Grand Cayman Excursion Question

[jk1]

Trying to decide between the Stingray City excursion and the Island Tour & Snorkeling with Stingray excursion. The group has 3 teen boys 15-17. Which tour would be best?

They both seem to be about the same length. Do you just snorkel longer with the stingrays on the Stingray City excursion? Do you have a satisfying snorkel time with the stingrays if you do the Island Tour & Snorkeling with Stingray excursion? Is the Island Tour boring for teens?

Thanks in adavance for your input.

 

[traycie2201]

HI I had the same dilemma with DS 13 and after numerous hours searching this board decided to go with just the stingray and coral garden snorkel tour through www.nativewaytours.com, they have a website and the trip looks great and was only $30 each, i believe Hell is only worth sending a postcard so decided we'd just go with this tour which gives you a 3 hour trip with around 45 mins with stingrays and 45 mins of snorkelling over a coral garden. My DS is really looking forward to it and we'll use the spare money for spending the rest of the day at 7 mile beach.
Have fun which ever trip you go on

Traycie

 

[BoardwalkBabe]

We did this excursion and thought it was just okay. The load you into relatively small buses and then you are on your way. Our driver pointed out a few sites along the way. First stop was Hell, where you are given 15 minutes to see the place, buy your postcards and mail them (it was barely enough time). Next stop was the turtle farm and they gave you an hour there, but you really didn't need an hour to see the place. Final stop, the dock where you got on the boat to do the stingray tour.

The boat takes you out to stingray sandbar, which is crowded with many boats and millions of people. It was not a relaxing experience by any means and we were sorry we didn't book a private excursion because those boats were further away from the crowds and chaos.

 

[il-gander]

Were you actually snorkeling at the Stingray City sandbar on this tour? I've read mixed reports where some are standing in 3-4 feet of water on the sandbar, and some are in deeper water actually needing to swim. We're thinking of taking this tour and we'd actually prefer the shallower water as I'm afraid DDs will freak out in deeper water with the stingrays all around them... thanks!

Carla

 

[traycie2201]

Hi the one we are booked on through www.nativewaywatersports.com had this description.

The snorkeling tour goes to Stingray Sandbar and Coral Gardens AND lasts for 2.5 hours 35 mins with stingrays and 35 mins snorkelling. We provide all snorkeling gear, food for the Rays, pick up from the pier, and complimentary punch and bottled water. After the snorkeling tour, you have two options for drop off: back to the pier, or at 7 mile beach (where you can taxi back at any time for $4 per person). Stingray city sandbar is around 3 - 5 ft deep so is waist high for most people , coral gardens is around 10ft deep with clear water for snorkelling.

Hope this helps, p.s we only paid $30 pp for this !

 

[MariettaC]

il-gander, I did the stingrays in October with my 9 year old grandchildren. We could not stand as the water was over our heads - I'm 5'3". My grandson was freaked out by all the stingrays surrounding us so he basically clung to my neck the entire time. My granddaugher however loved it and we were lucky to have someone from the crew of our boat stay with her the entire time so I could tend to my grandson. So it's not really for everyone - but you don't know until you get there. Have fun!

 

[BoardwalkBabe]

The excursion we went on, booked thru DCL, was in water that was easy to stand up in. I am 5'4" and the water was no where up to my neck. It was deep enough to snorkel in, but you could also just walk around or stand in the water without ever going under. It was choppy that day, so there were some waves, but that was it.

 

[il-gander]

Thanks, BoardwalkBabe! That's what I was hoping to hear. We're looking at the same excursion you took, through DCL. It seems like the different excursion companies go to different areas in the Stingray City area and it varies widely as to the depth of the water.

Carla