one - but TWO - Eagle Rays playing at the Barrier Reef in Cayman

By this point, the feeling of being Alice in Wonderland has got about as unbelievable as it seems it could get, but no. The snorkelling carried on to include a school of about 500 Blue Tangs, Trumpet Fish, each variety of Parrot Fish, Trunk Fish and an array of coral formations which left everyone breathless.

Our guests were pretty quiet with awe while moving onto the next stop - the world famous Stingray City Sandbar. After the snorkelling adventure just experienced, everyone seemed anxious that even this much anticipated attraction might be a bit of an anti-climax. How wrong we were......

Stingray City Grand Cayman

We could not have been prepared for the beauty waiting there for us - the sun was glancing off the waters, giving it an "ombre" effect. With only two other boats there, the stingrays were only too happy to dance around us, eagerly looking for their squid treat, supplying cuddles and kisses. Nearly all of our favourites were there - Barbara, Snowflake, Frosty, Kim and Kisses ..... one young female stingray even swam straight into the arms of a guest and stayed there for an awesome  2 minute snuggle.....something that even Captain Mario has never experienced.

All good things come to an end, and hard as it was, the time to go on home came too quickly. However, the sunset that was the golden topping to an emerald day soothed the sadness and just warmed the memories even more. 

Grand Cayman sunset - afternoon tour

Like we said.....some days are diamonds.....but some are just pure Caribbean Emeralds!

ROUGH WEATHER - BUT TOUGH GUESTS!

It is that time of the year when Grand Cayman experiences some its most turbulent tropical weather, with high winds, choppy seas and weather conditions that can change in the flick of an eye.

Safety for our guests is #1 priority. Captain Mario will NOT take chances - he and his crew are often teased about having the best jobs in the world (which seriously, cannot be far from the truth), but with their jobs comes the awesome responsibility of looking after the lives & well being of each guest onboard.

Rain is never an issue for us - you are getting wet by entering the water at three beautiful sea sites anyway! Plus, we have a large interior cabin which can provide shelter during squalls. But wind is a different story, and high winds can change the North Sound (where Stingray City Sandbar is found) from one enormous and stunningly beautiful pond into a cauldron of currents and waves.

Smooth sailing (left) versus Rough days (right) at Stingray City Sandbar

For Captain Mario, it is hard to face guests with disappointing news that a trip will be cancelled due to unsafe conditions, especially when he sees all the kids' faces drop. Some guests have been saving up for this visit for over a year, some are celebrating a special occasion and some are ticking off bucket list items.....the disappointment is never easy.

But sometimes, it is just safe enough for the trips to go ahead and we are always proud of our brave and valiant guests who go ahead despite difficult weather - kudos to you all!

Stingray City in London!!

STINGRAY CITY IN LONDON?

Seems that the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is spreading the love....

STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN - IS IT DANGEROUS?

Am I going to die?

This is a question Captain Mario hears often when taking excursion guests to visit the Stingray Sandbar in Grand Cayman.

His answer?

"Yes, we are all going to die, but hopefully not today, and not with us."

Cuddling a stingray at Grand Cayman's stingray sandbar

Years after the paradoxical death of dedicated conservationist Steve Irwin, Grand Cayman - home to the wondrous Stingray City Sandbar, still feels the sting. It is no small task to remove the barb of this memory from the island guests when faced with the life changing opportunity to interact with, feed and even kiss, our stingrays.

Our company and crew considers itself privileged to observe their guests transforming from fear-filled, intrepid visitors to awe inspired ambassadors of the stingrays. Each giggling guest is seen as a stroke against the tide of ill repute regarding these ethereal creatures. The magic belongs to the Cayman stingrays and their azure Caribbean Sea arena - we are there simply to help you experience the moment.

Stingray City in Grand Cayman

Stingrays will react defensively if perceiving danger. None of the stingrays are forced into this interaction, they are there of their own free will - some will disappear for weeks, others are regulars whom we see daily. Our "girls" have had over 35 years of contact with humans - just listen to your tour guides and treat the rays with respect and you will have an experience that you will not only live through, but never forget.

STINGRAY CITY EXCURSION......JUST ENJOY

Watch.

Breathe.

Escape.

Dream a little.

