Grand Cayman Stingray Tour

[psternklar]

I'll be there on the Jewel this December. Has anyone done the "Personalized" stingray tour? How does it differ from the "regular" stingray tour? Thanks for the feedback!
-Phil

[Darcy]

Phil

I booked the Stingray tour through Soto's Cruises. It was $24/pp. We went to 2 snorkel sites and the Stingray sandbar. There were about 14 on the boat and we all had a great time. They picked us up right off the pier and brough us back there. Hope this helps.

Darcy

[psternklar]

Darcy,
Thanks for the info. I would like to know about the RCCL stingray tours. Anyone done the "regular" or "personalized"?

We did the snorkeling and stingray combo through the ship, Voyager. Loved it. Had a great time. Easy to get to the boats from the ship. They take you there and bring you back. Have a great video and memories. I would highly recommend it. I know many take private tours , however I feel safer with the ship tours. They won't leave you if the tour is late or there are problems. I know you may save a few $ with the private tours, but to each his own. Hope this helps.

[psternklar]

Thanks for the info. Has anyone done the RCCL "personalized" stingray tour?

[floridaheidi]

We did Captain Marvin's tour (www.captainmarvins.com) and it was great. We saw lots of RCCL tour boats just loaded with 50+ people - too crowded for me. Captain Marvin's boats are clean, they have a toilet, drinks, and lots of shade. They video tape the entire trip and will use your underwater camera and take photos of you with the sting rays. They are especially great with children. We had 16 adults and 6 children. Captain Marvins is just a two block walk to your left off the pier. No hassle at all.

I took 22 people on Soto tours. They are excellent. One of the best excursions for the money I've ever had. They have 3 stops. One was to see a "docile" shark that one of the guides hand fed, another was to moray eel, and then the last to the stingrays.

They are a terrific value, and it as a great experience. Not matter who you go with, don't pass up going to sting ray city (sandbar).

[DougR.]

Just got back from there yesterday and took the Cocatoo Catamaran tour to Stingray City through RCCL. There were only seven on the tour and our Catamaran's crew, Jacque and Evan from South Africa were good guides.

I, along with my brother and friends, went on the personalized stingray city tour in Aug. which we booked while on a cruise on Voyager of the Seas. It was great. The difference with the personalized stingray tours is that you actually go to a sandbar which is 3-4ft deep at most. At this sandbar you can swim, touch, hold and feed the stingrays. The other tours that are offered take you to deeper waters where you are provided with a float device and snorkel equipment. You literally swim above the stingrays. If you want to go to the sandbar, make sure you sign up for the personalized

[dspcentury]

Did you have a private tour? I booked a private tour for October and I hope that I can get the stingray experience.


David

[psternklar]

Thanks for all the info! It sounds like the personalized tour is the way to go.

[FranD]

The Cockatoo Catamaran which Doug R. mentioned also goes to the shallow sandbar. I am a non swimmer (only 5'3") and was very nervous but was able to get out "amongst" the rays in waist to chest deep water. Glad to hear Jacque and Evan are still there, young guys but very capable sailors. One nice side of the catamaran is when they cut the engines and you sail to the sandbar. They also provide food to feed the rays, keep that thumb tucked in or it will get "gummed". Cheers!

[DougR.]

Thanks for pointing that out Fran, we did go to the sandbar, my wife is 5"2" and the water was about waist deep. The rays mouths have the power of an industrial vacuum but they are harmless. It was a wonderful time for all.