Excursions : Grand Cayman

[kimmharris]

My excursion booking date is coming up in a few days and I am wondering a few things. Please help!

When you reserve an excursion, is it possible to change your mind and cancel later?

Has anyone done the Dolphin Lovers excursion and if so, is it a good experience? We also need to know if the Dolphin Lovers are in the same area with the Dolphin Swim people. We have many reasons we cannot do the swim and do not want our kids to see that if we choose this excursion.

We are also interested in a family beach excursion in Grand Cayman. Any suggestions?

We are worried about transportation if we do not book through Disney. Has anyone had trouble with this?

What is the typical time Disney spends in the Grand Cayman port? What is a safe time to book an outside excursion?

Thank you in advance for all your help. This board and it's members are awesome!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When you reserve an excursion, is it possible to change your mind and cancel later?

As long as you cancel at least 3 days prior to the start of your cruise you won't be charged. If you cancel after that, unless DCL can "resell" your spot, you will be charged.

 

[kimmharris]

Thank you, PrinceShmoo. I appreciate your wiliness to help those of us who are not quite as cruise savvy!

 

[JimmyV]

We are worried about transportation if we do not book through Disney. Has anyone had trouble with this?

The cruise lines partner with the very same businesses that you can book directly. And those businesses know that the single biggest concern that customers have revolve around transportation issues. Their livelihood depends on being perfect. If so much as one van load of passengers misses their ship, it will be all over TripAdvisor within an hour and they are done for. So in almost every instance, you should have no fears about transportation. There are times, however, when I go on an all day excursion and the return time stated is within an hour of the "all aboard" time. (The trip out to Lamanai in Belize is such an example). In those instances, I stick with the ship's excursion. Otherwise, I book privately.

 

[kimmharris]

Thank you, JimmyV!

 

[kimmharris]

Bump.

 

[melle]

we are doing the Island tour on our cruise next month through DCL. It includes the turtle farm, which was the one thing we wanted to do. We went to Grand Cayman three years ago and did a beach excursion, so this time we thought it would be nice to see more of the island.

 

[AAAG]

7 mile beach is gorgeous. We happened to arrive there when it was pouring rain. Everyone had left. 10 minutes later, the rain had cleared and we had the beach to ourselves.
No need to book disney transportation. The public bus (a minivan really) was very easy to take. The locals and driver were very helpful. it was $2 pp and I don't think they charged for my 2 yo. We also took a "taxi" one way, which was just piling everyone into a minivan, waiting for it to be full, and then leaving. Also very easy and $5 pp if I remember correctly.

 

[Debbie]

The cruise lines partner with the very same businesses that you can book directly. And those businesses know that the single biggest concern that customers have revolve around transportation issues. Their livelihood depends on being perfect. If so much as one van load of passengers misses their ship, it will be all over TripAdvisor within an hour and they are done for. So in almost every instance, you should have no fears about transportation. There are times, however, when I go on an all day excursion and the return time stated is within an hour of the "all aboard" time. (The trip out to Lamanai in Belize is such an example). In those instances, I stick with the ship's excursion. Otherwise, I book privately.

Agreed! I wanted to book with NativeWay and they told me "No, the times wouldn't work" with our cruise.

 

[JTBE]

We are also thinking of doing a beach day on our own to 7 mile beach. I looked into the Royal Palms-- there was an entrance fee around $4 per adult to use the beach and free for children.

 

[funfam]

I have heard great things about grape beach and I think we are going to check it out. We did the dolphin encounter and sting ray city last year and it was a lot of fun. We could see the people doing the dolphin swim, so it might not work for you. With the encounter, we got to kiss and dance with the dolphin.

 

[kimmharris]

We are also thinking of doing a beach day on our own to 7 mile beach. I looked into the Royal Palms-- there was an entrance fee around $4 per adult to use the beach and free for children.

I heard that Royal Palm is super loud because of the DJ. Our oldest has Autism and loud music just won't do. I really liked it otherwise.

 

[kimmharris]

I have heard great things about grape beach and I think we are going to check it out. We did the dolphin encounter and sting ray city last year and it was a lot of fun. We could see the people doing the dolphin swim, so it might not work for you. With the encounter, we got to kiss and dance with the dolphin.

Were they in the same tank or in a different tank? Were they a part of your group that they took out to swim or in a different group? It might work if there is some type of separation.

 

[kimmharris]

we are doing the Island tour on our cruise next month through DCL. It includes the turtle farm, which was the one thing we wanted to do. We went to Grand Cayman three years ago and did a beach excursion, so this time we thought it would be nice to see more of the island.

I did that tour 13 years ago. I really liked it then, but unfortunately with my kids, it won't work since you are on the bus a whole lot.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are also thinking of doing a beach day on our own to 7 mile beach. I looked into the Royal Palms-- there was an entrance fee around $4 per adult to use the beach and free for children.

Just be aware that the pool at Royal Palms (if you should wish to use it) is adult-only (18+)

 

[melle]

I did that tour 13 years ago. I really liked it then, but unfortunately with my kids, it won't work since you are on the bus a whole lot.

my kids are ages 11,11,8,5. hope they like it okay.

 

[funfam]

Were they in the same tank or in a different tank? Were they a part of your group that they took out to swim or in a different group? It might work if there is some type of separation.

It is in a cove, not a tank so you can see the whole area. They were not part of our group and were in a separate section from us but we could see them.

 

[LennyMachine]

I can't answer most of your questions, since my family and I did the Boatswain's Adventure Marine Park (no beach, but a swimming pool and snorkeling in a manmade lagoon) through Disney, and of the questions I could answer, most have been responded to.

But I just have happen to have my handy dandy Navigator for that day from my 7-Night Western Caribbean (Itinerary C) cruise on the Fantasy, and I am able to tell you that "all ashore" was listed as approximately 10:30 a.m. (this was the morning we went to the Disney Junior Character Breakfast, because of the late all-ashore time). The last tender boat was listed as 5:30 p.m., though you are strongly advised by the crew not to come back to the port later than 4:45 or 5:00, just to be safe.

 

[abayaflowers]

We planning on DIY for most of the ports.

It's nice if we need to change and not be subjected to a big fee.

 

[racecarslasersaeroplanes]

Has anyone done the island tour with the Stingray City? Island Tour and Snorkeling with Stingrays (G19)
I definitely want to snorkel with the Stingrays and was originally planning on the G39 deluxe Stingray trip, but would it be worth it to risk an unknown (couldn't find reviews) Stingray boat to do the whole island tour instead? I'm not much of a beach person so I think I'd like an easy stress free way to see all the sights. I noticed that the island tour doesn't take much more time than the Stingray - I just don't want to get shorted with Stingray times!

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...ds/island-tour-and-snorkeling-with-stingrays/