Stingray City tours and snorkel excursions - Grand Cayman

"IT WASN'T ME" SAYS CAPTAIN MARIO

The "other woman" is pregnant. 

Captain Mario and Barbara have a close relationship (check out the photos below). It's a special bond which many of our guests don't believe until they witness it.

Captain Mario and stingray Barbara - Grand Cayman

We make one snorkel stop during our excursions in Grand Cayman, and Captain Mario's eyes are always on the lookout for his "girl". If he spots Barbara, he dives into the Caribbean waters, opens his arms and she swims straight into them for a snuggle.

Lately, he has noticed a little rounder Barbara........and is now pretty certain she is pregnant. Captain Mario is quick to say "it wasn't me" but we have to wonder......if they come out bald and with a love for pizza, he's gonna have to take responsibility.

No matter who the daddy is, we are all delighted and wish her health and safety - and hope she brings them to meet us!

Adore you Barbara!

Barbara.....with her two little bumps!

For those interested, stingrays are oviparous and incubate the eggs inside for approximately 8 months. They hatch inside their mother and are then delivered all rolled up like newspaper. They uncurl themselves, swim off, and are 100% self sufficient straight after birth.

CHEAP TOURS TO STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN

Tours and excursions to Stingray City Sandbar in Cayman Islands come in all sizes and packages with the corresponding prices (and experience!), and you can choose reputable operators charging from around US$45 for a 2.5  hour trip, to US$1200.00 per hour for the ultra luxurious experience.

Of course, you can ALSO find them cheaper................ Exhibit 1

For some great tips on finding the excursion that suits your pocket and desires,

we hope that this post can help you out.

Happy Caribbean vacation planning!

STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN - "THE GIRLS" # 4

"LILLY" the stingray

Today is Lilly's turn!

We have previously introduced you to some of the stingrays at the Sandbar in Grand Cayman - today we talk to you about Dwayne's favourite girl.

Lilly the stingray puckers up for a kiss

Our excursion guests are amazed at how the stingrays recognise the different boats and  crew members, swarming over to meet their favourites! Dwayne has a soft spot for Lilly (and she for him) - she is such a gentle giant and really puckers up for those kisses.

This young adventure seeker on yesterday's tour was intrepid at first, but Lilly just patiently hung in there until the magic happened - we think they both deserve 7 years good luck!

Stingray City Sandbar in Grand Cayman

Lilly is in excellent condition and has very few marks on her - life in the seas can leave a few scars.  However,  Lilly's gentle & sweet nature must affect everything around her - hence the almost flawless complexion!

We adore you Lilly - stay safe and happy!

STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN - and the luckless office staff!

TODAY SHOULD NOT BE A DESK DAY!

Every day in Grand Cayman is beautiful, but there are some days when this island just makes office staff want to burn their desks in protest at being left in the office....today is one of those days for sure!

Awesome conditions today - azure skies, just a breath of wind.......the Stingray Sandbar is going to be spectacular. The Caribbean waters at the snorkel site should be wonderfully clear. Add to this a number of "no-shows" (which is not nice for us, but great for our guests) means the boat is going to be extra spacious for the tour...awesome luck!

Stingray City Grand Cayman - the Sandbar - awesome conditions!

Captain Mario and the crew will be on great form - with smooth waters they have far less worry regarding the safety of our guests, and will get to relax with them which usually translates to great fun all round.

Hope our guests are having the time of their lives.....while us desk-people sulk!

STINGRAY CITY AND SNORKELLING - A TASTE OF WHAT YOU CAN ENJOY!

Don't know what to expect on an excursion to Stingray City?

Practice that vacation feeling....

switch the cellphone off, put your feet up and dream for a minute and a half!

Happy weekend to all!

GRAND CAYMAN TOURS

Today, we simply want to share a beautiful photo of a starfish (now known as Sea Stars), taken at the stunning Starfish Point in Grand Cayman. We include this spot on our tours - some guests find it too tranquil, but 99% of our guests fall in love with it.....so without further ado.....enjoy!

Starfish Point - stunning stop for Grand Cayman Excursions

HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND!

PERFECT CONDITIONS AT STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN

PHEW! Awesome conditions out there!

