Grand Cayman Travel Guide

  The rocks that spawned a tourist trap
by Dabs
 
  • The rocks that spawned a tourist trap
      The rocks that spawned a tourist trap
    by Dabs
  •   Things to Do
    by Dabs
  • Stingray City
      Stingray City
    by girladventure
  •   Grand Cayman
    by Agraichen
  •   Grand Cayman
    by Agraichen
 

Pro

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 Beautiful, clean, relatively crime-free, incredible snorkeling & diving 


Con

bianchis profile photo

 Very expensive and not much to see unless you love the ocean and the numerous activities you can get involved in. Avoid going out when the cruise ships arrive as the island is overrun and I mean no... 


In a nutshell

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 Great Destination for Diving Enthusiasts Who Want to Enjoy a Laid-back Island Atmosphere. 

 

Explore Grand Cayman

Things to Do  

Swimming with stingrays at Stingray City

Swimming with stingrays at Stingray City, Grand Cayman

 imnotjoe Says:  This was an excursion I did about 3 weeks ago, after a wedding of a friend in the Cayman Islands. I first didn't feel like going out in a boat and all what involves. But then, as I knew a friend who I like was going I jumped in. Now I can say that if I wouldn't have gone I... 

Cayman Turtle Farm - VERY cool for kids and adults

Cayman Turtle Farm - VERY cool for kids and adults, Grand Cayman

 TravellerMel Says:  Came here as part of our shore excursion - it's a whole adventure park, and from the website it looks very cool. We went in to see the turtles in the breeding pond. You can see turtles of various sizes swimming in the ponds, but we all went over to the yearling pool where,... 

Go to Hell!

Go to Hell!, Grand Cayman

 TravellerMel Says:  Hell, Grand Cayman is a group of ugly, short, black, limestone formations in the northwest Grand Cayman town of West Bay. People are not allowed in amongst the limestone formations, but there are two viewing platforms for tourists to access and photograph them. Look for the... 

Seaman’s Memorial Statue

Seaman’s Memorial Statue, Grand Cayman

 cjg1 Says:  While exploring Georgetown we came upon the Seaman's Memorial Statue. The statue was errected in 2003 and represents the love that the people of the Caymans have with the water. The statue memorializes those individuals from the Caymans who have lost their lives at sea;... 

7 Mile beach

7 Mile beach, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:  After going to Hell and back, we had them drop us off at 7 mile beach and we ended up with many of the other Princess passengers at Calico Jack's at Sea Grape Beach. Lounge chairs were $8 to rent, we would have if we had planned to spend the whole day there but as we were... 

Captain Marvin's

Captain Marvin's, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:  There are a lot of recommended options for tours on Grand Cayman, many of which cater to cruise ship passengers so they know if your boat is diverted or is coming in late. We ultimately chose Captain Marvin's 2 stop snorkel tour because we wanted to get an early start and we... 

Stingray City

Stingray City, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:  For animal lovers Stingray City would have to be at the top of the must see list on Grand Cayman, it's a chance to interact with some stingrays who are not captive but are tame enough to touch and feed, the rays come because they want to, not because they are being held... 

Go to Hell and back

Go to Hell and back, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:  Yes, it's a tourist trap, but to be so close to Hell and not go? We just HAD to send postcards to our friends and family, writing them such profound thoughts as "Didn't you always know that we were going to Hell?" or "It's hot as hell here" or "We've been to Hell and back",... 

Coral Gardens

Coral Gardens, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:  Our 2nd stop with Captain Marvin's was the Coral Gardens (or at least I think it was, it could have also been the barrier reef as that's another stop they do) where we got back off the boat and snorkeled. It was a nice place to snorkel, we saw quite a few fish but they were... 

Hotels  

Turtle Nest Inn

 6 Reviews and 901 Opinions  On the beach at Bodden Town, 1 bedroom, living room, kitchen with rental car costs about 60% of a... 

Grand Cayman Beach Suites

 7 Reviews and 567 Opinions  We got a really great deal for a beachfront suite with views for days. It's great waking up and... 

