Nautilus semi-sub on Grand Cayman

[SeaSpray]

Have any of you done this excursion? I'm trying to decide whether to do this one or not. I think it looks like fun for all of us in our party (6 people), and it's air conditioned, too. I want to plan excursions that won't cause my diabetic DH to become overheated (we're cruising in late August, I know it's going to be hot and humid) because then his sugar drops quickly and he can go into a coma. We had quite a scare on Bermuda this past summer. Anyway....they have 2 Nautilus excursions; one includes snorkeling, and one is just the "ride" in the Nautilus.

I'd appreciate any comments and opinions. Thanks!

 

[Doctor P]

We took the combo tour with the snorkeling and undersea exploring. My wife does not snorkel, but DSD and I have now done it twice. The excursion is quite relaxing and quite comfortable. You stay within a few hundred yards of shore (believe it or not) and see a couple shipwrecks and reefs through the windows of the semi-submarine. You then anchor over a reef and can snorkel for somewhere around 45 minutes. The whole excursion lasts only about 90 minutes, which leaves plenty of time to shop or look around or to just go back to the ship. We went in July, and the excursion was comfortable as the sub is air conditioned. There was a little bit of walking to and from the bus and to and from the sub dock but it was not too bad (we chose to walk the whole way back from the excursion, which was probably about a half mile total and there were several air conditioned shops and drink stops that were available). This excursion worked out very well for us.

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks Dr P!

Nice to see you again I did a search later last night on cruisecritic.com, on their "ports of call" message board and a lot of people there had great things to say about this excursion, as well.

I have another question, if you don't mind! I'd really like to do the same excursion that you did, the one that includes snorkeling. I see that it starts at 7:30am. Did you find this to be too early in the morning for an excursion?? The one without snorkeling starts at 9:05am which is a little better (I'm not a morning person. lol). I really want to be able to snorkel while on this excursion, so I guess we'll just have to make ourselves get up early and do it. Did you do anything in GC after the excursion was over?? Since we have to tender to get to the pier, I'm thinking we'd stay on the island, if there's anything else to do, before heading back to the ship.

Thanks

 

[laurenk]

Seaspray- We did the 7:20 stingray excursion, and I would say it was almost 45 minutes before we even left Rockin Bar D to go to the tender. Then once you get off the tender you regroup and go to your excursion. We enjoyed being off early, and back on before many were back from their excursions.

 

[Doctor P]

I agree. You don't actually go out on the excursion until close to 9:00 am given that they gather you on board, you tender to shore, you walk to a bus and go to the Nautilus facility, get on board, etc. We liked being done early and having several hours to ourselves to enjoy Grand Cayman and still make it to the ship for some lunch.

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks lauren and Dr P!!

I think we will do the early morning Nautilus Snorkel excursion. I think that will be a good morning for some early-morning Room Service, for breakfast