If there is the perfect day for going out to snorkel and visit Stingray City in Grand Cayman, today is one of them!

PICTURE THIS.........

Stingray City Grand Cayman

Yup. Yes. This is what our guests will be experiencing today. Says the girl sitting behind the desk in the office ..... low winds, a few puffs of cloud in that Caribbean blue sky and calm waters. Sigh. Just what tropical vacation dreams are made of........

Have a beautiful day!

STINGRAY CITY TOURS - AFTERNOON OR MORNING?

Myth versus reality

Stingray City Grand Cayman

Very often, cruise guests wishing to do excursions to Stingray City Sandbar do not have much choice with regards to the timing of their tour, as they are limited by the time their ship is in port.

However, guests staying at hotels and condominiums on island, are afforded more choice - morning and afternoon tours, and they should choose according to their own itinerary.

During high season (November through March) we are often faced with guests wishing to tour only in the afternoon - they have been informed to make this choice to avoid the "cruise crowds".

The irony is that because of this, we have often found the afternoons to be busier than the mornings! 

Our tours have 3 stops and are longer than most tours, so we have the flexibility to move on should we see one spot is too crowded, and then to mosey on back when the crowds have left. Captain Mario dislikes crowded spots as much as the guests, so he normally does a pretty good job of avoiding them.

Our advice? Stick to a tour that suits your mood - perhaps you prefer morning activity and afternoon rest, or you prefer to rise late and end the day with a sunset..........do what suits your preferences! And of course, choose a good operator........

Caribbean Vacation Time!

Wishing you happy Caribbean vacation planning!

KISSING STINGRAYS IN GRAND CAYMAN....OOOOH LA LA!

Fun is essential to living! Where would be without our occasional vacation away from work and pressure??

We share our tours and excursions to Stingray City in Grand Cayman with guests from all over the world, each with their own motivation for being here. Many are enjoying cruise holidays, some are hankering for sun after too much winter, we entertain guests visiting for a destination wedding, and we host business visitors grabbing a few hours to enjoy their time. Our crew enjoy meeting each guest!

Private Tour guests enjoying Rum Point in Grand Cayman

The beautiful Caribbean waters of Grand Cayman Island take your breath away. The snorkelling sites literally leave you breathless.....so much awesome coral and tropical fish to watch swimming around you. Concrete is just an unpleasant memory in these surroundings.

Snorkelling in Grand Cayman

And of course, no Caribbean vacation in Cayman Islands is complete without a kiss from a stingray! Legend has it that you earn 7 years good luck.....and even if you don't, the stingrays like it and keep coming back for more! So break out of your comfort zone and come on out with us - we can't wait to welcome you!

Stingray City Sandbar, Grand Cayman

EXCURSIONS TO STINGRAY CITY IN GRAND CAYMAN

Waist deep in stingrays......now what?

Great! You've chosen the best tour operator at the price you want to pay, to take you to the Stingray City Sandbar in Grand Cayman.....what can you expect during this adventure?

Stingray City Grand Cayman - welcoming committee

Depth of water

Water at the Stingray City Sandbar is between 2-5 feet deep. Good weather conditions mean water as smooth as glass, rougher conditions bring choppy water. Good excursion operators will ensure that he moors his boat in water as shallow as safety allows, providing easy access into these beautiful Caribbean waters.

Stingray activity

These stingrays are clever! They know which boats bring stingray "popcorn" (the squid that they so enjoy feasting on), and enthusiastically form a welcoming party before the anchors are even set! 

The most important thing to remember?

R-E-S-P-E-C-T the stingrays

and they will respect you!

These foxy girls have had over 35 years experience of human contact, and like all self-respecting ladies, will give you the "cold shoulder" for bad behaviour. Hopefully, your guide has informed you how to behave in the water, and how to handle the stingrays. If you are feeling unsure, please mention this to your crew before entering the water - do not wait till you are in the water to freak out!

Our Captain Mario likens the stingray encounter to "a barbecue in your backyard with friends, with 15-20 six month old labrador puppies running around". Tread carefully, treat gently. Upon entering the water, they will peacefully swim around you, touching you and rubbing against you to get to know you.

Stingray City Sandbar - waist deep in stingrays and loving it!

