Looking for info on Stingray City Excursions

Sunny Suse

Earning My Ears
Joined
Feb 26, 2003
Messages
16
Can anyone help me out? I was wondering if anybody has booked the Stingray City excursion direct, as opposed to going through DCL. I understand there's a few choices, Captain Marvin's being one of them. What was your experience like? I've been warned that some of these excursion boats are like cattle cars, with many people on board. We're looking for a smaller group to go with. Any suggestions?

Thanks!



Suse
 
We were there several years ago. The outfit we went with (don't remember whom) had a large, ferry-like boat. Although it wasn't filled completely, there were a lot of people. At first I was dismayed, but it turned out to be a blessing. The Stingray sand bar is quite far from any port. It's really in middle of nowhere. The day we went, the wind was a bit strong and the waves along the way were sizable. Because of the size of our boat, we had no problem. But, I can imaging passengers on smaller boats can get bounced around a lot more. So, even if you're not prone to seasickness, you may be better off in a larger boat.
 
We used them this past December and they were great! I told Ruth (contact her via email) that I wanted to be with a small group as DS was nervous and we got just that, there was about ten of us on our boat including my family of three. I would definately use them again!
 
We are going on the March 15th cruise and are booked with Diver Down. We did this because they on have 6 or 8 people booked but it can be either scuba (we scuba) or snorkle as where they go the depth is 21 feet and suppose to be an even nicer sight but people need to be good swimmers. When we return I will post how it worked out.
 

Their office is just 3 blocks from where you disembark and the people are wonderful. I believe there were 10 or so folks on our boat and everyone had a great time. My son and his wife are cruising ing Nov. and they will be calling on Capt. Marvin as well.
Have a great time.
 
Here is what I have been able to gather based on the e-mail these two operators have sent me and what I have read on this Board:

CAPTAIN MARVINS:
You can walk to their (Captain Marvin's) pickup location easily from the dock. Directions: Get off the dock and stroll over to the Waterfront Center upon exiting the tender - walk the strip to the left. Go two long blocks to the LEFT of the cruise ship landing and they are on the right side - bathrooms are in the back with a nice little gift store inside as well.

Short Excursion (approx. 2.5 hours): 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, 11:15 AM to 1:15 PM, or 1:45 to 3:45 PM, Monday through Friday (Check in by 8:00 AM, 10:45 AM or 1:15 PM)

- Stingray City sandbar, where you may feed and swim with the 'rays
- Snorkel at the incredible Barrier Reef!
Price: US$34 (ages 12 and over); US$20 (ages 4-11) under age 4, free!

Price includes round-trip transportation from the Waterfront Centre, or from your condo or hotel on Seven Mile Beach, PLUS snorkel gear, life vest (optional), food for the stingrays, and ice water and fruit punch on board the boat.

Cancellation policy: Full refund if your ship doesn't tender. No refund if you decide not to go, get sick, it is raining, etc.

Captain Marvin's Aquatics
http://www.captainmarvins.com/
Coconut Place
PO Box 413 West Bay Phone: 1-345-947-4590
Fax: 1-345-947-5673
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CAPTAIN BRIANS:

They offer a 2 1/2 hour tour, which runs from 9:30 AM -12:00 noon and on Sunday it is from 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM. They do two snorkel stops and they are the shallow Stingray City Sandbar and the Barrier Reef / Aquarium.

The rates are US$35.00 per person but are offering a discounted price of US$30.00 per person and US$25.00 per child 10yrs and under.

The whole day trip runs from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. It consists of three stops and they are Stingray City Sandbar, the Barrier Reef and the Aquarium. Hot lunch is included and served on a scenic beach. The lunch is white rice, baked chicken, Cayman Style Mahi Mahi, freshly tossed salad with Italian dressing and fruit punch. The rates are US$60.00 per person and US$35.00 per child 10yrs and under.

They also offer a combination tour which consists of two snorkel stops and they are the shallow Stingray City Sandbar and the Barrier Reef / Aquarium which is from 9:30 AM - 12:00 noon and then from our boat to Turtle Farm then to Hell and back to the Cruise Ship Dock via a bus which will be from 12:10 PM - 2:10 PM. The rates for this package are US$55.00 per person and US$50.00 per child 10 years and under. However, they need a minimum of 6 people for the Turtle Farm / Hell tour.

