*** PHOTO Trip Journal aboard Carnival's CONQUEST (Sept. 2012, Caribbean) ***

[daliflor]

 

 

Carnival's CONQUEST in Grand Cayman - Thursday morning, September 27th 2012

 

[daliflor]

 

Carnival's MAGIC also docked in Grand Cayman - Thursday morning, September 27th 2012

 

 

 

 

Carnival's MAGIC also docked in Grand Cayman - Thursday morning, September 27th 2012

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

When you’re looking to get off the beach, get lost in the luxury of George Town!

 

 

Here, colourful traditional Caribbean-style buildings meet high finance corporations.

 

One can then finish the day off with a sunset cocktail : - ))

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Tendering in Grand Cayman @ Carnival's CONQUEST - Thursday morning (September 27th 2012)

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

Grand Cayman is approximately 76 square miles.

 

 

VIDEO (Our ship's photographer DIVA moment in Grand Cayman):

 

 

It is on Grand Cayman that you will find some of the most popular Caribbean activities, attractions, and festivals,

including the popular Pirates Week and the colourful and exciting Batabano.

 

Other popular attractions include the Cayman Islands National Museum, Rum Point, Pedro St. James, Bodden Town,

Cayman Turtle Farm, and the National’s Trusts Mastic Trail, a 2 mile traditional footpath through unspoiled woodlands.

[daliflor]

 

The Cayman Islands are a British dependency which lies 480 miles south of Miami,

nestled in the turquoise waters of the western Caribbean.

 

It is a three-island archipelago, consisting of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman.

 

 

These three gentle islands are located just 149 miles south of their closest Caribbean neighbor Cuba,

and 167 miles northwest of Jamaica.

 

 

Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands and has an area of about 76 square miles.

Its most striking feature is the shallow, reef protected lagoon known as the North Sound which is approximately 35 square miles.

 

[daliflor]

 

Exploring the area by the Pier on Thursday morning, September 27th 2012

(before taking the excursion to Stingray City).

 

 

 

Cayman Islands - your family island getaway (for those looking for a romantic Caribbean vacation) or cruisers' Port of Call for the day!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Elmslie Memorial United Church - at 48 Harbour Drive in Downtown George Town, Grand Cayman

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

The Elmslie Church, named after Rev. Elmslie, is built on the site that was the former Anglican Church

(destroyed by a hurricane that struck in 1838).

 

 

 

 

The present building was constructed during the 1920ss by Capt. Rayal Bodden, and has a noteworthy feature.

 

 

Capt. Rayal being a naval architect designed the roof in the form of a ship’s hull turned upside down,

which can be seen in its strength and beauty.

 

[daliflor]

 

Exploring the area close to the Pier on Thursday morning, September 27th 2012

(before taking the excursion to Stingray City).

 

 

 

 

 

[lovermonkey]

Love your review.

[daliflor]

Love your review.

 

Wonderful!

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback too!

[daliflor]

Grand Cayman boasts many exciting tourist attractions

(i.e. from the stark volcanic landscape of the area known as ‘Hell’,

to the fantastic Turtle Farm where visitors can hold and pet the animals).

 

Well, this was NOT our first time in Grand Cayman.

 

Last time, we did the "Island Tour" and went to "Hell" and then back... to the Turtle Farm!

Seen the pretty ginger-bread houses and tasted the variety of Rum cakes!

 

 

Now it was time for a visit to the world renowned STINGRAY CITY!

 

 

You can easily book this type of excursion online or you can simply pick-up one at the Pier

(about $25.00 USD/pp for a 3 hours adventure)!

 

 

Stingray City tour(s) typically begin at the Pier with a fifteen (15) minutes VAN ride to the Yacht Club

where a boat awaits you for the exciting ride to the Stingray City!

 

 

The drive to the boat was fairly quick and the roads were great, so no issues at all for this first leg of the trip!

 

 

 

[pambud96]

Love your pictures. Makes me think I was there. I will be in 67 days.

Can't wait for the rest of your review.

Edited November 13, 2012 by pambud96
spelling

[daliflor]

 

 

 

We made a turn here to take this side road straight to the Yacht Club:

 

 

 

Our Stingray City tour began with a fifteen (15) minutes van ride from the Pier/dock

to the Yacht Club where boats awaited for the ride to the Stingray City!

 

 

Voila!

Our BOAT and its Captain seemed ready, so let the adventure to the Stingray City begin!

[daliflor]

Love your pictures. Makes me think I was there. I will be in 67 days.

 

Can't wait for the rest of your review.

 

Thank you kindly for the positive feedback!

Now I'm counting with you -- to the upcoming cruise on the 'upgraded' Conquest! : - ))

[daliflor]

 

As our van driver looked on (wishing probably to be ON THE BOAT with us!), we got ready for the ride to Stingray City!

 

 

 

ALL ABOARD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quick overview of what's to come (or what was covered by the $25.00USD/pp paid upfront for the tour):

 

Our Stingray City tour lasted approximately 3 hours (we spent about 45 minutes playing with the stingrays at Stingray City

and then another 45 minutes snorkeling at the reef).

 

Complimentary refreshments were also available for the entire duration of the boat ride (i.e. iced water, fruit punch, sodas).

[daliflor]

Meet the efficient crew and the wonderful guests aboard the BOAT that day!

 

 

 

 

Beautiful, well behaved kids coming all the way from... Australia (with the extended family)!

 

 

Americans, Puerto Ricans and more Aussies!

 

 

A funny still respectful bunch!

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

BOAT RIDE to the Stingray City - Grand Cayman (September 27, 2012)

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

BOAT RIDE to the Stingray City - Grand Cayman (September 27, 2012)

 

 

 

The Captain preparing for the... stingrays!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

As we were leaving behind the cruise ships (Carnival's CONQUEST & MAGIC), our Captain was going in... the water!

 

 

It was, afterall, a VERY HOT day !!!

 

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

BOAT RIDE to the Stingray City - Grand Cayman (September 27, 2012)

 

 

 

[daliflor]

 

As we were approaching the STINGRAY CITY, we got company!

 

 

There's plenty of space, so one can leave ther gear, sit back and relax as we motor slowly out into the Sound.

 

 

You can choose to sit in the sun or under-cover.

 

 

[daliflor]

 

During our Stingray City tour, we were told to sit anywhere we liked on the boat (and move around as we wished).

 

It's a happy, informal environment. Dancing is not uncommon! : - ))

 

 

After the Captain introduced his small team, he did provide us with the safety briefing, and tolds us all about the stingrays.

 

 

The Captain also explained how you should move around on the sandbar safely, and how to handle and feed the stingrays!

 

VIDEO:

 

 

Stingray City is a protected marine environment, and everyone should be dedicated to preserving its natural beauty.

 

Edited November 13, 2012 by daliflor

[daliflor]

 

 

Boat rides to the sandbar area at the North Sound - Grand Cayman, September 27th 2012

 

 

 

And finally, we arrived - joining hundreds of others at STINGRAY CITY!

 

 

Stingray City is a series of shallow sandbars found in the North Sound of GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands.

 

 

It is a tourist attraction, where southern stingrays are found in abundance and visitors can pet and interact with the animals.