You are not allowed to wear shoes at the Sandbar, so just enjoy the feel of fine coral sands between your toes. Get that Caribbean vacation vibe going, relax and enjoy the adventure! Guests who have been initially terrified of this moment have to be dragged back onto the boat when it is time to depart - such is the magic of these creatures.

However, this docile behaviour is quickly forgotten when they sense the squid coming their way - that is when they get quite excited (mine! mine! mine!) and just like those little "puppies" we alluded to earlier, they will become quite the attention getters! Once again, just enjoy the fun, share the squid (don't tease!) and appreciate them for sharing their time with  you.

Some guests are quite taken aback by the size of the stingrays so best be prepared - the girls can be up to 5.5 feet from wingtip to wingtip, while the boys are smaller - approximately 1.5 - 2 feet across.

Our crew are particular protective over these rays, but love showing you how to cradle them in your arms for a photo, and help you get your stingray kiss which bring 7 years good luck! The stingrays seem to enjoy these kisses - their little "noses" actually pucker up!

We have not yet seen one guests leave this attraction with a smile, which makes it one of the top things to do in Cayman Islands! So get out there and enjoy!

Go girl! Gran earns her 7 years of good luck!

STINGRAY CITY - GRAND CAYMAN

Stingray City and a day to remember.....

Today, we wish to share with you a snippet of video taken on one of the most beautiful days we have ever experienced at the Stingray City Sandbar in Grand Cayman. This was in March of 2013.

Almost unbelievable conditions......what a day! Also hard to imagine that after this video of the tour was taken, we rushed our clients back to dock - just minutes ahead of quite an intimidating storm that hit the North Sound that day.

Talk about the calm before the storm.......enjoy!

STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN - BEST TOUR # 2

Stingray City in Grand Cayman is free??????

Then what am I paying for?????

There is no charge for entering the water at the Stingray City Sandbar, likewise, snorkelling in  the Cayman Islands is free. So what are you paying for?

You are paying for the best excursion experience you can afford, and while searching through the numerous tour operators available, you are choosing how you want to experience your visit to the Cayman stingrays and snorkel sites.

Stingray City Sandbar Grand Cayman - stunning!

Grand Cayman Excursions come in all shapes and sizes (with the relative price). You can choose  between motor boats (we use a motor boat - this is faster and carries guests to see more in the allotted tour time), catamarans and jet skis. There are small boats and huge boats, cheap excursions and expensive ones. Cruise passengers have to decide between cruise tours or independent  tour operators. Private tours are also available ....... the possibilities are endless.....

So, ultimately, you are paying for how you experience your visit.

Before reserving the first (or cheapest) tour you can find, perhaps ask yourself the following questions:

• Will I feel safe doing this excursion? Responsible Stingray City operators will ensure that they are licensed by (and act in accordance with the laws) of the Cayman Islands Port Authority and the Cayman Island Department of Environment
• What is included in the price of the tour? Make sure there are no "hidden" costs e.g. do you need to pay to use on-board snorkel equipment, are photos and refreshments an extra expense?
• Do I receive maximum value for my money? How many sites does the excursion include and what do I get to see?
• What is the duration of the tour? Some tour operators might advertise a longer tour time than others, but this may include the time it takes to transport you to the boat. This may, or may not, suit you.
• Will the crew assist me? For some visitors, Stingray City and snorkeling might be a little beyond their comfort zone - will the crew assist me and be in the water with me?
• Is this tour operator recommended? Read up reviews on tour operators - no tour operator can please everyone all of the time, but reading reviews will give you a very good general "feel" for the excursion operator and it's crew.

Would you prefer the "A" experience, or the "B"? You choose.

All of the reputable excursion operators in Grand Cayman work hard to provide the best experience they can to their guests, and we sincerely hope that the visitors to this world famous site leave with  only beautiful memories that will last a life time!

Happy Caribbean vacation planning!

STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN - BEST TOUR #1

How do I find the best excursion to Stingray City in Grand Cayman?

Grand Cayman has loads of fantastic things to do, and a wide choice of excursion operators to do them with. Finding that special one can leave travellers exhausted before they even start their Caribbean vacation - naturally, each island guest wishes to get the best experience that their hard earned money can afford!

