Nativeway for Stringray Sandbar

[digitalmom]

Wondering if anyone who has done the Western Magic has used Nativeway for Stringray (City)Sandbar? Looking at cruisecritic trying to decide who to use for this I saw lots of positive comments on Nativeway. If anyone on this board has used Nativeway and could let me know how it was I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

 

[sara]

Suzanne, we signed up for the 9am with Nativeway. There is someone on the boards on the Western right now (I believe) who went with them. Hopefully, they'll report back soon.

Sara

 

[digitalmom]

Yea, Sara! We may be joining you then. So you think that there wouldn't be any trouble making the 9:00am?

Suzanne

 

[sara]

I'm not worried about 9am. Should I be?

Sara

 

[digitalmom]

I hope not but I seem to remember seeing posts from people worrying about being able to tender off the ship in time for a non-Disney excusion. I would think that since the ship is supposed to get to Grand Cayman around 7:30 and if you need to meet Nativeway about 9:00 that that should be enough time to get off the ship and to the island. Sorry if I have you worrying, I hope that I don't. I may have to try and read the Western trip reports more thoroughly this time to see what past Western cruisers have said about tendering to Grand Cayman.

Suzanne

 

[sara]

Capt. Marvins emailed that past DCL cruisers have had no problem making it to their shop for the 8:30 excursion. With two young kids in-tow, I'm not that brave! Let me know what you decide. It would be fun to "know" people on the same excursion.
I'm having so much fun planning this trip!

Sara

 

[digitalmom]

I was just going to email Nativeway and reserve the 9am. Is the one you are booked for, the one that goes to the Stringray City Sandbar and Coral Gardens? I also feel better about making a 9am rather than earlier, as I will have to get 3 teenage boys out of bed and ready I also volunteer the boys to help with your kids if you need any help or carry anything for you. Yes, it will be nice, as you said, "to know" someone else going on the same trip. I love planning trips, I just wish we could go on more of them. Only 2 more spring breaks after this year that the kids will have the same break and then I get to start paying for college

Suzanne

 

[digitalmom]

I just emailed Nativeway about reserving 4 spots on the morning trip. Hopefully I will hear back from them soon.

Suzanne

 

[Wavegirl]

I just found a company that I haven't heard of before,Stingray City Catamaran . THey are offering a 10am start time, kinda like the extra time to get there, much less rushed. 8:30 and 9 am will stress me out trying to get off the ship and make it on time

It is a 4 hour trip with 3 snorkeling spots including stingray city. I love catamarans and this one looks really nice. I figure since it ends at 2 we will have time to go to the beach after.

 

[digitalmom]

Thanks Wavegirl, I'll keep this in mind, in case something goes wrong with Nativeway. Also, I figure it will do the boys good to get up early on a port day, although don't ask them that

 

[sara]

Stingray City and Coral Gardens is the same one we are signed up for. If I remember right, it took Nativeway a couple days to get back to me. Rhonda is the name of the DISer who used them last week. Hopefully, she will report back. Thanks for volunteering your boys! Who knows how much stuff we'll have?!!?

Sara

 

[digitalmom]

Sara, you're welcome!!!

 

[nicurnc]

We used Nativeway Water Sports last October in GC and highly recommend them!
We were picked up at the pier and brought to the boat. they arranged for a taxi to bring us back to the pier. The cost was very reasonable- $25/pp. The small group on our boat was great, as well. There were only 10 of us and two guides, so we got alot of interaction with the rays. We also went to two other spots for snorkeling. It was one of the highlights of our trip.
Sharon and her husband are fairly new to this operation-so they're trying real hard to please!
The taxi driver was very accomodating, he took us on a short tour of the island. Very informative. Then a couple arranged to go to Hell, I think he took them for ten bucks R/T.


Loretta

 

[digitalmom]

Loretta,
Thanks, it sounds like my fellow May 24th cruiser and I made a good choice! Although neither of us knew that the other was doing this until I posted this question.

