castaway cay stingray timing?

[sln88]

I am thinking the 1st trip of the day would be best because they would be hungriest? sound right?
or, is there a better time to book it for?

 

[skibum]

We were late afternoon, and they kept eating.

 

[asreitzel]

I asked that question during our excursion and they said it doesn't matter. They will eat all day long. The first one is at 9am and if you have kids to drop at Scuttle's Cove it would be impossible to make it (Scuttle's opens at 9am). The walk to the Stingray Hut is probably 20 minutes from the ship. The excursion is located between the Teen Beach and the Sports Beach.

 

[Jo-Anne]

I'm thinking of doing this for our family (kids will be 9 & 6) during our Feb 5 cruise, but I'm concerned that the water temp will be too cool and the kids might not want to stay in the water (and for that matter, how are Stingrays in cooler waters!?). I know this excursion hasn't been around that long, but any idea from others about the water temp at CC in Feb?

 

[sln88]

if time does not matter for the stingrays, then is there a time I do/don't want to book because of certain kids club activities? My DH and kids will be going and I don't want them to miss something fun.
DD and I already did this is Grand Cayman and once is enough for me, but can we observe and take pics?

 

[Jeanne B]

can we observe and take pics?

I signed my DH, DD12 and I up for the stingray adventure and I remember it saying on the website that children under 16 (or 16 & under) had to be accompanied by an adult.

I see you're on the 10/27 Wonder also...did you post on cruise meets a while back? Your screen name sounds familiar.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Well, I booked the 11AM for mine, because I know when it's over...I'LL BE HUNGRY!

 

[Jeanne B]

Well, I booked the 11AM for mine, because I know when it's over...I'LL BE HUNGRY!

I booked the 11:00 a.m. spot for the same reason you did!!

 

[sln88]

I signed my DH, DD12 and I up for the stingray adventure and I remember it saying on the website that children under 16 (or 16 & under) had to be accompanied by an adult.

I see you're on the 10/27 Wonder also...did you post on cruise meets a while back? Your screen name sounds familiar.

Hi
I think I did post there awhile ago. DH will be going with the boys, so they will have an adult with them. Looks like there are alot of fun kids activities going on all day, so I don't know when to sign them up?

what did you decide to do in Nassau? I am having a heck of a time picking something

 

[Jeanne B]

Hi
I think I did post there awhile ago. DH will be going with the boys, so they will have an adult with them. Looks like there are alot of fun kids activities going on all day, so I don't know when to sign them up?

what did you decide to do in Nassau? I am having a heck of a time picking something

We're doing a snorkeling excursion with Stuart Cove's...the 3rd snorkeling stop is with sharks and my DD is so excited about it!! We'll have a couple of hours to kill in the morning so I think we'll either do a little shopping in Nassau or we'll just stay on the ship and eat lunch before the excursion. We'll probably just play it by ear because I have no idea what to expect in Nassau since we've never been there.

 

[sln88]

We're doing a snorkeling excursion with Stuart Cove's...the 3rd snorkeling stop is with sharks and my DD is so excited about it!! We'll have a couple of hours to kill in the morning so I think we'll either do a little shopping in Nassau or we'll just stay on the ship and eat lunch before the excursion. We'll probably just play it by ear because I have no idea what to expect in Nassau since we've never been there.

I was looking at that- pretty highly recommended on cruisecritic. I was a little leary of not taking a Disney excursion(I don't know why- me and DD did on our last cruise). It seemed like there was alot of time spent on the bus picking up people? That kind of turned me off, but maybe the Disney ones are just as bad.

 

[mylilnikita]

JeanneB: I would love to snorkel with Stuart Cove's. Please write back after you have done it and tell us all about it. I want to do that, but leary since it isn't a Disney booked excursion. I know they have a contract with Disney for the scuba, they should have one for the 3 location snorkel.





DD7 and I will be doing the CC Ray's Stingray Excursion in Dec., we are doing the 9 am time due to things she wants to do in Scuttle's Cove afterwards.

 

[Jeanne B]

JeanneB: I would love to snorkel with Stuart Cove's. Please write back after you have done it and tell us all about it. I want to do that, but leary since it isn't a Disney booked excursion. I know they have a contract with Disney for the scuba, they should have one for the 3 location snorkel.

