Grand Cayman - Which Stingray Tour?

[mad4themouse]

I'm 60 days away from cruising and now I'm beginning to seriously look at excursion packages.

There are 4 on the Disney website for Stingray City:

• Stingray City Snorkel Tour - @$45
• Stingray City Reef Sail & Snorkel - @$40
• Rum Point Beach Adventure & Stingray City - @$65
• Island Tour & Snorkeling with Stingrays - @$60

There's also another: Stingray City Observatory and Island Tour - @$55, but it looks like there would be no interaction with the stingrays and the kids really want to get up close and touch them.

Has anyone been on any of these and if so, which would you recommend? I really don't have to take an island tour or see Hell on this trip but if its doable without too much rushing around, then I'd be interested. We have the Main Seating for dinner and would not want to cut it too close timewise, so that would also be a big consideration for us. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[RKB]

I am booking my own tour through captainmarvins.com. I have only heard good things about this trip from others. They refund your money if your ship does not make it to the island due to bad weather, etc.. I went on the Disney Wonder last July and did only Disney Excursions. You are stuck having to go at their times, meeting early and waiting for others, etc.. Once we got off the boat I realized how many other things there were to do at better prices. This is when I decided that I would book my own for my next cruise. I am using shoretrips.com for Cozumel and we are going to actually swim with the dolphins (not just have an excursion) for less money. Transportation is also not a problem. There are tons of taxi's etc right at the port. Hopet his helps.

 

[Kabuli1]

Captain Marvins! It's a wonderful experience!

Karyn

 

[buzz638]

Hi mad4themouse, 60 days? does that mean you're
on the western cruise the 16th of august ?
-
If it's the case we are going to be on the same cruise
-
We and a few other members of this board, are booked for the
Capt.Marvins excursion.
It's our first cruise so i've asked the same questions,
and got a lot of positive feedback on Capt.Marvin's stingray excursion.
You can check them out at :

http://www.captainmarvins.com

Have a wonderful cruise...
Steff

 

[saturday97]

We did Captain Marvin's in May and were thrilled-- it was our favorite excursion of the cruise! We did the half day with two snorkeling stops plus the stingrays, and we felt we had ample time with the stingrays (they are so much fun, you'll have a BLAST!!). Plus, after the tour, we spent some time shopping and having lunch at the Hard Rock, so there is time afterward to take a taxi around or shop, whatever you'd like! We also had main seating and were in time for a quick shower and then dinner.

 

[GenieDana]

Just did NativeWay on June 10th. $25 pp and kids under 6 are free. If you do not go into the water it's $10.

You pay at the end of the trip - credit cards or cash while on the boat.

Nice boat - we were on the Key West hull (a purpose built shallow-drive diving boat with a waterline transom). We were originally scheduled for another boat (19 in our group) but a broken starter on our scheduled boat joined us with the original group on the Key West hull (piloted byCaptain Eldon [owner]), so we had just under 30 in our group all together. We could have elected for a later trip, or hooked up with someone else but they were all booked for the morning excursion times. Normal they schedule no more than 20 - 22 per boat. The boat had plenty of seating, just not all of it in the shade because of the larger group.

Went to Stingray City and Coral Gardens (trip was 9:30 to Noon).

I would have spent the whole time at Stingray City in retrospect, Coral Gardens was a little rough for snorkeling that day (2 - 3 foot seas), especially with small kids in tow.

Picked us up at the Gazebo at the North tender peir, and would return us to the pier or 7-mile Beach. We elected to take an Island tour with one of their associates for $10 each afterward.

The driving tour took us to Turtle Farm (stopped for an hour to eat at the "Cracked Conch" next to Turtle Farm- quaint but expensive!), then on to Hell and along the Queens Highway? (a newer road away from 7-mile Beach), then back through George Town and on to the pier.

I felt the did a good job with us in the water. Everyone who wanted to got to hold a stingray. The kids had fun petting and feeding. A great experience! Worth it!

 

[tezb]

We are booked w/ Capt Marvins but can't decide between them and Capt Bryans...Capt bryans has Catamarans and that sounds nice. How are the cabin cruisers on Capt marvins? Do they also have a restroom on them? Did you find the trip was rocky enough to cause seasickness under normal conditions? Just wondering if the bonine is a good idea as I have only been on a small boat once before in Hawaii...many years ago. Did Capt Marvins take video of anyone's trip? Like that idea too!

 

[GenieDana]

PS - Nativeway had a head on the boat (the boat was very clean and well maintained), and supplied ice, punch and water to drink. If you want videotape or pictures you did that on own (how would they do it for so many in the water at one time anyway, especially if the Captain and Mate are very busy catching stingrays for us to hold and play with, besides keeping people out of danger?)

Hint - Bring disposable water cameras (they sell for under $8 at Target and Walmart). You can also get drybags for your video camera (the fit regular cameras too) on eBay for about $10, which will let you swim with your video camera and film underwater (snorkel depths). The more adventurous might try a high quality Ziploc, but I wasn't that brave.

 

[tezb]

Genie...Actually the 2 Captains do offer professional picture and video taking. There are a few on this board who have already purchased the DVD's/pics. It 's just that they don't always have a videographer on each tour. If you plan on buying a video, you just mention it to them so that they get more footage of your trip. Sounds like a great souvenir...it's edited and put to Bahamian music. They actually are divers who go under the water and get footage from all angles. I emailed them and got the details.

 

[GenieDana]

tezb

Will have to consider this next time - What is the cost?

 

[ruvidu]

We did the 3 stop tour with Capt. Marvin in Sept. last year. Loved everything about it and we did purchase the video. It is shot from below you as you snorkle. They also got great footage of each couple as we played with and fed the rays.
Hey, 8/16 is my BD. Party hearty for me.
Russ

 

[tezb]

From what I hear the costs varies depending on whether you purchase a DVD or VHS tape. Somewhere between 35.00-45.00?? Haven't done yet....just researched. Hopefully we'll get a chance to be filmed also.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hey GenieDana.

Nativeway had a head on the boat

Sounds too cannibalistic. I'll stick with Captain Marvin's...

 

[buzz638]

Ahhhh Buckaroo's dad you are unbeleivable...

Sounds too cannibalistic. I'll stick with Captain Marvin's...

Only 58 days till i finally meet you

What an experience this wiil be...

Steff

 

[DisneyDadInFL]

My family will be doing Stingray City with Captain Marvin on 8/19 @ 11:15 thanks to all of the helpful information I received on this board....thank you!

 

[buzz638]

Hi Disneydad
We will meet there 4 sure
we are also booked with them at same time...
-
With all the terrific feed back i got from these boards
i can only predict a great excursion...


See you there...

Steff

 

[mad4themouse]

Thank you, everyone, for the input. I reserved space for us on the Captain Marvin's half-day tour that starts at 10am and goes until 1pm. That should give us enough time in the water and we'll still have the afternoon to shop.

Now, to plan Cozumel.....

 

[ruvidu]

Be sure to take time and look around Capt. Marvins shop/office. They have some neat souvineirs. My wife's favorite thing from GC was a Sterling Stingray purchased at a jewelry store right where you catch the tender. There is also a little shop run by a real nice lady just down the block from Capt. M. She sells the rum cakes that are out of this world. She will have samples out for you to try.
Here is hoping your trip will be as memorable as ours.
Russ