SHORE EXCURSIONS

Two of Grand Cayman's most popular activities, visiting the Turtle Farm and literally going to Hell, are included on this cruise tour. Sit back, relax and enjoy the highlights of Grand Cayman.

Your tour begins in George Town - this prosperous capital ranks as the fifth-largest financial center in the world - with a guided drive along Seven Mile Beach, briefly stopping along the way to capture once-in-a-lifetime snapshots. Continue on to quaint local neighborhoods on your way to the Gingerbread House, followed by a stop at Hell, a small tourist village known for its unusual inferno rock formations.

After a 'hell' of an experience, you'll visit the Turtle Farm, home of the world-famous green sea turtle. On the way back to the pier, you’ll make a brief stop at one of Cayman's rum cake outlets.

OVERVIEW

Interact with southern stingrays on a shallow sandbar and observe an abundance of other marine life by snorkeling a barrier reef off Grand Cayman. A scenic cruise along beautiful Seven Mile Beach will bring you to Stingray City, a collection of sandbars teeming with stingrays. These graceful creatures may look somewhat ominous, but they are docile and shy, often burying most of their flat bodies in the sand. While swimming with the stingrays, you might feed them, run your hands over their sandpaper-like skin or simply allow them to brush by. The stingrays that inhabit this particular sandbar are quite friendly and accustomed to sharing the water with people. After cruising to a nearby reef, you will see many of the other marine creatures that live in the crystal-clear waters. Among the most colorful are queen parrotfish, red-and-white striped squirrelfish and silvery yellow French grunts, whose name refers to the noise they make by grinding their teeth.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit a series of shallow sandbars with so many stingrays that it’s called Stingray City.
• Feed and touch the stingrays or simply watch them from a distance.
• Snorkel a barrier reef and observe the other marine life that lives off Grand Cayman.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Experience one of the Cayman Islands’ most beloved attractions at the Cayman Turtle Centre, home to more than 8,000 green sea turtles ranging in size from tiny hatchlings to 600-pound adults. Learn about local conservation efforts and how these remarkable creatures have become an integral part of Caymanian heritage. Visit the Breeding Pond to see the larger turtles up close, then gently interact with younger turtles using the centre’s two-finger touch method at the touch tank. Explore the 1.3-million-gallon Turtle Lagoon, where you can swim alongside sea turtles, tropical fish, and other marine life, or visit the Predator Reef to view sharks and exotic species through an underwater panel. Enjoy time at the Caribbean Aviary and Breakers Lagoon, a freshwater pool surrounded by lush tropical gardens. Before heading back, browse the gift shop or stop by the nearby Schooner’s Bar & Grill to sample local flavors.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the world-renowned Cayman Turtle Centre, home to thousands of green sea turtles.
• Learn about turtle conservation and the island’s deep connection to these gentle creatures.
• Swim with turtles in the Turtle Lagoon and observe sharks and tropical fish at Predator Reef.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See the natural wonders of Grand Cayman that lie below the water’s surface, along the coast and inland and come away with an understanding of the island’s many charms. For a look at the teeming marine life that inhabits the coral reefs, you will glide through the sea in an air-conditioned Nautilus semi-submersible submarine. Expect to see an ever-changing parade of brightly colored fish, an old shipwreck and perhaps a sea turtle or two. Back on shore, you will pause for photos at gorgeous Seven Mile Beach and then go straight to Hell, a sinister-looking patch of jagged black limestone that lives up to its name. There is even post office there, if you wish to send a card from Hell. Grand Cayman is also known for its outstanding rum cakes, several of which you can sample along with a variety of premium rums that may be flavored with coconut or banana.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Observe schools of brightly colored fish and other marine life while snorkeling a barrier reef and a shipwreck that serves as an artificial reef. The reefs off Grand Cayman are teeming with sea life, and you will likely see an abundance of creatures that may include stingrays and sea turtles, especially loggerhead and green turtles as their numbers have dramatically increased in the last two decades. Tropical fish are also plentiful and many of them are easy to identify because of their distinct colors. You might see brilliant blue tangs, neon-colored parrotfish and Spanish hogfish, a species whose colors change as they age. If you spot purple-and-yellow ones, they are juveniles. The shipwreck also attracts huge numbers of fish as it has provided them with a sheltered habitat for decades. Because it lies on the ocean floor just 25 feet below the surface, it offers an excellent, easy-to-reach snorkeling site.

