Possible to do Turtle Farm and Seven Mile Beach at GC on our Own??

[LWILDP]

Hi,
We're going on Disney Fantasy in Jan with stop at Grand Cayman. As it's our first time there we're having a hard time deciding between beach only or turtle farm and beach. I should mention we have 2 kids (4+8). Normally we do excursions on our own but as we're not in the port to long 10am to 3:30pm I think), hubby thinks we should just so a beach day. I of course would love to do both. However would really appreciate views of those that have been there and whether this is possible and what you would recommend?? (PS am thinking either taxi or public bus and am thinking "Public Beach" as our brach location but we're open to suggestions). TIA!!

 

[afyoung]

Hi,
We're going on Disney Fantasy in Jan with stop at Grand Cayman. As it's our first time there we're having a hard time deciding between beach only or turtle farm and beach. I should mention we have 2 kids (4+8). Normally we do excursions on our own but as we're not in the port to long 10am to 3:30pm I think), hubby thinks we should just so a beach day. I of course would love to do both. However would really appreciate views of those that have been there and whether this is possible and what you would recommend?? (PS am thinking either taxi or public bus and am thinking "Public Beach" as our brach location but we're open to suggestions). TIA!!

We just got back on 10.10.2015 from that Western Caribbean loop. We did the Disney organized Turtle Farm and Dolphin Encounter. Our tour time was 1:45pm to meet on the pier, then we traveled to the farm, toured it in the allotted 20 minutes and then crossed back over the street to have our dolphin encounter. We were on the final tender boat back to the ship at 5:30pm. We were very leisurely in our day prior to tendering over to the pier. We window shopped for souvenirs that we planned to go back and buy after our excursion. This didn't happen as there was no time and we were firmly directed back to the tender boats from the excursion shuttle. On our shuttle bus there was a couple who had been out earlier for a city tour (Disney excursion), and were then joining the same turtle dolphin tour we were on in the afternoon. I think if you aren't planning to do anything with the dolphins, then you should be ok for some beach time also. I would start with the turtle farm, as it is past the 7 mile beach and then you are already "on the way back" to the pier when you are at the beach. Spend as much time with the turtles as you need, then if you cut anything short it is beach time. I didn't feel that we were given enough time to tour the turtle farm and enjoy their gift shop as much as I would have liked. That portion felt too rushed, so on your own with it you could be fine.

 

[Funky Chicken]

Absolutely.
We were on GC last April on RCCL Freedom Of the Seas.
GC is an ideal place to skip the ship's excursions. When you get off the ship there is a town square and parking lot about 2 blocks in from the harbor. That is where I would head to pick up the bus. We went to the turtle farm for a couple of dollars per person. About a 20 minute ride. Frequent stops for locals getting to and from work and school. The bus let us off very close to the turtle farm entrance-we got there before any of the ship excursions and had the place to ourselves for about 45 minutes before the masses started streaming in.
You could certainly have your stuff with you and have the bus drop you at the beach after the Turtle Farm, but I would try to get out to the Turtle Farm early and I wouldn't skip it-you will love it.

 

[jenmiller114]

We went to Grand Cayman in January and we did not book an excursion. We got off the ship and there are a lot of taxi drivers, etc. who want to take you out on a tour of the island. We found a guy who took us on a small bus tour. We ended up going to "Hell", the Turtle Farm, the Tortuga Rum Shop and then they dropped us off at the beach. He even gave us a personal tour of the turtle farm while some decided to see the dolphins across the street, instead. We didn't really want to stop at the rum place but we weren't there long and there was a nice spot to take some photos nearby and we did pick up a few souvenirs in the shop.

The island is unbelievably small so you can definitely do it all. I guess it just depends on how much time you really want to spend at each place. My boys were 8, 10 and 12 at the time and we did not feel rushed at all. I loved the beach and we enjoyed our visit there but the sun was very intense. After about 90 minutes, we were ready to get out of there. I think they dropped us off near the Marriott? They charge if you want a chair and I think it included a drink. But it's an expansive beach so there were plenty of places to go and we took our snorkel gear for the boys. When we arrived at the beach, he told us where to be picked up to be returned to our ship. It was very easy. I wish I could remember how much we paid but I know my husband negotiated with the driver. I am sure it was a fraction of what an excursion would have cost through Disney.

Jennifer