stingray city

[tezb]

disneykids...that's good to know about last minute cancellations. I was wondering that too because you know, things happen. I am currently booked w/ DCL and Capt Marvins...will cancel one once we decide. Is there any better time to choose over another...that will be less crowded? We have 11:15-1:15 booked w/ Capt Marvins. I know every time is probably crowded, huh?

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

dizneykids . . .

I have been looking for someone that booked Capt Bryans AND had a 4 year old with them! My DD will be 4 1/2 and too young for the snorkel w/ DCL. I have liked the idea of Capt Bryans over the other excursion (captain Marvin?) because I like the catamaran-type boat. Did your 4 year old do ok on the boat over and in with the stingrays?

Did you have that type of boat? The picture on the website shows a 10 passenger, catamaran boat. Did you do the 2 hour excursion? Did you have to pay upfront or at the ship? Did they get you at the dock or did you take a cab?

Thanks for the help. How far in advance did you book?

Sandra

 

[dizneykids]

Did your 4 year old do ok on the boat over and in with the stingrays?

my son did fine on the boat so long as he was sitting either in my lap or next to me while it was moving. last year, when we did the golden eagle in st. maarten, he would only sit in my lap. this year, we rode out on the netting (not a large area) and back on the deck as the older kids were reclining on the netting. 5 across was all the room there was on one side of the netting.

also, the day we went was very choppy. and when we got to the sandbar, there were too many people, so the captain took us over to the reef area first. ds was game to go in the water with me (they have little kid vests, but you have to ask for them as they keep them below in a separate area from the snorkel vests), but once he got in and hit by a wave, he wanted out. when we went over to the sandbar where the stingray were, he wouldn't even consider going in. and....after i went in and had trouble helping older sons (11 and 9), i was glad he refused. i would not have been able to manage with 4yo ds.

that said, i was told our day was very unusual, that normally the waters are so calm you can walk to the sandbar. i guess it will just depend on how calm your waters are and how adventurous your 4yo is.

Did you have that type of boat? The picture on the website shows a 10 passenger, catamaran boat.

we were on the Hannibal which held probably 40-50 people and is a triamaran. it's the second picture on the page http://www.cayman.org/captainbryan/

note that the netting area (as i call it) is very small and does not cover the entire front end as with some other catamarans, but has 2 small sections of netting, one on either side of the middle pontoon.

Did you do the 2 hour excursion? Did they get you at the dock or did you take a cab?

you know, i never paid attention to the length of time we were out there. we booked the 2.5 hour session. we had to be there at 8:30-8:45 and we walked to the office. once you get off the ship, you take a left and keep walking for about a mile (i guess...i have no concept of distance when i'm in a hurry!). you will pass capt. marvins, then go around a curve, and just past the bakery (with the roosters out front), you'll see a small housefront that is the capt. bryan office. we walked there and back (me and 3 sons...11, 9 and 4) without a problem (except we were running late and it was HOT!). bring bottled water!

the boat is not docked near the port where we docked, but on another side of the island. they load groups up in a variety of vans (which have seat belts) and take you to the boat and then return you to their office upon completion of your excursion. our driver did drop one of the families we were with off at a hotel along the 7-mile beach as they wanted some more beach time before returning to the ship and it was along the way. so, don't hesitate to ask if that's something y'all want to do. my kids had had enough water at that point.

Did you have to pay upfront or at the ship? How far in advance did you book?

we booked the end of january for our 5/24 cruise. we paid when we got to the storefront. they were nice enough to NOT charge me for my dh who wasn't feeling up to coming (in spite of our having a reservation). total for me and 3 ds was $105.

if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[tezb]

Okay, I'm confused now! Are Capt Bryan's and Capt Marvins the same company or 2 different?? I thought it was Capt Marvin's..Want to make sure I'm signing up for the right one.

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

dizneykids . .

Thanks for the great information. I haven't booked anything yet, but I'll keep it all in mind.

tezb . . .

Yes, there are at least 2 companies I have been reading about -- Captain Marvins and Captain Bryans. I have heard good things about both. I am most interested in going in a catamaran type boat, not a standard motor boat. I have seen pics of these types of boats on the Captain Bryans website, but I'm not sure of if Captain Marvin uses those.

 

[dizneykids]

there's also a company called nativeway that some of the DISers we traveled with used and liked.

from my research (including contacting both capt bryan's and capt marvin's), only capt bryan's has the catamaran.

 

[tezb]

DCL uses a double deck catamaran...according to their brochure.

I have also looked into Nativeway but they don't take professional pics and I like that feature. Capt Marvins have cabin type boats. Are any better than others...boat wise? Don't really know or is it just personal preference?

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

I can't do the DCL one -- they have an age limit and I have a 4 year old.

How long is the boat ride? 1/2 hour out, 1/2 hour there and 1/2 hour back? Something like that?

Thanks.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Stingray City Snorkel Tour = Lots of people

Rum Point Beach Adventure & Stingray City Tour = Less people

Stingray City Snorkeling and Discover Cayman Tour = Less people

Island Tour and Snorkeling with Stingrays = Less people


The reason I'm asking is because although I've snorkeled before, I'm not the most confident swimmer. If there are a lot of people around I tend to get very nervous. We'd like to do one of these excursions you've all been mentioning, but which do you think has the least amount of people in close vicinity?

 

[tezb]

I can't answer all your questions but from what I've heard, you can wear a life jacket if you choose...I believe they're avail on the boats. can someone else who's gone confirm??

 

[nativefl]

answers to previos questions...

1. Captain Marvin's had life vests, which we wore at the coral reef, but not at Stingray City, since you can stand.

2. The type of boats Captain Marvin has are Cabin Cruiser, not a Catamarans.

3. I would say the boat ride out & back was a 1/2 hour each way. The entire Captain Marvin tour took around 2 hours as you spend about 1/2 hour at a coral reef & about a 1/2 hour at Stingray City. Please note th 1/2 hour at Stingray City was definitely long enough. I did not feel rushed. I agree with the statement someone else made...it was more like everyone was ready to go, so we headed back.

Hope this helps!

Leslie

 

[trishy]

DCL requires you wear a yellow life vest. It's one of those that you can inflate a little bit or a lot depending on your comfort level. The other boats out at the sandbar did not require them. Just a thought if you don't want to feel out of place.

 

[dizneykids]

melody...i think that it won't matter which excursion you take. there is only one stingray city and multiple providers taking folks out there all day long. when we went, there were at least two other cruise ships docked in grand cayman. so, you are not only out there with all the dcl folks, but carnival and celebrity folks, etc.

by the time we got out to the sandbar, there were more than half a dozen boats surrounding the sandbar. if they all carried 30-50 people (as it seemed), then you can plan on a hundred or more people standing on that sandbar competing for the stingrays' attention. course, once you are surrounded by the stingray, you probably won't notice all the other people.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

We went with Captain Marvin's on our honeymoon when we stayed at Cayman Island. We also bought the video (no DVD's back then in 1997) and the video was nicely done. No sound, but carribean music. We will do Captain Marvin on our cruise.

By the way, what is the DCL age requirement?

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

I think the age requirement is 5. My DD will be 4 1/2 at the time of our cruise and I know they won't allow her to go on this excursion.