Nativeways/Captain Marvins/Sotos

[CindyinSacTown]

Llunc, we're using Capt. Marvins next week on 11/25. Do you remember how much the video cost? Was it available in DVD or VHS, etc.? Thanks much.

[mayrashke]

I got an email from Soto's. They told me they will be a 2 stop:Stingray Sandbar & Coral Gardens for $30/pp. They will have the new info on their website soon they say. I think their times will be:9:30-11:30am and 12:30-2:30pm.

I guess since the Carnival brochure says GC:9 am-5:30 pm, we will not be able to make the early time?? We wanted to go to Hell and hang out at 7 Mile until we have to catch the tender back.

[xpreciousp]

So after listening to what everyone had to say regarding these three operators, and understanding that we couldn't go wrong with any of our choices.........we finally made a decision. We're going with Captain Marvin's. I wrestled with who I wanted us to choose, but it finally came down to the attention we have received while making the decision. Hands down, Ruth from Captain Marvin's was the most attentive by all stretches of imagination. That is NOT to say that our experience with the other two operators wouldn't have been wonderful either, but neither Sotos nor Nativeways even came close to the level of attention or the speed at which Ruth responded to several emails.

 

I know they have suffered terribly because of Hurricane Ivan and I did take that into account as well. I'm sure that the backlog of emails and phone calls they are returning (all of them) is overwhelming, but all in all........in the aftermath of disaster, Ruth truly stood head and shoulders above.

 

Can't wait for this excursion!!!

 

Now it's onto the Belize boards to make the decision about cave tubing! LOLOL

 

Thanks again for all the help!

[mellak]

CindyinSacTown

 

Our group is also using Cpt Marvins on 11/25. We are on the 10am tour. Hope the weather is good!

[MyDusty]

I just booked with Soto's today and was told $24.00, 3 stops. Hmmmmm.. What's going on? I booked for December 14th. I am going to call again.

[cruisinqt]

I did Soto's recently on Nov. 4th and it was 3 stops for $24. They may be changing as of Jan. 1st or something. As regards to the slow response from Soto's, when we went on our cruise they still hadn't gotten their e-mail back yet. Over a week later they e-mailed me saying they'd finally gotten their e-mail back but had over 60,000 e-mails to go thru, yikes!:eek: In all honesty though, when we first booked them before hurricane Ivan their response time was unbelievable. I e-mailed them a question and they responded within the hour. As soon as I got their e-mail I booked with them because of their fast response and knowledgable answers. Again, they e-mailed my confirmation of the tour within the hour. They have always been great about answering my e-mails almost immediately. That's why I booked Soto's.

 

Don't be too hard on Soto's or any of the others due to slow e-mail responses. They've always been real good. It's just that some of them are just now getting their e-mail back and it's a real nightmare getting everything up and running again. Soto's has had their e-mail back for less than 2 weeks, and knowing how many e-mails they have to go thru, I feel pretty sorry for them.:(

[xpreciousp]

I am absolutely not being hard on Soto's. I have complete empathy for what all of those businesses on GC must be going through. I truly do. And I have no doubt that they are a wonderful tour operator. That's why I posted my original question. Because out of all the different companies offering these excursions, I was torn between those three. I just finally had to make a decision and made it for the one that I was able to converse with.

 

I'm sure those on Soto's, and Nativeways will have just as wonderful a time as I expect I will have with Captain Marvin.

[judyjbest]

I too am waiting on a response from Soto's. How did those of you who've booked recently reach them?

[mayrashke]

Catherine Kalil, I forgot to say it will be just 2 stops&$30 when I am there in Jan/05;so it probably does change Jan.1/05.Sorry for any misunderstanding.

(I still have not decided who to go with. Marvins has 3 time choices when we will be in GC;maybe I should choose the middle time=11:15, I just wanted the time after Stingray to hang out at 7 Mile& go to Hell. Maybe we can cab it to Hell first and then back for the Stingray and then to the beach until we get back on the ship for 5:30.)

