Question on Grand Cayman Stingray City tour

[klynch]

I have a 4 and 5 year who are both good swimmers (within limits of course) and are not afraid of animals (2 big dogs). I was thinking of taking them on the Rum Point / Stingray City tour. The Stingray city part mentions a glass bottom boat. Do they let you get into the water, is it easy access? And if they do, do they go to the same sandbar area as the catamerans do in the other ship tours?

I'm concerned about how small kids react to the rays, is it easy to climb in/out of the boats, and I hear there are 2 stingray city areas (one at a sand bar 3-6 feet and one in deeper water - 12 feet).

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

***bump***

 

[Bobbimom23]

We were on the July 19 cruise and did the Sail and stingray snorkel excursion. I have 3 kids who are 15, 13, and 5. I posted on another thread how wonderful this excursion was -- the boat was almost brand new, we had a wonderful crew (they let my 5 year old steer the boat for a few minutes), they taught the majority of us how to snorkel, there were bathrooms on board, a snack bar, and lots of room to 'roam' while going out to Stingray City and back. (we motored out and then sailed back in after spending almost an hour with the stingrays)

I stayed on board with my 5 year old son as I was not sure he could do it -- (he has ADHD and is just learning to swim). After watching his older sisters and dad snorkeling and petting the stingrays, he was anxious to get in the water. On our boat, you could jump off of the side or go down some steps right into the water. Daddy held son in the water and one of our guides picked up a HUGE stingray and held it for my son to pet and touch. What an awesome experience!

I would definitely bring my kids to do this excursion... even if they can't swim -- adults can hold them in the water so they can see/pet/touch the stingrays!

Bobbi

 

[inkkognito]

We did the Island Tour and Snorkeling with Stingrays through Disney, and there were some little ones on our boat. The group was small enough to allow the guide to spend a lot of time with the kids, helping them into the water and helping them feed the rays. It was a small boat with a ladder on the back to climb into the water. When you were done, there was a fresh water shower hose so you could rinse off.
One little boy absolutely did NOT want to get into the water. His parents were pretty irritated and finally forced him in. He was not happy! On the way home, I overheard them saying, "Now, aren't you glad that you finally went it?" and he said, "NO!" Personally, I wouldn't force a child, but if they are thinking about it and are a little afraid, there is plenty of time to let them think about doing it in their own time.
We were at the more shallow sandbar. I'm 5 foot 3 and the water was up to my chest.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Disneylunatic]

Were you on the rum point / stingray city tour or the stingray city / reef snorkel one? Is there another site? And do you know if it's much deeper water? I'll feel mor comfortable if I can stand on the bottom and help the kids in the water. I'm not that great a swimmer.

Thanks..

 

[nicurnc]

I'm not sure if there are two different sites. The one we were at was up to my chest, I'm 5' 7", but the water was pretty choppy that day and small waves made it hard to always keep your footing.
If your kids are adventursome, they are gonna LOVE this! It was definitely a highlight of our cruise. They are gentle animals when handled properly and I think you and your kids will take home some great memories of this!

Loretta

 

[Disneylunatic]

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[Wavegirl]

We've been taking our kids to stingray city since they about 3 years old, actually took one as a baby but obviously not into the water so that doesn't quite count.

We haven't done the ship trip but we found that Captain Bryan's Catamaran Stingray City Excursion was great with the kids. Its a wonderful operation and the Catamaran is nice and roomy.

I would recommend that you also bring some type of floatation device for them, we've used water wings, swim belts and a small floaty vest. Not so much for stingray city but for the other snorkeling spot. Our kids had there own masks so we got them used to looking under water in the pool and then one the snorkeling trip they just floated on the surface and looked underwater. They loved it and we did too as it gave us a little freedom as well.

At stingray city, the youngest was nervous at first and spend some time on my husbands shoulders but within time he was one his own swimming/floating near the rays and watching everything. Even if they don't want to go in, you can see a lot from the boat and they will enjoy it.

 

[carole88]

Bobbimom23 - Was the excursion you went on booked through Disney or through another operator? It sounds like you had a wonderful time and that they were good with young children. I have two DD ages 9 and 6. They both want to swim with the stingrays but I'm a little aprehensive. Your trip sounded wonderful!

 

[Bobbimom23]

Yes, we booked it through Disney. I believe it was called the Sail and Snorkel with Stingrays. I will go look for my 'notes' from our trip and let you know for sure later.

It was a wonderful excursion and we will probably do it again when we go back on our 2nd cruise next summer!

Bobbi

 

[tezb]

We did the Stingray City w/ Capt Bryans which was great. However, you are in the middle of the ocean and have to swim as such. Our catamaran was not able to anchor exactly in the shallow area so you had to swim a short distance to the shallow area...not far but still a little choppy and 20 ft deep. My kids did fine (17,15 & 11) but I was freaked by the waves as I am not use to swimming in the ocean and afraid of drifting off. I did okay but wore a life vest and had someone help me along...have only really swam in pools so was panicked by the waves, etc...but glad I did it to see the Stingrays...worth it!

Just wanted to mention, as some people who can't swim at all and think it's just shallow should know that you may have to swim from the deep end to get to the shallow and there is no shore...you are in the middle of the ocean.

 

[Bobbimom23]

We were taken out to a spot that was not where one could stand, but it was not too deep either. The water was fairly calm when we went (maybe we went earlier in the day then tzdeb as the winds were picking up as we set sail).

Our guides made sure that our group stayed close to the boat and two of them were in the water with everyone and two stayed on the boat and acted as 'lifeguards'. We had quite a few kids on our excursion (besides my own 3) and all went in the water. The tour provided light weight flourescent life jackets (I would actually say they were more like flotation devices) that are the 'norm' for snorkelers.

My husband held my son while they were in the water. My 2 dd's stayed close at hand. My son (5) is just learning how to swim while my dd's are both strong competitive swimmers.

I felt very comfortable having my family in the water (as I took tons of pictures) and knew that our tour crew was experienced and doing all they could to make sure our excursion was both safe (which they stressed over and over), fun and memorable.

Like I said before, we will probably go with this excursion again when we return next summer!

BTW, our excursion was called the "STINGRAY CITY REEF SAIL & SNORKEL" We met at 8am to start our excursion.

Bobbi

 

[Disneylunatic]

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[Masonpips]

We did Captain Marvin's 3 stop tour last year with a 3 and 5 year old. Total cost was $100 (3 yr old was free and she had the best time of us all). They LOVED it - beyond belief. My DD still talks about it. They had life jackets for the kids and we just held them at the stingray stop (they snorkeled at the first stop and loved that too, but the waves were a bit much for them and they got water in their snorkels and didn't like it). I think DD and dh were the last ones in the boat, she did not want to get out of the water.

She is a huge animal lover, anything from rollie-polies to horses; she always begs to pet animals and carried a frog around last summer as her best friend.