HIGHLIGHTS
• See an abundance of neon-colored fish and other marine life while snorkeling a reef.
• Snorkel around a shipwreck that now serves as an artificial reef teeming with fish.
• Look for loggerhead and green sea turtles, whose numbers have increased recently.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Drop by three attractions that best represent the unique character of Grand Cayman, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. In the island’s northwestern interior, you will get a good look at an eerie expanse of jagged black limestone that was named for its appearance – Hell. There is even a Hades-themed post office where you can send a card from Hell. A slice of heaven awaits you at a nearby rum cake factory, where you will sample delicious Tortuga-brand cakes infused with rum. A tour will reveal the array of products made there, including rum liqueur coffees and red-hot pepper sauces. You will enjoy another tasting at Seven Fathoms, a distillery that ages its spirits on the ocean floor at a depth of 42 feet or seven fathoms. The ocean keeps the casks at a constant temperature and the currents gently rock the spirits inside to extract the optimal flavors from the oak barrels.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stop in Hell, an ungodly looking spot named for its jagged black limestone formations.
• Sample a selection of moist cakes made with flavored rums at the Tortuga rum cake factory.
• Taste a selection of spirits aged on the ocean floor, which imparts them with unique flavors.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Snorkel around a coral reef and a U.S. Navy submarine rescue vessel that was scuttled to become an artificial reef after more than 50 years of military service. The USS Kittiwake lies on the bottom of the sea off the coast of Seven Mile Beach, making it easily accessible for snorkeling. Although the water there is about 60 feet deep, the boat’s top deck is only four feet from the surface. You can just snorkel around the top deck or go deeper if you wish. Regardless, you will see an abundance of marine life that typically includes sea turtles, groupers and all sorts of brightly colored tropical fish. The coral reef lies nearby but in much shallower water, which allows you to get an even closer view of the underwater wonders. The more frequently seen fish include yellow snappers, blue tangs and red soldierfish. You may also catch sight of southern stingrays gracefully swimming by.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Snorkel the crystal-clear waters around a scuttled submarine that is now an artificial reef.
• Observe abundant brightly colored fish such as blue tangs, parrotfish and red soldierfish.
• Enjoy an even closer look at the marine life at the reef, which lies in shallower water.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise the Allura catamaran to Stingray City, a collection of shallow sandbars teeming with southern stingrays that are used to humans petting them. On the way there, the crew will brief you on how best to maximize the experience. Once you reach the sandbars, you will be free to interact with these graceful, docile creatures according to your comfort level. You may feed them, stroke their sandpaper-like skin or simply watch the stingrays glide along by flapping their sides like wings. The choice is yours. Although some people are apprehensive about being in the water with stingrays, these creatures are actually quite shy. Many of the same ones frequent the crystal-clear waters at Stingray City and have even been named after famous “Rays,” such as Ray Charles. Southern stingrays are fascinating creatures with flat, diamond-shaped bodies. They use electro-receptors and their heightened sense of smell to locate prey buried in the ocean floor.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit a series of shallow sandbars with so many stingrays that it’s called Stingray City.
• Discover some of the reasons these bashful creatures are so misunderstood.
• Feed and touch the stingrays or simply observe them from a distance.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a bathing suit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

The Dolphin Encounter is a unique opportunity to meet these incredible mammals up close and personal in waist-deep water. Experience first-hand the connection of a lifetime, while our marine mammal specialist guides you through all the fun and excitement. While enjoying the encounter, you will also gain important knowledge about conservation and education about bottlenose dolphins. Following a brief educational session into the world of our dolphins, you will also gain important knowledge on the conservation of our amazing dolphins and be given demonstration on proper hand placements for each behavior to better prepare our guests for a great experience. Our Dolphin Encounter program is specially designed for visitors of all ages looking for an in-water experience with a dolphin. In this program, guests will be able to experience multiple behaviors, including an unforgettable hug, the infamous hand target and a heartfelt handshake with our playful friend. Guests will be standing on a submerged platform for the entirety of the program.

Our talented photographers will be there during the entire program capturing your experience of a lifetime. Before heading back to your ship, relax on a motorized boat with shaded areas while you head to Cayman's famous Sand Bar to interact with southern stingrays in their own natural habitat.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy the amenities of a cruise to Starfish Point, where you can relax on the beach and snorkel in the crystal-clear waters. This cruise only accommodates a limited number of guests and the personalized service along the way will reflect that exclusivity. Once you arrive at Starfish Point along the northern shore of Grand Cayman, you will be free to relax as you please on its sugar-white sand. The transparent waters are ideal for a refreshing swim or just to wade out into the shallows and observe the numerous starfish that can be found there. Marine life is abundant throughout this part of the island, and you will see an ever-changing parade of it while snorkeling. You may spot colorful queen parrotfish, bright-red squirrelfish and perhaps a fairy basslet or two, an easy-to-identify species as its head and anterior body are violet, while it posterior half is yellow.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise to Starfish Point on a limited-capacity vessel.
• Spend free time relaxing on the beach however you please.
• Wade into the shallows off the beach and see starfish in the crystal-clear water.
• Snorkel in a nearby area that is teeming with colorful marine life.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the pleasures of local life through a remarkable variety of authentic experiences. You will see the artistic side of the islands while browsing the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, whose collection ranges from modernist paintings to traditional crafts made with natural materials. George Town’s vision of the future will be on display from atop the observation tower that rises 75 feet above Camana Bay, a cutting-edge New Urbanist town designed around the principles of sustainability. The views will be especially panoramic as the topography of Grand Cayman is flat. The distilling of rum on the island is also a relatively new enterprise as you will discover by tasting a variety of premium spirits made from local ingredients. Still, it is the cuisine that may be the most revealing. The menu for your meal at the 1908-built Grand Old House will include courses that are classics and others that are highly inventive.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse the extraordinary works at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands.
• Take in the sweeping views from atop the observation tower at Camana Bay.
• Sample a selection of tasty rums distilled on the island.
• Savor a multi-course meal of Caymanian cuisine at a restaurant in a historical house.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise to a collection of sandbars in the North Sound to swim with stingrays and enjoy a tropical lunch onboard while overlooking a secluded beach at another idyllic location. As you cruise through the sheltered waters off George Town, you will feel a cool sea breeze on your skin and a genuine sense of adventure. Your first destination will be the aptly named Stingray City, which is typically teeming with native southern stingrays. While standing in the shallows of the sandbars, you can interact with the stingrays however you are most comfortable. Stingrays are quite shy and docile, although people often mistakenly think otherwise. Continuing on, the captain will drop anchor at Starfish Point, whose shallows attract countless numbers of starfish. They should be easy to spot in the crystal-clear sea. In keeping with the theme, the menu for lunch will feature fresh seafood prepared according to traditional Caymanian recipes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise into the sheltered turquoise waters of North Sound.
• Visit a series of shallow sandbars with so many stingrays that it is called Stingray City.
• Feed and touch the stingrays or simply observe them from a distance.
• Enjoy a seafood lunch and open bar while anchored off secluded Starfish Point.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a bathing suit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.