Suzanne

 

[kstelzner]

Well, it appears that my fellow May 24th cruisers are all on the same wave length ... must be about that 60 day mark, eh?. We're narrowing our search too on excursions. We're highly considering Capt. Bryan's as they sail on a catarman. I know in Hawaii a catarman tour is a must because the water is so choppy and rough. I guess the Carribbean is different though, right? But the exhaust thing really bugs me...... which has less fume, catarman or boat? I like the idea of Nativeway picking you up at the port though..... as we'll have an 18 month old with us. Though I've heard that it's only a 2 block walk to Capt Bryans, but then where do you walk to get on the boat?

 

[digitalmom]

The Caribbean can be pretty rough and choppy. Last year when we were on the Pride, if I remember right, they ended up cancelling excusions to St. John's from St. Thomas because the water was choppy. You know it's rough when a cruise ship is bouncing. Although I would rather be bouncing on a cruise ship than an airplane. I would think that a catarman would have less fumes, aren't they the ones that can put up sails or am I wrong. I don't know much at all about boats so I could be thinking of some other type of boat. I will have older kids with me and they'll survive anything (all boys).

kstelzner - I take it you have been to Hawaii. We were there Thanksgiving week with our high school band. Our band was one of the high school bands from out of state and they marched in a parade in Waikiki the Friday night after Thanksgiving. The kids have so many great memories. My husband chaperoned, my 15 year old is in the band and myself and my 13 year old went along as tagalongs. I would go back if I didn't have to fly there.

 

[newhampshire4]

Can be very choppy! We did the Golden Eagle last cruise in St Maarten... was nice and calm in the bay area, but once we turned the corner, we hit a wave and everyone sitting in the front on the "netting" got thrown back and into each other. I had 1 bleeding child (rug burn type burns on the back of their legs from the canvas strapping on the catamaran) and the other one crying from some other kid bumping heads with her, and I had a lovely gash on my leg from some stranger's toe nail. All the crew said was that people in the front might get "wet," but guess we hit a bigger wave than they anticipated... there were also several sea sick by the time we got there We had done a previous catamaran full day tour in St Maarten years ago on perfectly calm waters, so you just never now. I think I've convinced the girls to give the catamaran another try... we just won't sit in the front until we know the seas are "safe"

 

[kstelzner]

Oh my gosh.... that reminds me of our trip in Kauai on a catarman. I was 5 months pregnant and was assured by a friend before I left that it was completely safe to go on this excursion. The trip out wasn't so bad, but the return was insane. I literally leaned back on both arms with my butt lifted slightly off the seat so that each wave we hit (every 10 seconds) wouldn't pound my unborn child. You know how they say not to ride a rollercoaster when pregnant... well I was riding one.... complete with people getting sick right in front of me.

digitalmom - yes, been twice, once to Kauai and once to Maui and my husband has been to Oahu before he was my husband. I hear ya on the flight thing..... it's hard for people who don't live out west like we do to get over there. It's about a 5 hour flight for us. I LOVE hawaii, but I LOVE the carribbean even more.... maybe I should switch coasts that I'm living in..... but ya know, you can't beat San Diego weather (year round).... of course, I say that now as I hear the rain pelting the roof top right now, but it's welcomed as we so desperately need the rain.

So, Capt Bryan's is the only catarman, right? Has anyone been on Capt. Bryan's and experienced fumes and/or unimaginable choppy water (in May timeframe)?

 

[newhampshire4]

There were a couple of other catamarans that I have found (although some are not "traditional":
StingrayCityCatamaran

Red Sail

Captain Crosby's

captain Lens

Frank's Watersports

 

[kstelzner]

Just bumping this up to see if any recent cruisers experienced Nativeway!

It appears that Nativeway has booked a ton of us 5/24 cruisers on the 9am tour. I'm just worried that this is going to be a "cattle call" of a boat ride, which is what I was trying to avoid by not booking through Disney.