The many tours and excursions to Stingray City Sandbar (easily the best attraction in the Cayman Islands) offer something for each island visitor - options that can suit your particular holiday budget, quest for adventure or passion.

Tips for finding YOUR best excursion

Ask yourself:

• What are my favourite things to do? If you love snorkelling and the sea, find a tour that includes those activities - don't waste precious time looking at land-based excursions
• How long do I have? Cruise passengers are often restricted by the length of time their ship is in port - work out your itinerary and how much time you want to dedicate to a tour
• What is my budget? A vacation budget is essential - work out what you are happy to pay, save for it and stick to the budget!
• How fit am I? Water sports and outdoor activities are main attractions on Caribbean holidays - choose excursions which suit your level of physical fitness - vacations are for relaxing, not exerting yourself beyond healthy limits. And remember - it is hot out there!
• How do I want to experience this? These options are limitless but deciding this beforehand  will help define your search. Do you want to round up a group of people to do a private tour? Is your preference a motor boat which is faster and allows you to see more? Are you an extrovert who aims for maximum crowds or do you want a more personal tour?

This is a great way to start narrowing your search to find the excursion that best suits your tastes and pocket. Tomorrow, we shall write more about choosing the excursion for you.....till then, happy vacation planning!

Want to read a bit more? Check out our follow up POST.

STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN - "THE GIRLS" # 3

Fall in love with a stingray? Possible? We do.....every day......

Stingray City in Grand Cayman is a world famous attraction. No Cayman Islands vacation itinerary is complete without this item - a top of the list thing to do!

There are many tours to the sandbar where you can commune with, feed and even kiss these beautiful stingrays (earning 7 years good luck while doing it!). 

Every day, North Sound in Grand Cayman lures travellers from cruise ships, luxurious island hotels and expats to the many attractions found here. You have a choice of excursions to snorkel sites and the Stingray City Sandbar, or private chartered tours to gorgeous spots such as Starfish Point, Rum Point and Kaibo Yacht Club.

But the best activity is visiting the "ladies" at Stingray City. We have taken numerous guests to this spot, and have yet to find one person who does not fall under their spell. No-one leaves without a smile on their face - no-one.

We fall in love with them every day, with the stingrays revealing their individual personalities over time. Today, we introduce you to "Snowflake" - she is one of Dwayne's favourites, with a shy, gentle and endearing nature. Covered with a  sprinkling of little white marks, she looks as if she has floated through snowflakes and collected some on the way - an impossible scenario in this tropical surrounding, but romantic nonetheless!

The gentle and endearing stingray called "Snowflake"

Stingray City Sandbar, Grand Cayman

So, add this to your bucket list......you'll be SO glad you did!

GRAND CAYMAN VACATION

A Grand Cayman vacation - the ultimate Caribbean holiday!

This tropical island offers something for every visitor, whether you are on a budget or opting for luxury, wanting a relaxing get-a-way or planning that dream destination wedding.

Caribbean sea lovers have an ocean of choices - snorkelling, diving and adventure excursions to Stingray City Sandbar being just a few. The Cayman Islands offer some of the best snorkel sites in the world, and Stingray City is a favourite bucket list item!

Beach lovers can enjoy stretches of coral sands wherever their sense of adventure takes them - Seven Mile Beach is one of the most beautiful - offering endless varieties of water sports or even just a romantic stroll for honeymoon couples along it's coral sands.

Starfish Point in Grand Cayman

A huge menu of land based attractions translates into a buffet of things to do. Go to Hell (you can mail postcards from here!), swim with the turtles at Turtle Farm (a great family adventure) or pleasure your foodie palate at one of the awesome array of restaurants that could satisfy anyone's taste.

Add to all of this the sunny and happy nature of the people of the Cayman Islands and you can be assured of the best Caribbean vacation possible!

Caribbean sunset - dream ending to a private tour

PRIVATE CHARTERED TOURS - STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN

Private tours or chartered excursions in Grand Cayman are a great choice for groups of people travelling together. Whether you are visiting Cayman Islands off a cruise ship, or are staying on island, this really is the ultimate way to experience Stingray City and other attractions including snorkelling sites, Kaibo Yacht Club or Starfish Point to name just a few.

