“Do I Need to Book an Excursion in Grand Cayman?” This is a question that I get asked a lot. Quite frankly, there are some cruise ports where you absolutely must book an excursion, and then there are others where you really don’t have to.
What is an Excursion?
An excursion is an activity that you book in a cruise port. The excursions range from historic tours, snorkeling and beach tours, visits to popular attractions, activities that will get your adrenaline pumping, and cultural activities. They are booked through local tour companies and cost additional money. Excursions can go from anywhere from $39 to hundreds of dollars for scuba diving, golfing, and helicopter tours.
About the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands are made up of three separate islands all of which are surrounded with crystal clear turquoise water and surrounded by white sand beaches.
The Caymans are known for being one of the wealthiest spots in the world- thanks to the banking system that attracts the richest of rich companies in the world!
Grand Cayman, one of the islands that make up The Cayman Islands, is a popular cruise port. The island is known for its shopping, friendly people, and for being one of the safest places to visit in the world!
If you’re looking to book an excursion in Grand Cayman, there are plenty of options available!
Do I Need to Book an Excursion in Grand Cayman?
Grand Cayman is one of the cruise ports where you do not have to book an excursion. Ships pull into George Town, a well-developed part of the island. Within walking distance from the cruise port, you’ll find restaurants and bars like Guy Harvey’s Bar & Grill, Hard Rock Cafe, Margaritaville, and Sharkeez Bar. There are also points of interest nearby such as the Stingray Fountain, Atlantis Submarines, Cayman Islands National Museum, Hog Sty Bay Historical Marker, and Fort George Ruins.
The Best Beaches in Grand Cayman
Another option is to hail a cab and head towards one of the nearby beaches. We recommend:
Seven Mile Beach– Popular with cruisers and folks staying at the resort.
Governors Beach– A pristine white sand beach perfect for snorkeling.
Cemetery Beach- A popular spot for snorkeling and looking for sea glass.
West Bay Beach- A white sand beach with a reef and calm, clear water. Great for snorkeling.
Recommended Excursions in Grand Cayman
Stingray Sandbar, Starfish Point, Beach & Lunch –
This 4-hour tour involves a boat ride out to Stingray City where you’ll have the chance to swim with the Southern Atlantic Stingrays. Then, you’ll zip on over to Starfish Point where you’ll have a chance to interact with starfish. Afterward, you’ll enjoy an island-style picnic on Starfish Beach.
Stingray Sandbar, Hell & Turtle Experience Center
This 4.5-hour tour crams all of the highlights into one little package. You’ll see Seven Mile Beach, explore the Turtle Centre, sample some rum cake at the Rum Cake Outlet, visit Hell, before hopping on a boat out to Stingray City.
Atlantis Submarine
This hour and a half tour will take you deep into the underwater Abyss. We’re talking 100 feet deep! Check out the amazing marine life in the National Marine Park through the windows of your submarine.
Barrier Reef & Starfish Point Snorkel
This 3.5-hour tour is great for snorkeling newbies! You’ll take a 25-minute boat ride out to the Barrier Reef and snorkel among the coral, sponges, sea fans, and vibrant tropical fish. After you get your fins wet, you’ll take a short boat ride over to Starfish Point to get a glimpse of starfish in their natural habitat!
7 Mile Beach Club Getaway
This is the most popular beach for cruisers and tourists. The beach has powdery-white sand and crystal-clear water. Get there early if you want to a chair, this beach fills up quickly!
Cayman Crystal Caves Adventure
This 3-hour tour takes you deep into the tropical forest to the Cayman Crystal Caves. The caves are believed to have been used by pirates to hide their treasure! If you’re into stalactites, stalagmites, and crystals, this tour is perfect for you!
Table of Contents
Be sure to take these with you!
- A GOOD pair of comfortable water shoes.
- A waterproof phone case to take underwater photos
- Eco-friendly sunscreen
- Dry Bags offer light-weight water-proof storage perfect for water activities.
Important Information
Grand Cayman is a tender port. This means that the water surrounded the island is too shallow for the cruise ship to pull in, so they drop anchor off the coast and ferry people to and from the island on smaller boats.
This often means having to wait for a tender (the name of the smaller boat) in order to get off/on the ship. Be sure to factor this in when making your plans for the day.
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