Grand Cayman welcoming tourists???

[Miss Eeyore]

Most of the cruise line websites are still offering Grand Cayman as a port. I've read here and elsewhere that that island was particularly devastated. How do we know the itineraries if the sites are listing a port that everyone else says won't be "open" for weeks?

Marilee

 

[traycie2201]

Hi Marilee because it's a temporary change the itineraries for future cruises won't change. We are cruising 9th october and our port will be costa maya instead of GC, i have read that GC won't be fully operational for several more weeks yet so check with your cruise line for your specific sailing, however if you're cruising western DCl in next few weeks then unless anything else happens it will be costa maya and excursions will be offered on board.

 

[AnnMorin]

But I really hope we go to costa maya instead in Dec. we are 65 days out and my guess is GC will be back up by then but I REALLY would love to go to costa maya to get the chance to go to some good ruins!

 

[WDWLVR]

Ann I think you'll go to Costa Maya - sounds like Grand Cayman won't be up until the first of the year.

 

[vossjemi]

Here is a post on cruisecritic from the operating manager of www.grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com. He seems to think sometime in november.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=80469

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Thanks for that link, vossjemi.

 

[denise5374]

I read in the www.stormcaib.com news forums that the island will be closed to tourist until Jan 1 2005.

Sorry, I don't know how to do the link thing. If you go to that website click on reports, scroll down the left side to Cayman Islands and click it takes you to a list of message boards and it is in there...soryy I can't be more specific. I will go look for it and edit this message......

EDIT:
Since I still can't do the link, here is the message that was posted on that board.

Cayman open for Business...
From: Gert van Dijken <gert AT vandijken.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 16:15:08 -0400 (EDT)

Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 13:01:48 -0500
From: Tom McCallum <tmccallum_AT_thereef.com.ky>

Cayman will be "open for business" January 1st, 2005..... the best thing
anyone who cares about Cayman can do is to plan a visit to Cayman for early
2005.... and bring your friends and family...... you will be GUARANTEED the
warmest and friendliest welcome and hospitality you have every received in
your entire life...... we will be so happy to see you all.

Numerous hotels and resorts will be open for business before year end, some
in time for Thanksgiving.... I will arrange for updates on individual
properties to be sent to you weekly from now on, with the first detailed
update expected by Wednesday next week.

Don't know if this is "official" communication or not.

 

[AnnMorin]

I do feel horible for the people of grand cayman and all the income they are losing I just would love to go to costa maya this time around.

 

[lbgraves]

I'm with you Anne! I wasn't interested in the other ruin tour this time around because of the time it takes to drive there...too much for the kids & too long to leave them on the ship without us. Maybe since this place is smaller it will be closer?

 

[MarkRG]

There's two groups on Grand Cayman, the residents, and the British Government. Sofar, from everything I've read, I would trust Stormcarib over any official channels at this point.

One thing most don't know, Grand Cayman is one of the big offshore bank centers for Britain. The government is doing everything they can to downplay how bad the situation is there to prevent any of the banks from pulling up stakes. That includes not letting anyone from the media on the island. That's why the only sources of info are the islanders.

Here's some links to look at of how bad it really is on the island. It will be months before the island is really ready to recieve visitors.

http://www.davidolson.com/

http://gallery.shorelinx.ky/main.php/view/ivan/?g2_page=1

http://blueoceanart.com/ivan/

And there are some scattered ones on Stormcarib as well.
http://www.stormcarib.com/reports/2004/cayman.shtml