Most local tour operators offer the choice of standard or customised tours. Customised tours (depending on the number of guests in a group), can very often work out cheaper than the per guest price for standard tours. 

Chartered excursions allow you to customise your experience - you can choose the attractions you most wish to see and how long you wish to tour for. There are so many things to do while on vacation in Grand Cayman, and private tours afford you the luxury of picking and choosing the best. Another benefit is being able to fully relax with people that you know and enjoy.

So go on - ask your preferred operator if they offer a customised excursion service and check the prices - you may be pleasantly surprised!

Happy Grand Cayman vacation planning!!

GRAND CAYMAN ISLANDS - CRUISE PASSENGER INFORMATION

Cruise passengers visiting Grand Cayman are sometimes confused about time differences. This can lead to them arriving too early or (unfortunately), too late to meet their chosen tour operator.

Grand Cayman is on EST (Eastern Standard Time) and DOES NOT practice daylight saving. 

The island welcomes numerous cruise ships - some of these stay on the time of their port of departure, some change their time to the port of arrival, some practice daylight saving and some don't. It is impossible for local excursion operators to know which ship does what, and generally, will quote their tour times in local time.

In our confirmation e-mails to cruise guests, we try to highlight this factor, and provide a link to our website which shows Cayman time - this link follows : TIME IN GRAND CAYMAN.

An alternative point of reference can be found on 24TimeZones.com

If in any doubt, do ask your cruise crew for assistance with time differences.

Happy cruising - Grand Cayman Island looks forward to meeting you!

STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN - "THE GIRLS" # 2

"Scarface". As photos of our beautiful ladies (the stingrays at Stingray City) become available, we will introduce you to them. Scarface is named for her very obvious injury - a great big gash along the left side of her "nose". Thankfully, she has healed well.....but it is a very graphic reminder of the boaters who use the North Sound with reckless abandon and disregard for the creatures who live there. These "cowboys" earn no respect, unlike the "girls" who deserve all the respect in the world!

LOVE YA SCARFACE!

PARADISE FOUND - GRAND CAYMAN

Caribbean beauty.....we share complimentary photos of the tours with our guests. What a pleasure it is for us to share photos like this!

SNORKEL GRAND CAYMAN

Okay folks....this is what is so exciting about today......this is an example of the conditions that can be expected today..........snorkelling at Coral Gardens in Grand Cayman! Enough to make the office staff want to put on their snorkel goggles and catch up with "Big John" taking our tour guests there!!!

STINGRAY CITY GRAND CAYMAN - "THE GIRLS"

Stingray City in Grand Cayman has become world famous as a unique spot where you can commune with, feed and even kiss the stingrays for 7 years good luck! Over the years, the stingrays have displayed their different personalities, and each of our crew has their "favourite"! Today, we would like to introduce you to Captain Mario's "other woman" - Barbara. Some of the Stingray City Tour operators call her Frisbee, but Mario felt she deserved a far prettier name and called her Barbara, ironically, because of her lack of "tail". She is terribly fond of Captain Mario of Acquarius Sea Tours - at the snorkelling spot she is often seen waiting for him. When he gets the chance, in he dives, puts out his arms.....and she swims into them and settles in for a snuggle! So folks, without much further ado, here she is...what a girl!

CRUISE EXCURSIONS TO GRAND CAYMAN

Good morning to all! The weather conditions in Grand Cayman today are looking spectacular for the sea tour operators....blue skies with scattered clouds and just about no wind......some of the best conditions that the excursion operators can ask for when taking guests to Stingray City! Yup, if you looked up from Grand Cayman this is what you should see today.......

Today has been quite hectic with a cruise ship arriving and changing it's in-port time at the very last minute. This can cause so much stress for the independent operators and the guests who have booked excursions with them. Luckily, Captain Mario has just called to say that all our guests are safely with him and on their way to enjoy their visit to Stingray City, a snorkel stop and Starfish Point! Have fun Acquarius Sea Tours guests!

Hello to all our readers! Today we forge our way into a new area - blogging! Our company runs excursions, tours and chartered private tours to Stingray City, snorkel sites, and other beautiful spots in Grand Cayman. We take this opportunity to introduce ourselves, the owners of the company... About Acquarius Sea Tours

We hope you enjoy our posts and photos!