Stingrays at Castaway Cay

[DisneyChick216]

We did the Swim with the Stingrays at Castaway Cay last week. I thought they spent way too much time explaining the stingrays and far too little time letting us interact with them. It was cool that we learned how to fed them but we didn't have to spend 15 minutes learning about the different species etc.
JMHO!
Terrie

 

[beckygeez]

Terrie -

Thanks for your input. We are on the 3 day cruise next week and I have the CC Stingray excursion booked. Now I'm really nervous. It's a lot of money for a family of 5. Do you think it wasn't worth the money? Do you completely regret having done it. My 9DS is the one who really wants to do it but the girls are also interested.

 

[beckygeez]

Terrie -

Thanks for your input. We are on the 3 day cruise next week and I have the CC Stingray excursion booked. Now I'm really nervous. It's a lot of money for a family of 5. Do you think it wasn't worth the money? Do you completely regret having done it. My 9DS is the one who really wants to do it but the girls are also interested.

Do you think I should cancel?

 

[zweihund]

I read that you can spend time snorkelling in the ray area afterwards....is that true? If so, was it crowded and was there a time limit? We were interested in doing this excursion in Sept.

 

[new2cruise]

I'm interested also. Even though you thought there was too much time explaining - was it still fun?? We booked this because we were unable to get the dolphin excursion for DS10 nad he thought this would be cool.

 

[jenmack]

We did the stingray excursion last October. I have heard that it's not as good or cool as stingray city in Grand Cayman, but we really enjoyed ourselves. It was just myself & DH that cruised last Oct. but we did book another cruise with our 3 kids & I have already put this excursion on our wish list. It's perfect for the kids. The stingray's barbs have been trimmed so your not as scared of accidentally being stung. After feeding them & touching them you get to snorkel with them. It's pretty cool snorkeling and seeing "Big Mama" (the largest stingray there) swim right underneath you. We too are a family of 5, and I agree it's a little pricey, and we (my dh & I) wouldn't do it again, but for the fact that we want the kids to experience it one time. They want to do it & maybe it's not as awesome as swimming w/ the dophins, but it is still a cool, unique, and one of those once in a life time things.

 

[beckygeez]

Thanks Jen - I feel better after reading your opinion. If it was just me and my DH I probably wouldn't do it. But, it will be a really neat experience for the kids so I'm going to stick with it.

 

[jenmack]

Have a wonderful time beckygeez! I'm so jealous. I see that you are in my neck of the woods so you know what it's like here, weather wise. So when you are enjoying sun, sand, & "Mickey" we will be enjoying cold, wind, & snow. I suppose if I stand outside long enough maybe I'll catch a tan from the reflection of the sun off the snow.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

So, general consensus - do your stingray excursion not on CC? I was hoping Disney did a better excursion. Now I'll have to see what else is out there.

Anyone recommend anything for Costa Maya or Cozumel...where we are supposed to be going....

 

[sandraB]

we have two boys, ages 11 and 8, and they said it was their favourite part of the entire cruise....(food came second)

We really enjoyed it...and my boys actually liked learning about the diff species...it was a little long, but it was also interesting.

We had plenty of time with the rays, they don't "kick" you out...so we stayed quite a while...at least the entire hour, many left early.

The boys really enjoyed swimming with them after feeding them.


Sandi

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

Sandra - you did the CC one, right?