Just Left GC - Carnival Conquest 11/11

[zydecocruiser]

There were indeed four ships in port today. Tenders running nonstop everywhere. Star Princess was last to the party - certainly not there at 7am. No problem for me tendering in and out. The line for Princess looked the longest - lines for others were non-exisitent - maybe not for the "last" tender. Princess was usiung some of the lifeboats for tenders which probably slowed things down - but sometimes some of the large tenders.

 

Heard the cruiselines cancelled the stingray sandbar shore excursions, but Soto's cruises went - we had two snorkewl stops first and then the sandbar. A few other tours were there - saw Bucanneer and Moby Dick and some boats I didn't recognize.

 

Still lots of visible damage onshore, but the rays weren't shy or were the fish at the aquarium and coral gardens (if they thought you had food).

 

The water was a little rough and the winds a little high, but they let us stop and tender.

 

Don't know much about anything else - not much time before or after tour to really explore. Some in the group gave one of the drivers a couple of bucks pp and were able to be dropped off in Hell. Assume they could catch a taxi back without a problem.

 

OH DARN, time to eat again!

[cruisewmn]

Thanks for the update. Hope the rest of your cruise is wonderful!

[Ag_Cruiser]

Thanks for the update!

 

Since you're on the Star and I'll be there in two weeks, can you answer a few questions?

 

1. Princess Cays? If not, was there another port or another sea day? Did you spend longer in some ports because there was no stop in PC?

 

2. What time did the Star arrive and what time did you leave? On the Princess website they have us there from noon to 7:00pm, but on the GC schedule they have us there from 7:00am to 4:00pm. Obviously, we need to let Soto's know when we'll be there!

 

I look forward to your review of the Star when you return . . . I'm really excited!

[zydecocruiser]

Sorry --- I am noit on the Star - I'm on the Conquest... Now in Cozumel... Don't drink the water (j/k).The FC port used to keep (usually) accurate actual arrival and departure times. If you look up a specific ship they may have started keeping again.

[FranciscoFamily]

Is the water normally rough this time of year? We'll be there in 2 weeks.

 

Did this affect your snorkeling or stingray city? Or was it only noticeable with the tenders?

[BobbieSu]

Zydecocruiser

 

You got to go! I'm so glad. I'm glad to know the stingrays still want food from us. Were the ships excursions cancelled due to the waves?

 

Thanks, Waiting for full details upon return

 

Su

[zydecocruiser]

This time of year, for a while, it can be hit and miss with wind and waves. Don't think it is a big deal to tenders - didn't even really notice in them but insurance companies can be over cautious at times. People trying to get from a boat into the water and back out - that sort of concern more than anything else, I would think.

 

A beginner snorkeler might not have enjoyed, but they had life preservers for all who wanted. Very easy to float with or without one. Nobody has to get off of the boat (any off them), and some just went along for the ride.

 

At stingray sandbar, thet depth seemed to be from about 3-5 ft where we were, but once in a while a roller wave would come through adding a couple or so of feet to that. Again, life vests were available for all. Kids were also in the water, and they were much more squeamish (and screamish) about the stingrays than the water.

 

No injuries, no one left behind, no worries.

 

Will post pictures when I get back to real high speed Internetburg...

[ladycaveat]

Zydecocruiser . . . I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist . . . "some in the group gave one of the drivers a couple extra bucks to be dropped off in Hell." I know that Hell is a city in the GC but it did sound funny. Aside from having a postcard mailed from Hell . . . is there anything to see there?

[BobbieSu]

ROFL

 

I missed that one Ladycaveat. Thanks!

 

A smiling Su

[MyDusty]

Did you notice of Carnival was offering a Seven Mile Beach Break shore tour? I want to find a spot to hand out for the day and the place that Carnival used to offer "before the hurricane" was perfect. Is there a substitution?? Thanks

[zydecocruiser]

Carnival's shore excursions were very limited compared to what is normally offered, and I suspect subject to change day by day as more is available.

