***CAYMAN ISLANDS & stingrays - PHOTO journal @ Carnival Conquest (September 2012)***

[daliflor]

Went on the 2012 Caribbean Party cruise from NOLA for NOTHING because of the CruiseMiles (free cruise winner)!

 

Had a fantastic time aboard Carnival's Conquest while seeing wonderful places (3 ports of call) and

meeting great people from all over the World!

 

Please note that the PHOTO JOURNAL of this fabulous 2012 Party Cruise from New Orleans is a work in progress that started here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1720699

 

 

However, as few suggested, we decided to also post the "GRAND CAYMAN" piece of our PHOTO journal in here,

so not only Carnival cruisers can take advantage of it : - ))

 

 

Hoping that you'll enjoy this... virtual adventure!

[Keith1010]

Thanks for posting this.

 

Keith

[daliflor]

 

Thursday morning (September 27th 2012) was another glorious day!

 

 

 

Our Carnival's CONQUEST cruise ship arrived in sunny Grand Cayman, the largest island in the Cayman Islands.

 

 

 

 

On Thursday morning, we received a very warm welcome to the cosmopolitan Grand Cayman!

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

Carnival's CONQUEST arrival in Grand Cayman, the largest of the three islands

(Thursday morning - September 27, 2012)

 

 

 

 

Tendering in Grand Cayman - Thursday morning (September 27th 2012)

 

[daliflor]

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

[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).

 

 

 

 

[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 a large 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 the 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!

 

 

 

[daliflor]

Thanks for posting this.

 

Keith

 

Glad I can be of help!

 

Great review! Are you doing the same kind of photo journal for Grand Cayman and Cozumel? I sure hope so...

 

Thank you!

 

In the process of following your suggestion(s), so thank YOU!

[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]

 

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 $25.00 USD/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 a beautiful reef).

 

The Boat Captain was also our very informative and helpful tour guide, ensuring that SAFETY comes first!

 

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]

 

 

The Captain preparing for the... stingrays!

 

 

[daliflor]

 

As we were leaving behind the cruise ships (Carnival's CONQUEST & MAGIC),

our Captain was going into... 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.