Turtle Farm or Stingray City?

[MarcyIn Florida]

We'll be on the Magic in late Septmber, and want to book with Captain Marvin for Grand Cayman. Does anyone have any experience with a Captain Marvin excursion with young children? Our daughters are 4 years old and 1.5 years old, and neither snorkels, so we're not sure if Stingray City will be a waste. Has anyone done the Turtle Farm with little kids? is it worth the trip? Or would you recommend Stingray City sans snorkeling instead?

Thanks in advance!

Marcy

 

[invaderzim]

We booked the Disney excursion called "Island Tour and Stingray City". That includes a visit to the turtle farm, plus a swim with the stingrays.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Unfortunately, that's only for ages 5 and up, which is why we're looking at Captain Marvin's.

 

[got2gp]

Our kids weren't little (10 and 15) but they loved the turtle farm. At least until they realized that the turtles are raised for their meat. You get the chance to hold and pet some turtles at the end of the tour, pretty neat, great photo op.

We did stingray city as well. There were some little ones on our tour (not Capt marvin's) and they did ok until we were almost ready to leave to go back to the dock. Both of them ended up huddled up under their towels, cold and miserable all the way back. As a side note, while my kids did not really enjoy stingray city at all, (too choppy the day we went and a long boat ride) most folks. including the kids had a good time. You may want to look into the semisubmersible that does tours to stingray city as an alternative. Those stingrays are beautiful.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Actually, you don't need to know how to snorkel to do the stingrays, at least at the place we were at. Water was waist deep. Those with little ones held them or stayed in the boat and watched. I read on another thread that some parents have taken small child floats--the kind they sit in--and put their children in the water with them. Some kids did fine in these, others didn't. Will depend on how choppy the water is the day you go. Also, once the stingrays realize you are there with food, they will be all over.

As another poster said, it is a long boat ride; you get in with the stingrays; long boat ride back.

On our trip some of the little ones did get scared of the stingrays and did not want in the water at all. You know your girls and how they will react. If you think they might be scared, I would look at other excursions. You can get an island tour from an operator right at the dock that will take you to the turtle farm and other places. Or grab a taxi to one of the beaches.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Thanks so much for the input -- I think the long boat rides will be too much for the girls. I'm so glad I found this out beforhand!

You all rock!