stingray-need advise

[videoman]

Need expert advise and I know I can find it here. We want to book our excursions prior to sailing. (7 Day Western in Oct), we have decided on the dolphin encounter but there are several for snorkling w/stingrays???? Can anyone tell me if 1 excursion is better than another? There were 3 choices and I here so much about the stingrays on this board. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanx

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Sorry I responded to you but messed up and it came up as a new thread. My response is titled Nativeway Watersports. Have fun!

 

[videoman]

Thanx so much....do i book this thru disney or directly thru them... and if it is direct...do you have a #? Thank you so much for your help!!!

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

I am sorry I was preoccupied with another thread and did not give you the complete information. Here is the website:

http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/

Sharon one of the Owners is very prompt and will get back to you quickly. I liked Nativeway because they did not require a deposit which I always try to avoid and they were also cheaper than the others. They are really getting good reviews from these boards and very cruisecritic.com.

Do a search on these boards and you will hear good thing about the 3 private companies I mentioned. I also mentioned more about my thoughts about the excursion itself on the Halloween Magic Thread on about page 60 I think. Let me know if you have any more questions and have fun.

 

[buzzdad100]

I have sent three e-mails to Nativeway with no response. Do you have any other idea how to contact them? We leave on the 16th so I am anxious to set this up.

Thanks

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Wow that is strange but I have heard in the past that the e-mail in Grand Cayman goes down. Try again and mark it Urgent. You could also post over on the cruise.critic boards and ask if anyone has heard from Nativeway. I would post under Carnival or RCCL. Sharon is really good and has always gotten back to me asap BUT I have heard of others having e-mails returned and such bc of the internet not customer service.

Keep trying, it is worth it. Hope it works out for you

 

[Bobbimom23]

We just returned from the July 19 Western. Our original excursion ressies got messed up, so we had to reschedule and do something else (had to do it on ship). The guys at the Excursion desk were very helpful and recommended the Sail & snorkel excursion (we are a family of 5 -- dh, dd15, dd13 and ds5 plus myself).

We went on it and I must say it was wonderful. The boat was fairly new, the crew was fantastic and we had a wonderful time. They even video taped the whole excursion and it was made available for sale on the ship later that evening.

I would highly recommend this excursion if you don't want to make ressies/travel arrangements yourself.

Bobbi

 

[buzzdad100]

Thanks. I will try again to reach Sharon.

How did your 5yo do on the snorkle trip?

Thanks

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

I've done the stingray city excursion on another cruise and it was one of the best things I've done in the Caribbean (I've been on 10 cruises with Disney magic in March being #11). There are many "Dolphin Encounter" places all over the caribbean and Florida but there is only one Stingray City. It is a large sandbar where fishermen used to clean their catches. The Stingrays all started feeding on the junk thrown into the water. Now it is mostly used by tourist boats. There will be literally hundereds of stingrays of all sized that you swim with (water is about 3.5-4 ft deep and crystal clear), snorkeling and feeding the stingrays is excellent and they feel like large strong velvet pillows. One sucked my hand into its mouth and gave me hickies on my fingers. No teeth, just strong suction. It was quite funny. It really is something that you should NOT miss. Do it at least once. Dolphin encounters usually give you about 5 minutes total time actually swimming with the donphins and everyone has to take turns with dolphins that are penned and trained. The stingrays are tame (from being well fed), but wild and come and go as they please. The are sooooo cool. I'd strongly recommend it.

Maureen

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Hi-

Actually my 5 year old has not done the excursion it was my DH and myself on another cruise line

I have reservations to take him on the 10/25 Magic but am seriously reconsidering it. IF my DH were going which he can not as he is leaving next week on a 6 month deployment I would be 100% sure but since it is just me and I am taking my MIL and 2 year old DS we may switch to a beach day or the See and Sea Tour

I may also still take them as the boys are free and MIL would just ride so it would be $35 for all 4 not sure.

Don't get me wrong the waters were beautiful and fairly calm. The ship excursions I saw (DCL was not in port) were VERY large groups with 100 plus people so their areas were very crowded but the private charter companies make a huge circle and then everyone jumps in but you are with your small group and there is plenty of space. Our tablemates went on CCL's excurison and said there were just too many people in their way (bottoms and masks everywhere)

I was a little weirded out and I did not think I would be...........they can sting you but it is highly unlikely and only if you step on them. You are not allowed to wear fins and just need to jump up when they come around your feet. They actually are like cats brushing up against you. They feel like velvet and the guides are great and will bring them over to the boat if you don't want to get in so you can feel them.

One of the guides seeing my hesitation thought it was funny to take his hands after throwing squid in the water to attract them and rub his hands on my leg which of course made the rays really like me and as I told my friends and fellow Halloween Magic I think one ray wanted to marry or (mate) with me so I have changed my name to Mrs. Tiff Stingray.

The kids seemed to love it. I saw kids from all of the boats jumping in and loving it. I think even if your 5 year old does not get off the boat or does for a minute in your arms the experience is worth it!

Tiff

 

[buzzdad100]

Buzz & Woody's Mom

Thanks for the info (and best to your husband on his deployment!)

We are definitely going to do it, even If my wife and I take turns swapping him back and forth. My 9yo should be fine.

We will let you know how it goes

 

[Bobbimom23]

I would say that you should not miss the opportunity to do the stingray excursion (no matter who you do it with). It was wonderful!

My 5 year old was able to get in the water with my husband and teen daughters (they held him). One of our guides picked up a HUGE stingray and held it so that my son could 'pet' it and touch it. What an unforgettable experience! It was awesome. I had our waterproof disposable cameras (don't forget to buy them BEFORE your trip & bring them along -- got ours at WalMart) and took lots of pics. The look on my son's face -- the fascination, wonder, etc. was captured forever!

Again, I would HIGHLY recommend the Sail & Snorkel excursion offered thru Disney (we did it last week!) -- we took nice, clean tour buses to the company's dock and rode in a beautiful two deck sail boat -- it had bathrooms, a bar, 4 guides, and other amenities. We motored out to Stingray city and then they rose the sails and we sailed back to the island.

I can't say enough about it!!!

Bobbi

 

[saturday97]

Stingray city was one of the highlights of our trip. We took the half day excursion through Captain Marvin's and can't reccomend it highly enough!!

 

[Wavegirl]

I would recommend one of the Catamaran trips offered. We've booked a few great trips through Grand Cayman Cruise Excursions they offer a variety of sailing and catamaran stingray city trips.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Tell me who agrees but when they hold the Rays up and they spit at you can't you see where they got the idea for Sponge Bob