A tender port, so the real time ashore is shorter than the ship's schedule suggests. Stingray City and Seven Mile Beach are the classics.
Getting ashoreShips anchor off George Town, and small tender boats carry passengers to shore. Tender lines can add significant time at both ends of the day.
read this before you book
Passengers on ship tours usually get the first tenders ashore.
Fares follow a government-set system, and many vans charge per person. Confirm the price, and whether it is per person or for the group, before you get in.
Recent fares: Seven Mile Beach about $6 to $15 per person one way; the marinas for Stingray City boats about $20 to $30 per person.
Cayman Islands dollars (worth more than the US dollar). US dollars are taken everywhere at a fixed rate, but change often comes back in Cayman dollars.
English.
All-aboard is usually 30 minutes before sailing; your ship's daily planner has the exact time. Aim to be back at the tender line 1 to 2 hours before all-aboard if you're on your own: afternoon traffic and tender lines can both be slow.
pick by your time ashore
4 to 5 hours ashore
Rather book it? A Stingray City boat trip; many include a reef snorkel stop.
6 to 8 hours ashore
Rather book it? A beach break with transport, or a catamaran snorkel.
9 hours or more
Rather book it? A north side tour with Stingray City.
Times are approximate. Whatever you choose, plan to be back at the pier an hour before all-aboard. Compare tours for each idea below.
Start times and meeting points vary by tour. Check them against your ship's schedule before you book.
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GetYourGuide's own search results for Grand Cayman, in GetYourGuide's order. Check each tour's start time and meeting point against your ship's schedule.
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Shore Excursions Group sells tours built around cruise ship schedules, backed by their guarantee to get you back to the ship. Their tours aren't listed on this page; browse them on their site.
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Seven Mile Beach is a short drive from George Town and works for almost any window. Snorkel trips near town are another easy fit.
Stingray City, a shallow sandbar where you stand among wild stingrays, is reached by boat and usually combines with snorkel stops. It fits most port days, but check the tour length against your window.
Tender lines are the risk here, especially in the afternoon when several ships share the tenders. Our time estimate already budgets extra for this. Ship-sold tours often get priority tender tickets in the morning.
tender port: allow extra time for the boat
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