HMC Stingray Excursion

[BigDogMom]

I am trying to book Shore Ex for April 10 Westerdam sailing. Stingray City in Cayman is not offered. (BOO!!!!) Is the HMC Stingray excursion good enough or should I try to book Cayman with another vendor? I saw it available on ShoreTrips. Any info on the subject would be greatly appreciated. We had done Stingray City in Cayman about 10 years ago so it's not the first time for us. WE are going with friends this time and I would hate to see them disappointed.:)

[spcl4cs_gal]

Try booking with NativeWay on Grand Cayman...they are very good. You can check out their web site at www.nativewaywatersports.com. :)

[hdawson]

Capt Bryan and Capt Marvin are also good tours. Better than the ships, cheaper and much more personalized. Oh and less crowded. Capt Marvin started these tours almost 30 yrs ago.

[DoctorFeelgood]

Just got back from a Captain Marvin tour. Quite nice.

[Budget Queen]

I have gone with Capt Marvin the most, but I would NOT use Shoretrips for this. Just as easy to book direct with the vender. A major factor- be sure you have enough time- having the tour end 2 hours before the ship departure is a must.

[BigDogMom]

Thanks for the info. My husband said the same thing. If the excursion runs late, we're SOL! Turns out my friends had no idea what Stingray City is. O well, maybe the stingray snorkel on HMC will have to do. :(

[hdawson]

The tour operators in the islands depend on cruisers for their livlihood. They realize the value and the risks of the internet. If you tell them your ship and schedule, they'll get you back in plenty of time or tell you it's not possible.
It's in their best iterest.

[cruise freak]

We have done the stingway excursion with "Nativeway". We had a wonderful time. Very nice people

[alasgran]

I cannot agree more with the posts about Captain Marvin. He is the best and his family runs the business. They have a website as well that you can schedule your trip on. I felt that they informed us enough so that there wasn't any panic when we got in the water with the stingrays. Other ships had people screaming and freaking out. We felt very confident with Captian Marvin and his crew. Plus Captian Marvin makes a mean lunch. :)

I have to stress how great they are. This is one tour that you will remember for a lifetime. Holding one of those beautiful creatures in my arms is something I will treasure.

alas

[Sea Island Lady]

Nativeway is wonderful also. We have booked with them twice now. :)
Just ask for Sharon or Eldon.
http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/shiptours.html

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Everyone seems to agree that Nativeway is a good one. I thought so too the first time I emailed them and Sharon emailed me right back the next day when I asked about our March 13th 2005 cruise. I had orginally emailed her back in June of last year and she reserved us a spot but for her afternoon Stingray excursion because she did not think we could get off the ship soon enough for her morning swim. I have been extremely concerned about not getting back to the ship on time. In November I switched to have a S Suite and figured with Priority tendoring we could be on the first tendor to shore and could make her morning swim. I have emailed her 5 times since November, 2 times this month alone giving her our reservation number and I have not heard back from her. This has really upset me a lot and am figuring I will just cancel her all together and book the one at HMC or maybe this Captain Marvins. I am just too concerned with doing an after swim and getting back to the ship on time. I really do not want to do the one the ship offers due to the fact that they take so many people out in a much bigger boat and have to be in deeper waters. I am only 4'11" so need to be in shallower water to really enjoy the Stingrays.

[Sierrachik]

Everyone seems to agree that Nativeway is a good one. I thought so too the first time I emailed them and Sharon emailed me right back the next day when I asked about our March 13th 2005 cruise. I had orginally emailed her back in June of last year and she reserved us a spot but for her afternoon Stingray excursion because she did not think we could get off the ship soon enough for her morning swim. I have been extremely concerned about not getting back to the ship on time. In November I switched to have a S Suite and figured with Priority tendoring we could be on the first tendor to shore and could make her morning swim. I have emailed her 5 times since November, 2 times this month alone giving her our reservation number and I have not heard back from her. This has really upset me a lot and am figuring I will just cancel her all together and book the one at HMC or maybe this Captain Marvins. I am just too concerned with doing an after swim and getting back to the ship on time. I really do not want to do the one the ship offers due to the fact that they take so many people out in a much bigger boat and have to be in deeper waters. I am only 4'11" so need to be in shallower water to really enjoy the Stingrays.

It might be worth following up by phone. It could very well be that she got your emails and hasn't replied, however, there is also the possibility that they might not be getting through. Her email server could have a spam filter and be deleting them before they even get to her or she might have installed a spam filter and it could be dumping into that. I literally receive hundreds of spam emails each week and even when people are in my address book their emails sometimes go into the spam box. I would probably be inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt and call to follow up and to find out why she hasn't replied.

[spcl4cs_gal]

It might be worth following up by phone. It could very well be that she got your emails and hasn't replied, however, there is also the possibility that they might not be getting through. Her email server could have a spam filter and be deleting them before they even get to her or she might have installed a spam filter and it could be dumping into that. I literally receive hundreds of spam emails each week and even when people are in my address book their emails sometimes go into the spam box. I would probably be inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt and call to follow up and to find out why she hasn't replied.

I totally agree with this idea. When I booked last summer with Nativeway, Sharon was bending over backwards to help get things finalized for our visit in August. I have to wonder if things are back to normal down there since the hurricanes as well...I received an email from her on Oct 5/04 and she said that things were still not up and running 100% with regards to power and land telephone lines. Give Nativeway the benefit of the doubt...I am sure things are going to be fine. :)