Restaurants  

Hard Rock Cafe Cayman Islands: Hard Rock Cafe Cayman Islands

Hard Rock Cafe Cayman Islands: Hard Rock Cafe Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman

 TravellerMel Says:  Another awesome Hard Rock location! You can see the Cafe as you tender in from your cruise ship. I've been here a couple of times and it is great! The Rock Shop has loads of cool merchandise - pins, shirts, hats, shots, etc - and it is all Island themed. My favorite pins... 

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville: Wasting Away Again in Margaritaville....

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville: Wasting Away Again in Margaritaville...., Grand Cayman

 cjg1 Says:  Margaritaville is a chain of restaurants scattered across the US, Caribbean and Mexico. Yes, it's a chain but I do enjoy the good Margaritas and tasty snacks. My wife and I make Margaritaville a stop whenever we encounter one in our travels.Grand Cayman's Margaritaville is... 

Transportation  

Cruise ship tenders

Cruise ship tenders, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:  People arriving by cruise ship currently have to tender to get into port. What that means, for those who are not familiar with the term, is that instead of walking off and walking back on the ship, you have to take a smaller boat to get into the port. In our case we were the... 

Taxis

Taxis, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:  We took a taxi back from 7 Mile Beach to the cruise ship docks, it was $5 per person and they wait for the van to fill up before they go. If you are camped on one of the more isolated beaches, just find a place on the beach that serves food and drink and on cruise ship days... 

Shopping  

Milano Diamond Gallery: Beware of Milano Diamond Gallery

Milano Diamond Gallery: Beware of Milano Diamond Gallery, Grand Cayman

 JCurran Says:  Milano Diamond Gallery in Grand Cayman as well as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan Alaska. I bought a $2,500 tanzanite and 36 diamond ring in Juneau. Within 24 hours 2 diamonds had fallen out and were replaced in Skagway. Within another 48 hours another diamond had fallen out.... 

Shops near the cruise docks: Souvenirs in George Town

Shops near the cruise docks: Souvenirs in George Town, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:  We usually like to bring home a trinket from our trips but I don't get into the shopping like many cruise passengers do. But if you do, the cruise will likely provide you with all kinds of information on where to shop in port, all of it within walking distance of the cruise... 

Flagship: Jewelry and Fine Gifts

Flagship: Jewelry and Fine Gifts, Grand Cayman

 cjg1 Says:  Flagship is definitely one stop shopping. The store carries everything you could want in the jewelry, crystal, silver, watch and china department. My wife had a grand time perusing the merchandise especially the watch department (she'll still looking for the "perfect" watch... 

Warnings and Dangers  

Multiple cruise ships in town

Multiple cruise ships in town, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:  We were lucky that our ship was the only one docked that day, it made everything much less crowded. If you are coming in by cruise ship you can check Cruise TT to see how many boats will be there with you, if there are a lot it may make you change your mind about certain... 

Do NOT shop at Gem Palace (Milano Diamond Gallery)

Do NOT shop at Gem Palace (Milano Diamond Gallery), Grand Cayman

 Bewaryofcarnival Says:  Gem Palace (Milano Diamond Gallery) is one of Carnival Cruiseline's recommended stores. Carnival cannot be trusted when it comes to their port shopping program... it is all a ploy for them to make more money by receiving a cut when you make in-port purchases. The guarantee... 

What to Pack  

What to bring ashore

What to bring ashore, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:   We didn't need aqua shoes for Grand CaymanSwim wear for the beach, a hat with a string that ties under your chin to protect you from the sun and that will stay on during the motor boat ride and a towel for when you get into the taxi to keep the seat dry or for the lounge... 

Favorites  

Cruise information

Cruise information, Grand Cayman

 Dabs Says:  One of the best places for information on what to do in various ports is Cruise Critic. The Cruise Critic Grand Cayman forum board was very useful in planning shore excursions, whether the ones offered by the ship or independent, and there is also Grand Cayman port... 

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