LEAVING THE BEST TILL LAST- EXCURSION TO STINGRAY CITY

They say revenge is best served cold. However, there is no best way to serve disappointment. Trust us - we know.

Taking island visitors to meet, feed and kiss the stingrays at the sandbar in Grand Cayman is not only a privilege, but a genuine delight for our crew. First time visitors arrive with a range of emotions - fear, trepidation, curiosity, bravado or simply daring - and all with the under current of excitement. For some, this visit is a bucket item list, for some it is a dream come true for which they have saved a long time, for some, just an attraction which they have "heard" about.

Enjoying Stingray City Sandbar in Grand Cayman

Whatever your motivation for visiting this world famous attraction, our ONE piece of advice would  be :

"DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SEA TOUR TO THE LAST DAY OF YOUR VACATION"

This is the Caribbean, we live in the tropics. Living in the tropics means weather conditions can do a complete u-turn in just a few hours. Annoying? Yes. Predictable? Nope. Controllable? Well, if we could control the weather we would no doubt be far more financially secure.

It sounds rather noble for us to say that we put safety before financial consideration, but we honestly don't want take you on an excursion where you are in the water and have a 40 foot boat being tossed around you by 6 foot swells and matching waves. We also don't think it's too much fun for guests to enter and exit the water in these conditions. Are there tour operators who will take you out despite all of this? Yes. But we will not.

So, given all the above information, it can be plainly seen that it is not wise to book your sea tour for the last available day of your vacation. If weather prevents this from happening, you do not have a (safe) alternative option. Rather book your excursion during the earlier part of your holiday - that way, you have the flexibility to arrange for another day and won't miss what could have been the highlight of your visit. 

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

Stingray City in London!!

STINGRAY CITY IN LONDON?

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

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 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!

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 - 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!