We had a great time at both...we like the shopping better in cozumel.
In Grand Cayman..we enjoyed the fresh fish cooked on the deck for us at Big Bamboo...a microbrew bar, with grill on the deck. The beers are great..the food is fresh and delicious. We had stopped at Rackhams, before Big Bamboo. Rackhams serves the islands Stingray beer. The food coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled wonderful...we will try that next time. Rackhams also has a great souvenier shop. Rackhams and Big Bamboo are a short walk up..left as you leave the dock area..ocean side of the street. The Tortuga rum cakes are wonderful..as well as the rum. You can get some of the rums on the ship..or you can only purchase them at the little store..looks like a little house..right at the dock...other than that..you can't purchase the alocohol there.
In Cozumel..we started with a quick cab ride out to Mr. Sanchos beach area to enjoy the beach and a wonderful lunch on the recommendation of people from this board who had cruised before us. The food was fantastic...good prices, beautiful beach area...hated to leave..we spent about three hours and cabs were there to take us back to the shopping district/dock area so we didn't have to wait. We had the driver drop us at the far end of the shopping district..the forum shops. Little Havana, above the forum shops.has a great humidor, hubby wanted cigars. They also make wonderful mojitos and the restaurant manager was in and was a wealth of info, as well as the bartenders. Great to visit with. Downstairs in the forum shops was where we could pick up our free diamond earrings and tanzanite earrings. I forgot the coupons, but they let me have them anyway..and that was before I made a purchase..so that was really nice. In fact, we were leaving..and they didn't want me to leave empty handed..lol..couldn't believe it. Started talking with the guy..looking around a little more and did end up with a beautiful pair of diamond and pink sapphire earrings. Great price.
There is also a one price shop..which has local artists handy crafts in it as well as many, many trinkets. We loved this place..picked up some great stuff. I collect teapots..so got a one of a kind, hand made. You don't have to negotiate any prices hear..and all prices were great. (can't rememer the name of the shop..but someone else here will I am sure..it will also be listed in your navigator shopping page for cozumel, Cinco soles..maybe comes to mind).
We purchase our Vanilla and tequila at Sedanos maket..just a couple block walk, up the street (away from the dock), on the recommendation of the people in the cuban restaurant.
Then, we took all our pakcages back to the ship..freshened up and came back out for dinner. We at at Carlos and Charlies...the food was fantastic. The restaurant/bar/dancing...is right across from the dock..the front is open, nice breeze at night..beautiful lit up ships, sitting on the water..nice. Great service..and we had a blast.
