Green Grotto Caves (FA73), Jamaica - questions

[FigmentSpark]

If you've been on this excursion, can you tell me why they ask you to bring a change of clothes on the excursion? Also, it say to leave all jewellery and valuables in the vehicle. Why is that and how 'safe' would it be? Can you bring a camera and are you allowed to take photos? How about using a flash?

It talks about 'encountering' the serene grotto awash with underground waters. Is there swimming or just seeing and walking by it?

Also, what type of shoes are best for this excursion? Sandals, sneakers, or hiking boots?

Oh, and it asks you to bring a hat, also mentioning bats. Why a hat and is there any chance the bats will 'attack'?

 

[Tasmen]

You are making me now have questions too! I have the Green grotto reserved coming up in July on our RCCL cruise. There is nothing mentioned on the RCCL site about leaving valuables in a bus or hats due to bats. If I had to guess on the bats, I would think it has to do with them possibly pooping on you. If you are wearing a hat, you won't get it in your hair or on your face.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Another question - it says to bring insect repellant. Are there a lot of mosquitos in there or what type of insects are we protecting against?

You are making me now have questions too! I have the Green grotto reserved coming up in July on our RCCL cruise. There is nothing mentioned on the RCCL site about leaving valuables in a bus or hats due to bats. If I had to guess on the bats, I would think it has to do with them possibly pooping on you. If you are wearing a hat, you won't get it in your hair or on your face.

Does it give any differing information than the DCL site excursion?

 

[lklgoodman]

Most excursions usually say to leave jewelry/other valuables on the ship, haven't seen any say on the bus though. I wouldn't leave anything valuable on a bus. Agree hat is probably in case a bat poops. Any time we've toured caves, we've worn tennis shoes. I think this excursion once included a stop at a beach, perhaps the change of clothes was from then(hate to say, but DCL doesn't always update their site).

 

[lklgoodman]

A lot of Caribbean excursions will say to bring insect repellent. We've done 5 Caribbean excursions and have never gotten bit by mosquitoes, 3 cruises in Jan, 2 in March, not sure if the mosquitoes are bad in summertime there. I would think the bats would eat most of them so they wouldn't be bad in the caves.

 

[FigmentSpark]

That was my thinking, too, but with the potentially wet area, I wondered.

 

[71 Truck]

When we did the tour last year. I do not remember any one saying anything about leaving jewelry back at the boat or bringing a change of clothing.
I wore a pair of Merrell hiking boots my wife wore sneakers.
Before we entered the cave they gave everyone a hair net and a hard hat to wear they may want people to wear a hat under the hard hat now.
I took a camera and used the flash and no one said anything to me about no using one, that may also have changed for some reason.
There was springs in the cave but we did not go swimming.

All in all it was a interesting tour.

 

[71 Truck]

This was our tour guide. Very nice gentleman. He did a very good job explaining what we were looking at.


These were the springs however no one went swimming. We just walked around the area.

 

[71 Truck]

Another question - it says to bring insect repellant. Are there a lot of mosquitos in there or what type of insects are we protecting against?


I do not remember a lot of mosquito however we did use our own insect repellent before we left the ship. At one time if my memory serves me correctly I think Disney had insect repelant on the gangway as you were getting off the ship. I don't know if they still do it.

 

[FigmentSpark]

You've described what I expected the tour to be, so it surprised me to see these other things in the "know before you go" section. Thanks.

 

[71 Truck]

Also to add, we did this tour last April/May so they may have changed some of the thing you do during the entire time you are away from the ship. They may have added a stop?

 

[FigmentSpark]

I suppose it's possible.

 

[lozzypop]

We did this tour last May (2019) and enjoyed it (we also had a very good guide). I don't have too much to add to 71 Truck's explanation.

The bus ride was about an hour each way, so be prepared for that. You should be able to navigate steps and narrow walkways, and the path can be uneven at times. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended. It was fairly humid inside the caves and the hairnet and hardhat can cause your head to overheat, so bring water/fan/chill-wrap etc. to cool you down. I would recommend insect repellent, but I expect that the bats keep the insect population in check. Mosquitoes normally love me like I'm a prime rib dinner and I don't recall being bitten at all on the trip. There's a fence around the springs, so you can't get close enough to dip your toe in, let alone swim. Lots of people took pictures (including me!) but some parts are better lit than others, so bear that in mind. If I recall correctly, our guide even turned out the lights in one part of the caves so we could get a sense of how dark it gets underground.

I don't recall any warning about jewellery and can't think of why you would have to leave it in the car. Maybe as a general precaution? For example, if a piece of jewellery fell off (broken chain, ring slips off your finger, etc.) and into the springs or another inaccessible part of the cave, there would be no way to retrieve it. So you wouldn't want to wear anything that you would be devastated to lose. A change of shirt might be nice if you get really sweaty, but I can't think that you "need" a change of clothes unless they have added a beach stop.

We saw bats resting on the ceiling of the caves, but none flying about. I don't think you need to be worried about bats swooping overhead.

 

[Majordis]

We did this excursion when there was a beach stop included which may explain the change of clothes. I brought insect repellent but never needed it. As PP mentioned, you must wear a hard hat on this tour so I don’t think a hat is required. I wouldn’t think they would allow swimming in the caves for safety reasons. Definitely don’t leave valuables on the bus. Overall we enjoyed this excursion.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Thanks. I guess those were holdovers from an older version of the excursion. There doesn't seem to be a beach stop mentioned in it.