 

Assorted times for many, but:

Coral Reef and Stingray Safari

Stingray Sandbar tour

Stingray City Tour

Stingray City and Island tour

Stingray Sandbar, Hell, and Turtle Farm

Grand Cayman Highlight tour

Reef and reck snorkel tour

See and Sea Island tour

Grand Cayman Snorkel

Beginners Scuba

Certified Scuba

Kayak Safari Tour

Nautilus Undersea Adventure

Aqua boat and Snorkel Adventure

Atlantis Power Snorkel

Cayman Seven Mile Beach Break ($21 + $4 cab fare pp each way) - the description lists Beach Club Colony Hotel as the destination.

[zydecocruiser]

Zydecocruiser . . . I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist . . . "some in the group gave one of the drivers a couple extra bucks to be dropped off in Hell." I know that Hell is a city in the GC but it did sound funny. Aside from having a postcard mailed from Hell . . . is there anything to see there?

No problemo. Not much to see there. Some geology stuff. Most visitors just seem to want to send a card to an "ex" stating "Wish you were here!"

 

[zydecocruiser]

Same pics I gave link to in another message.

 

No time to rebalance color in underwater ones at the moment.

 

zydecocruiser's Album:Conquest - GC - Nov 2004

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[CindyinSacTown]

Zydecocruiser, thank you so much for the fantastic pictures of Grand Cayman. We will be there on Thanksgiving and it warmed my heart to see how much it has recovered. Your pictures were a breath of fresh air. Thank you again so much for your time and effort.

 

Hope you had a great time. We would love to hear details!!

[zydecocruiser]

Thanks for the update!

 

 

2. What time did the Star arrive and what time did you leave? On the Princess website they have us there from noon to 7:00pm, but on the GC schedule they have us there from 7:00am to 4:00pm. Obviously, we need to let Soto's know when we'll be there!

 

I look forward to your review of the Star when you return . . . I'm really excited!

Interesting question...

 

Not sure of the exact time of arrival for Princess, but per the Cayman Port website, it was logged in 10:45am and left at 7pm. It still shows 7am arrival and 5pm departure for Nov 25. I would call Princess and see if they will verify times and go with what they say.

 

You can try to go through the Princess website to see what excursions they will let you book online to judge arrival departure times. You should certainly know once you board the ship, because they will be selling their own shore excursions.

 

What I would do is board the Star Princess as early as possible and look at the shore excursion list first thing. If it looks like arrival time in GC is 7am instead of noonish, call Soto's from my cell phone (via phone card, if uncertain of how much cell long distances charges would be) to switch.

 

I have a feeling the afternoon trip is the right one to book.

[EKELLEY]

We were the ones that Zydecocrusier is talking about that was dropped off at hell by Soto's & almost did not make it back to the boat in time. There were no cabs at hell when we got there & we had a lady that worked in the store at hell call us a cab. She called 3 cab companies & no one would pick up us. We were told to stand on the street & we could ride the public bus for 2.00 a person. We waited for 10 minutes & a 12 passanger van pulled us & asked if we needed a bus. We told him we needed to go to the cruise terminal & he said he was going that way. There was 1 person on the van from another cruise line & about 4 locals. There were 6 in our group. About every 2 minutes the driver would stop & pick someone up. We had about 16 people in a 12 passanger van & he wanted to pick up more people. We had about 1 hour to get to the terminal before the last tender. When we got close enough to see the ship, we were about

1 1/2 blocks away from the boat & the driver took a left when the boat was on the right. We told him to stop & let us off. At this time we had 15 minutes before he last tender. We made it back on the boat but we will never do that again. I would suggest no going to hell unless your cab driver waits for you.

 

Eileen

[zydecocruiser]

Are you sure you made it back to the ship, Eileen? I don't remember seeing you two after Soto's????

 

 

With the island now open for land based tourists (those scabs), there may be even more competition for available cabs. Getting dropped off is fine, know how you are getting back to the ship and with whom before doing so.

[ladycaveat]

No problemo. Not much to see there. Some geology stuff. Most visitors just seem to want to send a card to an "ex" stating "Wish you were here!"

 

zydecocruiser . . . that cracked me up! Think maybe I'll send both of my former husbands a postcard with "Wish you were here." Though I'm no longer married . . . I still consider both of my former spouses friends. Both flew in to see me graduate from law school six years ago and both (one Daddy and one Step-Dad) were there when "our" son got his wings as a Coast Guard pilot last year. They will really get a kick out of a postcard from their "ex" wife from Hell!!! Tee Hee