Grand Cayman and stingray tour

[Rissa]

Hi, we are thing of doing the stingray tour. After looking at carnival's website, I see stingray city tour and the stingray sand bar tour. Which one should we go on? What's the difference? Thanks

[Larry in Miami]

I believe they all go to the sandbar.

There are some pictures from the Stingray city excursion on my website. These were taken back in May

[Andrealovescruising]

Rissa,
Make sure Stingray City Tour states that it is to the sand bar. Some tours don't take you to the bar. I believe the tour that Larry did, as well as myself, were to the bar. Our excursion spent about an hour at the bar and then another 30 minutes in another location snorkeling in deep water with reefs.

Just a heads-up.
A'ndrea

[Rissa]

Thanks!

[joarc]

Definately the sandbar. We did the sandbar 4 years ago, and it was great. We returned last year, and I made the mistake of assuming that it would be the same...and it was not. They take you to an area about 12-15 feet deep, and for some of us, it was nearly impossible to touch a stingray, and very difficult to not float away. With struggling to stay in one place, and looking down to hopefuly see a stingray, most of us dropped the squid, so most of the stingrays were at the bottom of the ocean. When booking, read it very well, and make sure that it says sandbar.

[Rissa]

Thanks!!!

[29dawgs]

Rissa,

Go to www.grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com
Book the Buccaneer Stingray City Catamaran Excursion. Only $39 per person with 3 stops. Goes to "the sandbar" then two snorkel sites. Less people and less money than the crusie ship excursion. We did it this past Fall and loved it. Have Fun

[Heidi528]

I agree with 29dawgs... more stops for less money than the ship offers. HOWEVER... we booked in January, for the early morning tour. After arriving we finally found the meeting shack - not as close to the ship as they lead you to believe either. When we arrived we got a BS story about "the boat was broken and the part would not arrive until later so would we mind taking a later tour?" Basically they were underbooked for the early morning excursion and so we were bumped for the later trip. Not a major deal, but inconvenient. Imagine if we already had plans for later that day.

But the trip was awesome. Ok, there was only a limited amount of squid for all of us - not enough to go around. And the onboard photographer who charged a fortune for the CD of photos. Just keep saying no to her, and you'll get the CD almost free...

[29dawgs]

Sorry to hear about the problems that you had Heidi, we didn't have any. Everything went so smoothly on our excursion in late October. The walk was a little longer like you said, but we had no problem finding them. We left on time, had enough squid, and very little problem with the photographer. This was not our first time with the stigrays so we were not intrested in the photos.

[AllyGirl]

Rissa, I believe they are the same tour. I suggest that you book through the ship. It may be a little more expensive but if something should happen -bus break down, boat out of fuel- the ship WILL wait for you if you are late getting back. If you go on your own....well they will leave without you.