Grand Cayman

[Anna Chassereau]

Has anyone ever not booked an excursion for Grand Cayman and just gotten off at the port and walked around? Is there anything interesting to see/do? How's the shopping/restaurants? I can't decide on an excursion that would work for all of us and I'm considering just not booking one and hanging out around the port...our son wouldn't enjoy swimming with stingrays or I'd book that for us. I'm also not sold on the turtle farm as I've heard mixed reviews. The excursion I wanted (the mangrove tour) is sold out

Will it be totally lame to just walk around the port and do some shopping? Any advice is so appreciated! Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

On a Royal cruise, yep.

Not sure if the company exists anymore but we made arrangements with a "duck" tour for later, then went to get lunch at margaritaville. Went back to the port, son got a coconut to drink and eat. Then we took the tour. It was a nice day.

We planned to do it all earlier and then taxi to a beach after the tour, but we were delayed by a few hours.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

On a Royal cruise, yep.

Not sure if the company exists anymore but we made arrangements with a "duck" tour for later, then went to get lunch at margaritaville. Went back to the port, son got a coconut to drink and eat. Then we took the tour. It was a nice day.

We planned to do it all earlier and then taxi to a beach after the tour, but we were delayed by a few hours.

Is the duck tour one that has a bus or vehicle that goes into the water? I was looking at the Amphibious land and sea tour DCL offers...may end up booking it. Would love to go to Margaritaville while we're there too!

 

[Luvzmy3boys]

We did the tiki beach excursion 2 yrs ago and I was underwhelmed though the off beach snorkeling/swimming was nice. Our kids r not into swimming with stingrays either. We got a little mini tour from the bus driver on the way back and had time to wander around a bit too. There r lots of jewelry stores (tanzanite, diamonds) and some luxury retailers (like Gucci) not too far from the port and we felt perfectly safe wandering around. we r going back again and this time we may skip an excursion in favor of a resort day pass and shopping. There r quite a few posts on this forum about the day passes.

 

[AngelDisney]

We are going to just visit the turtle centre then do some shopping around the port area. That's about it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Is the duck tour one that has a bus or vehicle that goes into the water? I was looking at the Amphibious land and sea tour DCL offers...may end up booking it. Would love to go to Margaritaville while we're there too!

Yep. There was one company that seemed to contract with the cruise lines and another that didn't. But I don't know if the more independent one still exists.

Margaritaville is a quick walk away but outside the port itself. Really no biggie. They have a water slide and pool you can use, so bring swimsuits! It's not cheap, though. Of course.

We had intended to cab it over to Tiki Beach. That got missed entirely.

The 7 mile beach is a lot more simple than it sounded while planning.

 

[lizabu]

There've are so many shops and restaurants within steps of the port that it would be pretty easy to spend a couple hours just walking around and looking at everything.

 

[hanscarlet]

We did a day pass at the Westin and it was perfect!

 

[CamColt]

Last year we got a quick drink, and wi fi, at Margaritaville then returned to the ship.

 

[cruiser21]

Has anyone ever not booked an excursion for Grand Cayman and just gotten off at the port and walked around? Is there anything interesting to see/do? How's the shopping/restaurants? I can't decide on an excursion that would work for all of us and I'm considering just not booking one and hanging out around the port...our son wouldn't enjoy swimming with stingrays or I'd book that for us. I'm also not sold on the turtle farm as I've heard mixed reviews. The excursion I wanted (the mangrove tour) is sold out

Will it be totally lame to just walk around the port and do some shopping? Any advice is so appreciated! Thanks!

I've been there many times and not booked an excursion. There's not much to see around the port area. There are some nice beaches a couple miles away. Taxis are easy to find. If you go to the right of the port you can take a glass bottom boat tour. If I remember correctly its like a half submarine type thing. We did that one year with the kids. They liked it. It's not that expensive. There will be a number of tour guides when you exit the port. You may be able to negotiate the tour you want on your own. I never book anything through the cruiseline. I don't see the point of paying double.

 

[gatordoc]

Rackam's is a bar/restaurant just a few blocks from where the tenders dock. Great views, excellent food and drinks, and very friendly people.

 

[Capt_BJ]

do not go to Sunset House

this is where the crew goes to get away from the pass'

I've been going since the mid 80's and all I can say is it is a very friendly place where many Cayman locals hang out ....

do not go here ..... you won't see another person off the ship in all probability

http://www.whatshot.ky/2014/09/sunset-house-my-bar-a-legendary-local-favorite/

 

[jrabbit]

DCL has a couple of excursions to Rum Point - if you are interested in a beach day. I believe they all involve a catamaran ride over and back. Hope to make it there some day. Last cruise we could not stop in GC, so we missed. it.

 

[egesicki]

The Tortuga Rum store is just to the left when you get off the tenders. Mmmm, rum cake....