[judyjbest]

Mayrashke: I've got to tell you, I laughed out loud at your last post ... " I wanted to ... got to hell. Maybe I'll just cab over to hell!" Thanks for the laugh, Judy

[mayrashke]

(Judy-glad you had a chuckle!)

IS it possible to take a Taxi as soon as we get off the ship and go to Hell and make it back to wherever we meet for Cptn.Marvins for the 11:15 excursion??? If anyone knows how long it would take to take a taxi from the dock to Hell and the price-could you please post the info. It would be much appreciated! (I know Hell is not much to see, but it is slightly amusing to me and I would like to get a souvenir from there!!)

[judyjbest]

Finally got my reply from Soto's. The situation has changed, so now I'm not sure who to go with. Here's what they said.

 

Thank you for your reservation for 2005!

 

BEFORE CONFIRMING, KINDLY NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES:

 

Kindly note that we are in the process of making some changes to the Stingray tour.

 

This will be forthcoming on the website as quickly as possible. Please note the following:

 

We will be offering a two hour two stop snorkel tour (instead of three).

 

Times: 9:30 am – 11:30 am and 1 pm -3 pm

 

Stops: Stingray Sandbar and Coral Gardens (or Barrier Reef)

 

Rate: US$30 per Adult and US$20 per child (ages 4-11)

 

Price includes round trip transportation from near the cruise landing, snorkel equipment,

 

Life vest (optional), food for the Rays, water and lemonade.

 

We will be accepting Visa, Master card and American Express cards.

 

Looking forward to hearing from you. thanks.

 

Sincerely,

 

KERRY, SOTOS CRUISES

[zydecocruiser]

One big difference is see with the new Soto's price is that they now accept credit cards, whereas before it was cash only.

 

Can always ask if there is a cash discount.

[CindyinSacTown]

Back to work and I already have a headache!! lol

 

Anyhow, loved Capt. Marvin's. Ruth was so helpful as mentioned by previous people. One family in our group was running late so they moved our whole party around.

 

Mellak - did we meet you on the Miss Jackie? or were you on the High Rider? I had the two fifteen year old girls (not the twins) where the one girl was completely freaking out and climbing on top of everyone. No, not the blonde girls either! lol The kids who had never been there were a real hoot! They were screaming and trying to climb on TOP of their parents. One dad was there with his 3 girls (newbies) and they were all on top of dad when the stingray tried to climb up the pile and join the fun!!!!! Hope that picture comes out!!

 

Again, Capt. Marvins was the best!! They were very organized, very friendly and complete professionals. Good with kids and we also had a wheelchair in one of our parties. They were fantastic :)

[ladycaveat]

zydeco . . . thanks for the pictures . . . they were great! I can't wait to see those beautiful fish and graceful stingrays again. Sort of makes me want to go out and buy a salt water aquarium and fill it with fish of all colors.

 

Question, has anyone been on Captain Bryan's tours? I'm still so up in the air as to who to book with. One minute it's this one and the next . . . it's that one. From everything I've read, doesn't seem to matter which one I take . . . as long as it's not one booked through the cruise line.

 

Another question . . . how far in advance of your cruise did you book your shore excursions? My cruise doesn't leave until April 30th and won't be in Grand Cayman until May 2nd. Would like to read more about the different excursions (especially after they are better recovered from the horrible hurricane damage) . . . just don't want to wait to late to only find that they are all sold out.

[zydecocruiser]

zydeco . . . thanks for the pictures . . . they were great! I can't wait to see those beautiful fish and graceful stingrays again. Sort of makes me want to go out and buy a salt water aquarium and fill it with fish of all colors.

 

Question, has anyone been on Captain Bryan's tours? I'm still so up in the air as to who to book with. One minute it's this one and the next . . . it's that one. From everything I've read, doesn't seem to matter which one I take . . . as long as it's not one booked through the cruise line.

 

Another question . . . how far in advance of your cruise did you book your shore excursions? My cruise doesn't leave until April 30th and won't be in Grand Cayman until May 2nd. Would like to read more about the different excursions (especially after they are better recovered from the horrible hurricane damage) . . . just don't want to wait to late to only find that they are all sold out.

