Georgetown Snorkling Excursion

[Lesley Wake]

I'm getting ready to do my bookings for a Western Carribean itinerary and think I'm leaning towards snorkling in Georgetown (I know it's not guaranteed we will be able to tender, which is why I want to do it via DCL for piece of mind and ease of refund). It seems there are two options and I'm wondering if people have done either?

1) Catamaran, Reef and Kittiwake Snorkle Sail ($85, 3.5-4 hrs)

• Start your tour with a short, 10-minute air-conditioned bus transfer to Seven Mile Beach, where you will board a luxurious catamaran and meet your crew.
• After a safety briefing, head out for a short sail to the first of 2 snorkeling stops. Enjoy about 45 minutes of snorkel time at the USS Kittiwake shipwreck. The Kittiwake is the newest warship sunken off the coast of Grand Cayman.
• Move onto the second snorkel destination, a shallow reef, where schools of fish and abundant marine life await your approximate 45-minute exploration.
• Relax on the return sail to Governor’s Beach and enjoy complimentary water and lemonade.
• Arrive in Georgetown after the roughly 10-minute transfer. From here, you can shop on your own or return to the ship.

2) Shipwreck and Reef Snorkling ($43, 2.5-3 hrs)

• Board a custom-built snorkel boat and cruise approximately 15 minutes to your first snorkel site, the famed Cayman Island shipwreck of the Cali, a 220-foot steel schooner.
• Learn basic snorkeling techniques, general safety tips and details about the Cali’s history from experienced dive masters before entering the water, where you’ll snorkel for approximately 45 minutes.
• Travel to your second snorkel site, a beautiful reef formation. In these crystal-clear waters, you’ll see an abundance of aquatic life at close range, from sergeant majors and parrotfish to angelfish and even sea turtles. Your dive masters will feed the fish to bring them closer.
• Relax with complimentary iced water or lemonade on your return cruise back to the pier.

Besides the different snorkle sites, it seems the boat is the main difference. Would you think the "luxury catamaran" be worth the $40 extra vs the "custom-built snorkle boat"? I've snorkled before in Hawaii and Castaway Cay, but both have been from shore, not from a boat. Any opinions are welcome!

 

[grantclaire]

Hi, we did the second excursion. It was well run and fun. The boat was full so it did take abit to get in the water. They went to the Cali and another location close by. Both sites were close to the shore. You walk from the tender dock to the company's location, it is very close by.

 

[Marc D]

We have done number 1 in the past and will do it again in March. We missed the Kittiwake because of sea conditions last time - they brought us to another spot - but it is supposed to be the most interesting snorkeling wreck in the region.

The catamaran does make a big difference. After the second snorkeling stop, they raise the main sail and we glided back to the beach for at least 30-40 minutes. We laid down on the forward nets and just enjoyed the sights without the sound of a motor. One of our best Caribbean cruise memories.

 

[Quellman]

Most companies have cancellation policies for cruisers. The one I used recerntly for a private charter was easy, if your boat doesn't show up or the weather is bad, no cancellation fee and deposit is refunded, don't let cancellation fears be the reason you don't consider other companies.

 

[Lesley Wake]

We have done number 1 in the past and will do it again in March. We missed the Kittiwake because of sea conditions last time - they brought us to another spot - but it is supposed to be the most interesting snorkeling wreck in the region.

The catamaran does make a big difference. After the second snorkeling stop, they raise the main sail and we glided back to the beach for at least 30-40 minutes. We laid down on the forward nets and just enjoyed the sights without the sound of a motor. One of our best Caribbean cruise memories.

Yeah, I definitely do love the idea of relaxing in the net! I'm leaning towards this one!

Most companies have cancellation policies for cruisers. The one I used recerntly for a private charter was easy, if your boat doesn't show up or the weather is bad, no cancellation fee and deposit is refunded, don't let cancellation fears be the reason you don't consider other companies.

I guess also I'm a solo cruiser, and this is my first cruise doing port excursions (my previous one just stopped in Nassau and we didn't get off the boat), so I'm ok with paying a bit more for less stress!

 

[Quellman]

Yeah, I definitely do love the idea of relaxing in the net! I'm leaning towards this one!

I guess also I'm a solo cruiser, and this is my first cruise doing port excursions (my previous one just stopped in Nassau and we didn't get off the boat), so I'm ok with paying a bit more for less stress!

No problem at all. have a wonderful time, the sights are pretty nice in the caymans!

 

[SamFaniam]

We have done number 1 in the past and will do it again in March. We missed the Kittiwake because of sea conditions last time - they brought us to another spot - but it is supposed to be the most interesting snorkeling wreck in the region.

The catamaran does make a big difference. After the second snorkeling stop, they raise the main sail and we glided back to the beach for at least 30-40 minutes. We laid down on the forward nets and just enjoyed the sights without the sound of a motor. One of our best Caribbean cruise memories.

Thanks for your review. How did you get on and off the catamaran into the water? We did a trip once in Cozumel where they essentially lowered a staircase in the water. This made it much easier for my mother to get on and off the ship versus climbing a ladder off the side.

 

[Marc D]

Thanks for your review. How did you get on and off the catamaran into the water? We did a trip once in Cozumel where they essentially lowered a staircase in the water. This made it much easier for my mother to get on and off the ship versus climbing a ladder off the side.

If my memory is correct, they had the same setup on the catamaran. The boat is too big to have to climb over the side.

 

[soniam]

We have done #1 twice and plan to do it again next summer. It’s one of our favorite snorkeling excursions we have done in the Caribbean.

 

[Jessicabr]

for us also, The first tour was pretty amazing. But in the end, whichever one you choose, you will enjoy!