We booked this tour through Carnival's Shore Excursions; priced at $75.99/adult and $65.99/child. The tour operator was Forbes Watersports.
Grand Cayman is a tender port.
Once you get off the tender boat, there's the port area area with duty-free shops and excursion meeting points. Past the port area is a downtown area. Unfortunately, we did not get to explore anything around the port as our excursion took the entire day, but I did notice a Margaritaville within walking distance to the port.
The bus ride from the port to the Cayman Islands Yacht Club takes about 15 minutes. On the way, you pass by the numerous hotels on the famous Seven Mile Beach. Once everyone boards the boat, you set sail for Stingray City - a 30 minutes ride.
Approaching the sandbar, we could see sea turtles swimming past our boat. The depth of the water at the sandbar ranges from 3-4 feet depending on where you stand. The water is relatively calm unless a boat arrives or leaves, creating some waves.
When the boat docks, everybody climbs down the ladder at the aft and the guides ask everyone to gather around. They give instructions regarding the stingrays - don't touch their tails, be wary of the females who may come suck on your legs, etc. They mention how every group (family) will get their chance to touch and pose with a string ray while one of the guides takes photos that will be available for purchase.
I would say the total time at Stingray City was about 40 minutes. You basically swim around and hang out in the crystal blue water with many stingrays swimming past you while you wait for your turn to take pictures. It is quite the experience!
When it's your turn to pose with the stingray, you get to kiss the stingray for 7 years of good luck!
After every group had their turn, the guides brought out fish for us to feed the stingrays. Let me tell you, when the fish were brought out, stingrays came from every which direction charging at us to get food! My son was 5 at the time and he completely freaked out and jumped back into the boat! I was a bit nervous too as I couldn't really move to help him get back into the boat since all I could feel were stingrays zooming past me and their pointers grazing my legs... But he got back on the boat safely and I got to feed a stingray, or more, it stole the fish out of my palm!
After the sandbar, we went on a ~10 minute ride to Starfish Point. On the way, the guides asked someone from each group to come look at their pictures and decide if they wanted to purchase them. Pricing was different depending on couples vs. groups. We had a total of 4 in our group, did a couple group pictures and then mostly separate "couple" pictures. I paid $52 for all 13 pictures.
Starfish point is a white sanded beach (with lots of vegetation) literally on a point. It got its name from the many starfish that used to occupy the area. We got to spend about 30 minutes at this beach, playing in the water, capturing pictures with starfish, and exploring the land. That concluded our excursion. It was then time to travel back to the Yacht Club and back to the port.
I would highly recommend everybody to do this excursion or a similar one that goes to Stingray City at least once in their lives! It's truly an amazing experience to swim with wild stingrays all around you and get to touch them and kiss one! Memories that will last a lifetime!
Carnival has now added a lunch portion to this excursion for an additional $4 per person.
Enjoy and experience Cayman’s premier attractions: the Stingray City Sandbar and Starfish Point. During approximately 35 minutes, the boat will cruise to the world-renowned "Stingray City" where you will experience exploring this majestic sandbar to interact with friendly Southern Atlantic Stingrays, as featured on several nature shows! After departing Stingray City participants will enjoy a short cruise to Starfish Point where guests will discover starfish of various sizes in shallow waters. After your visit with your new friends, a local picnic will then be served "island-style" in a lush, secluded tropical area on Starfish Beach. Take the opportunity to swim and relax in the shallow waters or explore the surrounding area of this location before the trip back to your ship. NOTES: The order of tour elements may be changed depending on weather conditions. Minimum age to participate is 6 years old. Usage of water shoes in the Sandbar is prohibited. Lunch will take place at the shore like a picnic style by the sand. Do not take the Star Fish out of the water for your own safety.
Notes:
The order of tour elements may be changed depending on weather conditions.
The minimum age to participate is 6 years old.
Usage of water shoes in the Sandbar is prohibited.
Lunch will take place at the shore like a pic-nic style by the sand.
We can not take the Star Fish out of the water for their own safety.
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