Seeing all those fish made me hungry.

 

Find out what the cancellation policy is and if you can live with it, bookem' all. Just be sure to cancel the ones you decide not to take. Caveat: I think Caveat is 1 person so should be no big deal. I would not recommend this with a party of any size.

 

I may go back just before Easter and have booked nada, yet.

[stlrboo]

If you go to http://www.grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com and click on your ship, it will tell you how many other ship's are in port that day! That will basically give you an idea of how early to book.. :) I'm booking for April 19, 2005, and being a Tuesday, there are 7 other ships in port that day.. :eek:

That is roughly 12,000 people, so booking the excursion you really want should probably be done pretty soon.

I, too, have found Ruth with Capt. Marvin's to be extremely helpful, and I am currently working on a 'private' charter through them for 14 people.. or possibly Capt. Bryan's but their catamarans hold 40 people, so a charter is out of the question.. but my DW loves to 'sail'.. :)

Capt. Marvins' boats are all powerboats and consist of a 30', 34', 39' 44', 45' and 47'! We were on the 34' this past April and had a wonderful time.. :D

[wendya2J]

we just returned from a wonderful trip with captain marvins...they were very accommodating to our group which had some special mobility needs for the ladder. we were on the glass bottom boat. they did video us and it cost around $60. we did the wreck and reef tour with them. their office was only a few blocks from the pier, and there boat for that tour was right across the street from their office.

wendy :)

[lik2cruz]

Does anyone have a phone number for Nativeway? I have tried e-mailing them but haven't gotten any response. We are sailing on Dec. 24th! Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[zydecocruiser]

Does anyone have a phone number for Nativeway? I have tried e-mailing them but haven't gotten any response. We are sailing on Dec. 24th! Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I always have to ask - do you have email filters or something that would have explained the "no response"?. I have not used Nativeway, but is always one of the ones I will consider. Even post-Ivan they answered my email questions.

 

Have not tried this number (not toll free):

Native Way Watersports

Cayman Yacht Club

1-345-946-8656

 

 

from

 

http://www.nativewaywatersports.com

 

 

When I have called Grand Cayman in the past (on a phone card), it was less than 30 cents/minute.

 

Hope this helps..

[Fiddlemama]

Dear Zydecocruiser, I thank you for the awesome pics of GC. We are 1st time cruisers and have many questions. I am still torn between all the options for the Stingray Sandbar experience. I was wondering if you kind folks could help guide me to my decision. We also want to include Hell with the Stingray excursion. I have heard that Captain Frank and Moby Dick Tours are good. Any info on them? Do they all video record and if so, how much are the dvd's? We are thinking that the stingray shorex with be the absolute highlight of our trip and i don't want to screw it up! - lol. Swimming with the dolphins is so expensive, so we are hoping the rays will be a great substitute.

We will have to go to Hard Rock Cafe, too - how cool would that be to come home sporting a Grand Cayman Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt?

 

Soto's Van picks you up in a parking lot about 100 yards from the dock that is easy to find. You can find a pic or two in here:

 

zydecocruiser's Album:Conquest - GC - Nov 2004

Click on the link above to view the 103 pictures in this album. As the recipient, you can download, re-share and order prints and merchandise containing these pictures. Please do not use the owner's pictures in an unexpected way. <IMG id=pageCounter height=1 width=1 border=0>

[zydecocruiser]

Hard Rock is currently closed due to Ivan - re-opening in the spring, last I saw, so you may make it.

 

I have no experience with Moby Dick tours - but the owner/operator reads CC it seems. I can tell you that their boat was out the same day I was there with Sotos on Nov 11. I have heard nothing bad or even mediocre about them, nothing but good. I'd take a chance.

 

The same with Captain Frank. I really think it is hard to go wrong with Sting Ray City tours, unless you end up one of the cattle class ships tours.

 

Many will have videographers. All will have photographers, I think. The videos/photos are usually by a contracted outfit, but if you express your desire when you make a reservation with any (or better still, prior to the res to make sure), I think most will try to accomodate you.

 

Hope this helps...

 

mr bill