Stingray excursion on Castaway Cay - questions

[Melissa R]

1. Do I need to reserve this excursion ahead of time, or do they normally have open slots that we could sign up for that day? The kids want to do this, so I don't want them to miss out on it if we don't reserve it ahead, but I hate to lock us in to a specific time not knowing what else we might want to do that day (from the Navigator).

2. I do NOT want to participate in the stingray excursion, but my kids and husband are going to do it. Can I sit on the beach and watch them? I'd love to be able to see how my kids react to the stingrays. (Hopefully, they'll react better than I think I would! That's why I'm skipping this!)

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

1. Do I need to reserve this excursion ahead of time, or do they normally have open slots that we could sign up for that day? The kids want to do this, so I don't want them to miss out on it if we don't reserve it ahead, but I hate to lock us in to a specific time not knowing what else we might want to do that day (from the Navigator).

2. I do NOT want to participate in the stingray excursion, but my kids and husband are going to do it. Can I sit on the beach and watch them? I'd love to be able to see how my kids react to the stingrays. (Hopefully, they'll react better than I think I would! That's why I'm skipping this!)

Book ahead of time, its popular, but I think everyone who is there should have a booking, as the interaction is just one bit of it. Its not expensive and you will enjoy.

If you want to enjoy CC to the full book a later slot say 3pm, so you have had time to do everything else, but some say do it first thing as they feel the water hasnt been stired up at that time.

 

[inkkognito]

Whether or not there is same day availability depends entirely on the make-up of your cruise. If it's a full house and everyone wants to do the stingrays, it will fully book up. If it's not a full cruise or there just doesn't happen to be a lot of people who want to do it, you can do a walk-up. If you really, really want to do it, I would suggest doing a morning appt. so the stingrays are good and hungry...also, that gives you the rest of the day to do other things.

You can't go right into the area, but you'll be able to get close enough to observe them. The rays at CC are very well mannered compared to the wild ones at Grand Cayman that swim and bump you for food. The CC ones are trained to swim on a platform for food.

 

[Melissa R]

but I think everyone who is there should have a booking, as the interaction is just one bit of it. Its not expensive and you will enjoy.

Well, the thing is, I'm not trying to get around paying for the experience, and I know that I would NOT enjoy it.

I grew up in the ocean and am a scuba diver. I'm not afraid of most ocean creatures in the least, but for some reason, sting rays FREAK me out. I know for a fact that I most certainly would NOT enjoy it.

So to pay the money to not do it wouldn't make any sense. I'm not trying to cheat the system by not paying. If I can sit or stand somewhere and watch my kids from a distance, I would love to do that. But I'm not interested in paying to not participate, so if I can't watch from somewhere nearby, I'll just meet up with them once they're finished.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Well, the thing is, I'm not trying to get around paying for the experience, and I know that I would NOT enjoy it.

I grew up in the ocean and am a scuba diver. I'm not afraid of most ocean creatures in the least, but for some reason, sting rays FREAK me out. I know for a fact that I most certainly would NOT enjoy it.

So to pay the money to not do it wouldn't make any sense. I'm not trying to cheat the system by not paying. If I can sit or stand somewhere and watch my kids from a distance, I would love to do that. But I'm not interested in paying to not participate, so if I can't watch from somewhere nearby, I'll just meet up with them once they're finished.

Dont get me wrong I wasn't making any 'comment' about getting around paying, moreover, a lot takes place, outside the inter action, so personally I cannot see how they could allow observers in this. With Dolphin interactions at other ports there is an option, on this trip there is no opt out option.

Its a few years since I did this, but we sat in a hut, had an orientation and overview, then collected our stuff and went to the water, there you could view or touch, stay on beach, or get in, all part of the trip.

 

[Melissa R]

Its a few years since I did this, but we sat in a hut, had an orientation and overview, then collected our stuff and went to the water, there you could view or touch, stay on beach, or get in, all part of the trip.

No, clearly I wouldn't be expecting that they'd allow me into any portion of the excursion (the orientation, etc) without paying.

I just wondered if there was anyplace nearby that I could sit and still see - like if there is a beach area next to the beach where they have the rays. No big deal - I can also sit under and umbrella on the family beach with a frozen drink in hand and see the pictures later!!

 

[disneycrazzzy]

When we did the excursion in 2006, my sister and her husband observed from the beach and took pictures without paying. When we did the excursion again last month we all participated, but I vaguely remember others on the beach watching...

We really enjoyed the excursion. I just wish the tour guides would encourage all the participants to swim in the water instead of standing and walking around stirring up the sand after feeding the stingrays. We found the stingrays would all stay in close to the shore where it was murky. The excursions consisted of a short presentation followed by feeding the rays for 10 minutes and then we swam for 45 minutes trying to find them in the lagoon. Everybody (ages 49, 47, 15, 12, and 9) loved it and we'd do it again.

For those who don't swim...you really do get a good view of them by just standing in the shallows....just minimize the walking and kicking up the sand for those swimming.

 

[clten]

Currently, the stingray beach is just the end (roped off area) of the sports beach. You can easily be on the sports beach and watch what is happening in the interaction. Another idea if you are going to book ahead. We usually eat lunch at the same time, so we know when we are going to be moving from the beach activities to lunch. So we book the stingray excursion right before lunch. That way there aren't multiple interruptions to our beach day.

 

[MCourtney]

Just did it yesterday at 2pm. It wasn't full. You can easily watch it from the beach. It was awesome (better than the first time we did it) and well worth the $$ we thought.

The CMs did tell us that they are relocating the Stingrays to the front by the boat for the new ships.. Not sure why, guess to make more beach room. I personally like the rays being off by themselves.

It takes about 45 minutes total, fyi.

 

[DLW8]

Just did it yesterday at 2pm. It wasn't full. You can easily watch it from the beach. It was awesome (better than the first time we did it) and well worth the $$ we thought.

The CMs did tell us that they are relocating the Stingrays to the front by the boat for the new ships.. Not sure why, guess to make more beach room. I personally like the rays being off by themselves.

It takes about 45 minutes total, fyi.

Do you recall how much it cost? We want to do this for our December cruise (2A and 2C). Thanks!

 

[MCourtney]

I think around $35 for adults and $27 for kids??? I may be off a little .....

 

[inkkognito]

I like it being off by itself too...I wonder how long it will take the rays to adjust to their new home. I know they enjoy being there; back when the hurricane allowed them to escape, virutally all of them returned voluntarily. They know when they have it good!