I'll be sure to do a trip report when we get back. I was a little nervous about it not being a ship sponsored excursion but we went on our first cruise in January and did all the excursions on our own and it worked out great (and saved some $$). We're doing the afternoon trip and we'll have close to 2 hours to spare after the schedule drop off time so that's enough cushion for me to feel comfortable that we'll be back to the ship on time even if there's a delay (others may disagree, though!!). I can't wait and my DD12 is really looking forward to the shark snorkel. My DH is wimping out though and I think he'll be observing from the boat!!

 

[asreitzel]

I don't know what the policy is on observers, but since it is right off the beach I doubt there would be a problem. There was a Shutters photographer at our excursion.
It was pretty hot in the morning at Castaway Cay and I felt really guilty leaving our DD3 at Scuttles where she would have to stay dry & hot. They do play water games in the afternoon, so I would have felt less guilty if we would have had an afternoon excursion. I've heard the weather cools down a bit in the next few weeks, so it might not be an issue.

 

[jencav5]

I'll be sure to do a trip report when we get back. I was a little nervous about it not being a ship sponsored excursion but we went on our first cruise in January and did all the excursions on our own and it worked out great (and saved some $$). We're doing the afternoon trip and we'll have close to 2 hours to spare after the schedule drop off time so that's enough cushion for me to feel comfortable that we'll be back to the ship on time even if there's a delay (others may disagree, though!!). I can't wait and my DD12 is really looking forward to the shark snorkel. My DH is wimping out though and I think he'll be observing from the boat!!

We used Stuart Cove's for a shark diving excursion just this past March. We were cruising Carnival and they weren't offering any dives, so we booked it on our own. Stuart Cove's was great! We walked to the location at the port where they picked us up. We did stop at a hotel to pick up others, but it was not long. When we were done, they went out of their way to make sure everyone was getting back to where they needed to be and they dropped off the cruise ship people first. The dive was in the afternoon, so, in the morning we went shopping in Nassau. There is plenty of shopping within walking distance of the port. The shark dive was so cool-I'm sure the snorkel will be great, too! The sharks stay below, so it shouldn't be too scary. I think you will enjoy it.

 

[Jeanne B]

We used Stuart Cove's for a shark diving excursion just this past March. We were cruising Carnival and they weren't offering any dives, so we booked it on our own. Stuart Cove's was great! We walked to the location at the port where they picked us up. We did stop at a hotel to pick up others, but it was not long. When we were done, they went out of their way to make sure everyone was getting back to where they needed to be and they dropped off the cruise ship people first. The dive was in the afternoon, so, in the morning we went shopping in Nassau. There is plenty of shopping within walking distance of the port. The shark dive was so cool-I'm sure the snorkel will be great, too! The sharks stay below, so it shouldn't be too scary. I think you will enjoy it.

I've read nothing but great reviews about Stuart Cove's so I'm sure it will be a blast!!

 

[sln88]

ok, exactly what kinds of sharks are these....

 

[Jeanne B]

ok, exactly what kinds of sharks are these....

This is the description from the Stuart Cove website...

If the weather permits, we will stop at a 3rd location to allow you to experience an incredible thrill - snorkeling with Caribbean Reef Sharks.
Don't worry.... it sounds scarier than it really is. The location we visit is one where shark feeding takes place with scuba divers. When you visit as a snorkeler - a bait box is lowered on a rope to a depth of 40 feet. That box creates a scent trail that will attract the animals to the area. However, because the scent is at depth - the sharks stay close to the bottom.
We then enter the water snorkeling and stay on the surface observing these magnificent creatures in their natural environment from above. Once you exit - you will be able to debunk a myth created by Hollywood and share with your friends what you learned first hand:
Sharks are not man eaters. They are attracted to their natural diet which is fish - not you.
These are magnificent graceful creatures.
As the apex predator of the ocean - their job is to ensure the health of the overall marine ecosystem by removing the weak and dieing animals in the area. This ensures that only the healthy and strong survive.
The greatest predator to sharks is man.

As we said, this site and activity are optional, based on the weather. Anyone not comfortable going into the water on the shark stop may still participate in observing these magnificent creatures from the upper deck, and watch them from a distance while still getting great views! It is an incredible experience that we have come to know in The Bahamas, and a gift that we want to share with you whenever possible.

 

[sln88]

I had read that- the pic almost looks like great white sharks? or are they just some kind of vegetarian shark?

 

[Jeanne B]

I had read that- the pic almost looks like great white sharks? or are they just some kind of vegetarian shark?

I hope they're vegetarian sharks!!

I'm NO shark expert but I think the reef sharks are similar to nurse sharks which are harmless to humans unless they're threatened or provoked (based on what I've read on some of the travel forums).