They have two boats and they are ; (1) "Hannibal", which is a 50 ft Sailing Trimaran, 27 ft wide with two trampolines, large sun deck, shaded back deck and bathroom facility.
(2) "Sweet Alison" is a 40ft Snorkel boat with large shaded back deck, swim platform, large fly bridge, ladder for snorkelers and bathroom facility.

Transportation, snorkel gear, ice and an ice-chest are provided with all snorkel trips.

The transportation for the trips are provided from their office which is a four minute / 2 block walk North from the cruise ship dock. Between 8:30 am and 8:45 am is the requested time to gather at their office and on Sunday it will be at 10:00 am. For those of you who have elderly or injured persons in your group that cannot walk to the office then they will have someone meet you at the pier at 8:45 am or 9:45 am on Sunday.
The reason for you meeting at the office is due to the congestion of traffic, people and not enough parking facilities at the pier. So if you can walk to the office follow these directions. When you come off the pier, take a left and walk along the water front and you will eventually come to a traffic light by Fort St. which you will pass and continue along the water front. You will then see Don Fosters Dive Shop and over the road from them will be an English Bakery. They are after the bakery and there will be a large yellow banner in their yard that reads Stingray City Tours.

To make a reservation they will need to know your full name, the date and time of arrival to the island, the name of the cruise ship, number of people in your party, which trip you would like to go on and a credit card # (master card or visa) to hold the reservation.

They have a 24hr cancellation policy.
Phone : 345-949-0038
Fax : 345-949-2087
Web : www.cayman.org/captainbryan
 
Thanks, everyone, for the very helpful info. A special thank you to GenieDana for doing the research and providing such extensive data. That's great! This will certainly help me make a decision. I really appreciate it.


Suse
 
We are leaving in 9 days! We're using Native Way for our Stingray City tour. I've heard great things about them!

They are $25 per person, and it's 2-1/2 hours long. It includes Stingray City and Coral Gardens snorkeling. They provide snorkeling gear, food for the stingrays, pickup at the pier, punch and bottled water on the boat, and they will drop us off at 7-mile beach afterwards, so we won't have to find our own transportation there!

Here's their Web site:
Native Way Watersports
 
Rhonda, please tell me about Native Way when you return. We are also booked with them for May. I liked their times better and pick up at the port sounds great, especially with our kids in tow!!! ;) But, I haven't heard too much about them. Would appreciate some info when you return.
Have a great trip. Happy Anniversary!

Sara

ps Those of you worried about CC info, Native Way doesn't take a CC number. You pay when you get there.
 
Rhonda, thanks for the info on Native Way. I'll check it out. Could you tell me what times are their excursions scheduled for?

Sara, thanks for your information about the CC stuff.

Thanks!



Suse
 
Rhonda,

Be sure to tell us how was Native Way's service after the trip. If they are good, I'd like to reserve a spot for us for our trip in May. Thanks for telling us about it.
 
We used Red Sail Sports for a 1/2 day Catamaran sail that included both Stingray City and snorketing at the reef. It was fantastic. www.redsailcayman.com.
 
Just got quote from Nativway...

" Greetings from Grand Cayman...and thanks for contacting us!

Our price is $25 US per person. Everyone pays the same price except for children under 6. There is no charge for children under 6.

In addition, if your parents do not go in the water, they can pay $10 each.

Our AM tour departs from the pier at 9 AM local time and completes at 11:45 AM. After the tour, you can be dropped off back at the pier, or at 7 mile beach.

Let me know if you would like to reserve space.

signed: Sharon Ebanks"
 

GET UP TO A $1000 SHIPBOARD CREDIT AND AN EXCLUSIVE GIFT!

If you make your Disney Cruise Line reservation with Dreams Unlimited Travel you’ll receive these incredible shipboard credits to spend on your cruise!


New Posts




New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Add as a preferred source on Google

Back
Top Bottom