Grand Cayman - Turtle Farm - Book on my own?

[asamklove]

I am planning to book an excursion in Grand Cayman to the turtle farm - DCL bundles it with a dolphin swim, so cost is pretty steep. I'm thinking of booking turtle farm admission/tickets thru TripAdvisor - its like $400 less for our party of 7. We'd be on our own to get there.

My husband is SO nervous about a non-DCL sponsored excursion. I noticed the bus fares are about $2/pp each way to the turtle farm & there is a direct bus route.

What concerns should I have? To save such a substantial amount of money - it seems ridiculous to pass up the opportunity to book on my own. He's worried about the ship leaving us behind - unreliable transportation on the island, etc.

Has anyone done this specific excursion on their own?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

[caitlinS9]

We did it on our own, straight through the Turtle Farm Website. I believe we got a % off for booking ahead + my son was free (or way cheap as he was less than 5, Disney would have charged full price for him). We got off the ship, took a short walk to the bus, beat all the Disney folks to the Turtle Farm, enjoyed the day, left with plenty of time to get back on the bus and back to the ship. It was quite easy, highly recommend.

 

[sdjen]

I would not worry about it. I've been there before with DCL but planning to go on our own next time. With a large group like yours I would consider a private taxi van. They would be able to come back for you at whatever time you want so you wouldn't need to worry about getting back in time.

When we were there before, I remember there were taxis out front waiting. I would also check directly with the turtle farm to see if they have a group rate or any ideas about a private transport.

Have fun!

 

[flyersfan1129]

Just remember to factor in the tender times for your return trip and you should be fine.

 

[dwight16]

We were there 2 weeks ago party of 9 we bought tickets online for 45ish and then it was 20 a person for a cab for 3 hours and he took us to hell

 

[asamklove]

We were there 2 weeks ago party of 9 we bought tickets online for 45ish and then it was 20 a person for a cab for 3 hours and he took us to hell

That sounds ominous....care to elaborate?

 

[cheermom2four]

We were there 2 weeks ago party of 9 we bought tickets online for 45ish and then it was 20 a person for a cab for 3 hours and he took us to hell

Had to LOL at your comment as it just clicked (because my parents have been to Hell) what you are talking about

 

[asamklove]

That sounds ominous....care to elaborate?

never mind....googled it....

 

[dwight16]

ha yeah its a rock formation with some cheesy stores you can send a post card from hell.....we did it went out on the 20th and got to our house in Phila area june 1st

 

[londonjon]

If my research is correct, you can book the turtle farm only through DCL, it's called Boatswain's adventure marine park (G26). The name changed a long time ago but DCL hasn't updated the Port Adventure's page. That's my understanding anyway - we're first time cruisers doing WC from Port Canaveral in August so haven't been to GC yet, but my Googling all leads me to it being one and the same.

 

[Eeyorebabies]

You can do just the Turtles with Disney without the Dolphins.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...man-islands/boatswains-adventure-marine-park/

 

[melle]

Im probably going to book through captain marvins

 

[Kimberly1]

The tickets for just the turtle farm through Disney are 90ish. The tickets on the Turtle Farm Site are about 40. Can someone tell me what the difference is? I can only see that lunch is included with Disney's excursion, and I'm sure we won't spend $50 per person on lunch. So now I'm wondering if I'm missing another difference.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The tickets for just the turtle farm through Disney are 90ish. The tickets on the Turtle Farm Site are about 40. Can someone tell me what the difference is? I can only see that lunch is included with Disney's excursion, and I'm sure we won't spend $50 per person on lunch. So now I'm wondering if I'm missing another difference.

Well, through DCL, at least they'll get you there and back. Usually includes a narrative during the bus trip (basic local tour). Otherwise, you need to get yourself there on your nickel. But, if you do it independently, you can spend as much time as you wish there and not have to leave, just because the bus is.

 

[smitty11k]

Do it on your own. We got up and off the ship early and went straight to Turtle Farm. We were back on ship by 2:00 and ate lunch there. GC is a port I don't mind doing on our own and it saves a lot of money. If you want to go to Stingray City book it through Captain Marvins. Their office is right by the port. Super Easy!

 

[anricat]

There's also the "Island Tour and Snorkeling with Stingrays" which I'm pretty sure has a quick stop at the turtle farm and stingray city.

 

[Kimberly1]

Do it on your own. We got up and off the ship early and went straight to Turtle Farm. We were back on ship by 2:00 and ate lunch there. GC is a port I don't mind doing on our own and it saves a lot of money. If you want to go to Stingray City book it through Captain Marvins. Their office is right by the port. Super Easy!

Eating back on the ship is a good idea.

Well, through DCL, at least they'll get you there and back. Usually includes a narrative during the bus trip (basic local tour). Otherwise, you need to get yourself there on your nickel. But, if you do it independently, you can spend as much time as you wish there and not have to leave, just because the bus is.

I read that transportation is only $2 per person and we are good with taking a bus, and the money savings plus being our own schedule (leaving as early or late as we want) or the two main reasons I'm thinking of going on our own.

 

[JimmyV]

If my research is correct, you can book the "turtle farm only" (without dolphins) through DCL, it's called Boatswain's adventure marine park (G26).

I made a slight modification to your statement (in bold) to clarify what you meant. The first three times I read it, I was reading it as "you can only book the turtle farm by going through DCL", which would be confusing to anyone who is trying to research private vendors.

 

[Jenlynn3]

For a person that uses a wheelchair, can you use a taxi or bus if you book Justin the turtle farm with outside vendors

 

[tlprice]

My daughter and I sort of did it on our own. We booked through Discount Excursions. We were going to take the bus, but Discount Excursions was actually less money. It was $48 for adults and $28 for kids, which worked out to $3 each for transportation. They were very easy to find at the port right when we got off the ship. They drove us to the turtle farm, gave us our wrist bands to experience everything at the Turtle Farm and we met them out front 3 hours later. We had time to see the turtles, snorkel with the turtles, swim in the very cool pool, and explore. We did not eat at the Turtle Farm. We ate before we left the ship and then ate when we got back on the ship. We did not have a tour at the Turtle Farm, which was fine with us. We prefer to explore on our own. We saw our table mates on a tour at the turtle farm and they were pretty bored by it because they were stuck with a group listening to someone talk and not able to explore on their own.