THE SUN DOESN'T ALWAYS SHINE IN THE CARIBBEAN .....

However, we still feel that a bad day in Grand Cayman is better than a freezing, snow-covered day that many countries are currently going through....I honestly don't think we'd last a day in temperatures under 0C!

Skirting a squall during tour in Grand Cayman

We had initially scheduled standard maintenance for "Big John" yesterday, but then we looked at the weather forecast for the weekend and changed minds rather quickly. A decision was made to try and move all our Saturday clients to yesterday - high winds predicted for the 7th - and that means quite tough, choppy conditions in the North Sound.

I would venture to say that many excursion guests might view a re-scheduled tour with some suspicion, but we honestly try to arrange our tours with the best possible experience in mind. The photo above shows a squall during yesterday's tour, but at least the waters were quite calm and the visibility pretty good - that would not be true of conditions today, even if the sun is shining!

Beautifully clear and calm waters

The above photo show how beautiful the waters were at the snorkelling site - the visibility really nice. We got the opportunity to introduce them to Phsycho the moray eel as well - we have not seen him for a while. Captain Mario reported that he was really quite sociable and welcoming, swimming around and giving our guests a really good eyeful of his beauty. We were once again joined by the Stingray Barbara while snorkelling - she is such a delight - no wonder she is Captain Mario's favourite!

Some may see this as double trouble, but we call it a double delight!

Because our guests were all overnight visitors on island, Captain Mario took the opportunity to extend the tour a little so that he could skirt and out-thwart a squall. This way, our guests missed being rained on, and had a little more time to enjoy themselves - so everyone was happy.

Stingray City Sandbar was a happy time with Snowflake doing the kissing and handing out 7 years of good luck - Dwayne the 1st mate has a very big soft spot for her.

So, although there was a little inconvenience to begin with, the tour turned out a success and we hope that our guests are left with magical vacation memories and photos, and we hope that we can welcome them back on Big John again one day soon!

One of the ladies at Stingray City in Grand Cayman

AT WHAT PRICE INTEGRITY?

We do hope that everyone has had a wonderful christmas and New Year and we wish all peace, health and safety for 2015! We wish the same for our very precious stingrays at the Sandbar in Grand Cayman and will make sure we get to kiss as many of them as possible!

We are now entering into the busiest period on the island - end December through to March is usually high season for guests out to enjoy a caribbean vacation away from the cold. It is now considered "winter" here - if you have experienced our summers you will understand why we cover up with sweaters in temperatures of 22 celsius! We look forward to meeting guests from far and wide, whether they arrive by cruise ship or by plane.

Unpleasantly, we have noticed a trend towards "bullying" operators. Over the last 6 months, there has been an increasing number of incidents of guests booking standard tours and then upon arrival loudly arguing that they had booked a private tour and then (a) expect to pay the standard tour fee for a private tour and (b) demand that other clients be abandoned. This has even extended to online queries offering promises of money to "get rid" of already booked guests so they can enjoy a boat to themselves.

Anyone can make a mistake, and we are sure that somewhere in our future there might well be an instance where an error has occurred - should this happen, we would take whatever steps we could to rectify the situation and ensure a great outcome for the guest. But it is horribly unpleasant to have to defend one's integrity when (a) no error has been made and (b) everything about a company and its services are advertised online. 

One wonders if said guests would use the same tactic with an airline or hotel? After booking an economy ticket, would they yell at their pilot that they had booked first class tickets and had not counted on sharing the plane with quite so many people? After booking a standard room in a hotel, would they then confront the manager and demand they had requested the best suite and were unhappy about sharing the hotel pool with so many guests?

Well, perhaps they would. But we can assure the guests who book with us that we value their loyalty and our integrity, and vow that their bookings will never be cancelled because of "better offers". You have shown trust in us by choosing our company's services and boy are we gonna make sure we are worth it!

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 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 - 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!

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!!

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!