3 RCI Excursions to Stingray City - which one is best?

[fl-girl]

Last time I went to Grand Cayman (in the beforetimes) I was on a Carnival ship with friends and we did Stingray City + Turtle center - it was fantastic. Now I'm going on RCI in June with family and I see there are 3 ship excursions that look really similar and I can't decide between them. Anyone have any insight?

$89 for Stingray City Sandbar and Starfish Point Beach – 3 hr 45m

$69 Singray City Sandbar and Camana Bay – 4 hr 30m

$69 Coral Garden Stingray City Sandbar Snorkel – 3hr 30m

It's so hard to make decisions since so many people haven't been cruising to these ports in so long and it seems like everything is new! Any advice on these excursions is much appreciated. Thanks so much!

[bookbabe]

4 hours ago, fl-girl said:

Last time I went to Grand Cayman (in the beforetimes) I was on a Carnival ship with friends and we did Stingray City + Turtle center - it was fantastic. Now I'm going on RCI in June with family and I see there are 3 ship excursions that look really similar and I can't decide between them. Anyone have any insight?

$89 for Stingray City Sandbar and Starfish Point Beach – 3 hr 45m

 

$69 Singray City Sandbar and Camana Bay – 4 hr 30m

 

$69 Coral Garden Stingray City Sandbar Snorkel – 3hr 30m

 

It's so hard to make decisions since so many people haven't been cruising to these ports in so long and it seems like everything is new! Any advice on these excursions is much appreciated. Thanks so much!

The first two sound like they go to the same place to see the stingrays, the sandbar where you can walk around in relatively shallow water with them.  The difference is in what you combine with your visit to the stingrays.  Starfish Point is a beach near Rum Point, no bar/restaurant, no facilities (washrooms may be open) and you can sometimes see starfish in the water there.  Camana Bay is a mall.  It’s a nice outdoor mall with some good restaurants, but it’s still a mall.

 

The third tour likely focuses on snorkeling, and may visit a deeper area of Stingray City where you can snorkel or it may visit the same spot.  Coral Garden is definitely snorkeling at a reef.

https://www.explorecayman.com/things-to-do/stingray-city

https://www.thingstodocayman.net/starfish-point/
https://www.camanabay.com

https://www.thingstodocayman.net/coral-gardens/

 

[fl-girl]

Thanks so much! That helps!!

[TravellingBritNY]

Well, Captain Marvins used to do a Stingray City Sandbar then Coral Gardens for snorkelling, so it could very easily be the third one.

[Texasgingerbread]

We've been to starfish bay and unless you have littles I would skip taht.

[Dreamer68]

On 4/29/2022 at 10:32 PM, bookbabe said:

The first two sound like they go to the same place to see the stingrays, the sandbar where you can walk around in relatively shallow water with them.  The difference is in what you combine with your visit to the stingrays.  Starfish Point is a beach near Rum Point, no bar/restaurant, no facilities (washrooms may be open) and you can sometimes see starfish in the water there.  Camana Bay is a mall.  It’s a nice outdoor mall with some good restaurants, but it’s still a mall.

 

The third tour likely focuses on snorkeling, and may visit a deeper area of Stingray City where you can snorkel or it may visit the same spot.  Coral Garden is definitely snorkeling at a reef.

https://www.explorecayman.com/things-to-do/stingray-city

https://www.thingstodocayman.net/starfish-point/
https://www.camanabay.com

https://www.thingstodocayman.net/coral-gardens/

 

Thanks for all this information @bookbabe! We will be visiting GC for the first time in about 10 days, while on Celebrity Apex. I've been scouring these destination boards for the last month since we booked our trip. It seems like there are lots of repeat visitors who don't care for Stingray city or turtles.  While I want to listen to advise from people who've gone before, I cannot shake our newbie curiosity. DH and I are not strong swimmers but do enjoy beginner's snorkelling. We are easily awed by anything marine life and white sand beaches with possible dips in gorgeous calm waters although we are not sun worshippers. Lounging in a chair just looking at the water for 4 hours is no fun for us either. I am leaning towards braving the crowds anyway to do the Stingray City Sandbar bit.... we don't want to stay out too long at any one port as it looks like the Apex is a stunning ship.

Do you have any tips for the newbies in us for our first GC stop? It just seems "wrong" to get a chance to go to the Caymans and not even see the stingrays.... thank you, from your "neighbour" in Montreal. 🙂 

[bookbabe]

@Dreamer68

The stingrays are what I always recommend to first time visitors.  Even if you stay on the tour boat, seeing them is pretty awesome.  Those excursions usually include some snorkeling, and the crew are generally good at helping beginners get sorted out if you ask.  Even a cruise ship run excursion to see the stingrays would be higher on my list than a beach day.  No matter how many times we go, we never regret a few hours out at Stingray City.  

[Dreamer68]

5 minutes ago, bookbabe said:

@Dreamer68

The stingrays are what I always recommend to first time visitors.  Even if you stay on the tour boat, seeing them is pretty awesome.  Those excursions usually include some snorkeling, and the crew are generally good at helping beginners get sorted out if you ask.  Even a cruise ship run excursion to see the stingrays would be higher on my list than a beach day.  No matter how many times we go, we never regret a few hours out at Stingray City.  

Thanks lots, @bookbabe! Good to know that crews are helpful to beginners. ❤️ The cruise-sponsored excursions to see stingrays are starting at Cad$130. I'm checking the links you shared for alternatives. I see on the forum lots of references to Captain Marvin. The stop in GC is not long though so I'm trying to figure out what's the best time for us to get off and come back. I'm guessing there's usually a mad rush to get off on the tenders as early as possible to all the excursions....