Grand Cayman Excursion Recommendations......

[kcatoir]

Hello,
I'm looking for recommendations, good or bad for companies operating the stringray/snorkel packages in Grand Cayman. There are three companies I have been considering, would like some first hand feed back:
1. Grand Cayman Cruise Excursions
2. Captain Marvins
3. Native way water sports.

No particular order. I don't want to just go based on the cheapest....afraid of the old addage, you get what you pay for.

Any help is appreciated
KC

 

[jel0511]

We used Nativeway Sports for our Stingray City excursion, and they were the BEST! There were only 15 or so people on our boat, so we had a very personal experience with the two guides. DCL's excusion has MANY more people (around 50 I believe) so it's more like a cattle call. I've also heard good reports with Captain Marvins, and wouldn't hesitate to use them also. We ended up choosing Nativeway because they pick you up at the pier and drop you off there. We were traveling with kids and didn't want to have to carry them back from Captain Marvin's if they had gotten tired.

 

[DOOGIERUNNER]

We're used both. I thought both were equally as good. Captain Marvin's had a videoagrapher on board. With Nativeway, you have to book your own.

 

[soccercruiser87]

i liked captain marvins when i went to grand cayman. I had all good experiences

 

[kcatoir]

Thanks for your comments,
Any one else have any experiences??
kc

 

[goofyguy1958]

Yep! We did Captain Marvins in May and loved it. My wife thought the whole ideal was "hookey" but said it was one of her best experioences of the cruise. There were 8 people total and we got all the attention we needed - I even have pictures of me holding a Manta up out of the water. My 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son continue to talk about their trip with the "cptain" to this day.

 

[Wavegirl]

the catamaran trip to stingray city on Captain Bryans is excellent and it is really nice when you have kids. There is lots of room and it is much more stable then a regular boat. They are always great with the kids and they have a bathroom too

This is the Grand Cayman Cruise Excursions Tour-Captain Bryans definitely a great choice!!

 

[OurDogCisco]

We used Captain Marvin's with our May cruise. It was great and they had bathrooms. We booked on our own. I'd say there was about 20 people on the boat. We did the 2 snorkel stops and one stop at stingray city. They offered fruit punch to drink as well. I'd use them again in a heart beat. Much cheaper to book on your own though. We had to book separately because our dd2 (almost 3 by 5 days) was not old enough for the disney excursion.

 

[kcatoir]

Thanks for everyone's reply's.
We do want to book on our own not thru DCL.
Just curious did everyone do early am excursion or afternoon???
Wondering how that affects the amount of people and how stired up the water gets for snorkeling?

 

[jel0511]

Thanks for everyone's reply's.
We do want to book on our own not thru DCL.
Just curious did everyone do early am excursion or afternoon???
Wondering how that affects the amount of people and how stired up the water gets for snorkeling?

Considering DCL leaves Grand Cayman at 4:30, early morning tours are really the only option, unless you choose a later 2 hour from Captain Marvins. Personally, I liked having the early morning excursion. We were able to do some shopping downtown and still were back on the ship for lunch. Then, my kids were able to enjoy a mostly emply Mickey pool...... It worked out well for us.

 

[kshabare]

We've used Captain Marvins and were pleased! We even purchased the video (with us in it). We go again 3/1/05 & will do an 11:30 am snorkel. That gives us time to get up, get a good breakfast and not rush the tender. We got plenty of sun when we went so that we won't need to rush to a beach (although they did offer to drop us at 7 mile beach on the way back). This time I'll order sandwiches from room service the night before and baggie them to bring with us on the excursion. We got hungry and there were no snacks on the boat - Just beverages. Don't forget the sunscreen (in your hair part too!). For people who have not snorkeled before it was a shock for our group to learn the snorkeling was not within toe-touching depths. It was a little intimidating for me because I am afraid of fish but I quickly adapted and the sites were truly incredible. Stingray City was toe-touching depths.

Kim