In Grand Cayman, try a catamaran cruise to Stingray City, shallow sandbars filled with stingrays that are used to people petting them.

We went on a seven-day cruise on the Norwegian Prima from Port Canaveral, with planned stops in the Bahamas (which was cancelled because of high waves), Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.

Overview

We booked this excursion through Norwegian Cruise Line for our time in Grand Cayman. This way, the operator makes sure you get back to the port before the ship leaves. We wore swim trunks and brought towels for the trip.

Start of the Day

The cruise ship anchored off the coast of Grand Cayman, so we had to take tender boats to get to shore. My husband mentioned that sometimes, bad weather can keep you from making it to land.

We did a mid-morning excursion, so it made for an easier morning.

Our son wanted a snack and a drink while we were waiting for the excursion operator. I walked along Church Street and met a British woman who pointed me to a nearby grocery store. Solomon’s Wholesale Groceries was open, even on Christmas. The prices were fair, and the cashier was friendly.

After that, we went through the port. I paused to take a photo of a map and saw that Stingray City is at the northeast tip of the island. Then we met our tour leader and got into a van.

Heading There

I noticed a chicken cross the road, although I don’t know why.

On the left, we passed a beach where a mother and daughter were enjoying their day.

Soon after, we arrived at the harbor.

Boat Ride

As you leave the harbor, you pass by some impressive mansions, so it’s worth looking out at the view.

We headed out into the ocean. The weather was beautiful, and many people relaxed on the catamaran, enjoying the views, the waves, and the breeze.

At Stingray City

The boat anchored on a sandbar. A crew member explained how to interact with the stingrays in a way that felt comfortable for everyone. You could feed them, touch their sandpaper-like skin, or just watch them glide by, moving their sides like wings.

Some people feel nervous about being in the water with stingrays, but they are actually quite shy. Many of the same stingrays return to Stingray City’s clear waters and have even been named after famous “Rays,” like 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. (Information from NCL)

Our Experience

The crew was the first people to go out among the stingrays. Then we climbed down into the water. I helped my son, and my husband joined us too.

The waves were a bit rough, so I stayed close to my son. Stingrays swam all around us.

A little farther away, a crew member had food for the stingrays. You can feed them or pet them while you are in the water with them.

My husband swam farther out to where more stingrays were gathering. I stayed near the boat until my son wanted to climb back up the ladder.

After my son was settled on the boat, I returned to the water, ducking down to look for colorful fish while trying not to disturb the stingrays around me. A lot of colorful fish swim in the clear water here.

We didn’t feed the stingrays this time since we had done that before at a different stingray encounter where they were kept in a separate area.

Yet my husband enjoyed the waves, and I liked that they swam around you and just took in the wavy waters.

Back on the Boat

After spending time with the stingrays, the crew raised the sail, and we cruised along the coast for a while. We could see Georgetown in the distance. Then we were back at the port.

Final Thoughts

We had planned to visit the famous Cayman Turtle Centre, which is home to over 8,000 green sea turtles. However, the NCL excursion department didn’t realize it was closed on Christmas, so we had to change our plans.

We really enjoyed Stingray City. Having stingrays swim around you in the clear ocean is unforgettable. If you visit Grand Cayman, I recommend adding this to your list.

Keep in mind that it can be wavy, so my son didn’t spend as much time with the stingrays as he might have otherwise. Check the weather before you go.

MORE CRUISES

Taking a Norwegian Breakaway Cruise

We took a cruise on Norwegian Breakaway with plenty of activities for kids from water slides to games and sports competitions in Splash Academy.

Taking a Norwegian Escape Cruise

Cruise out of Port Canaveral on the Norwegian Escape and visit Caribbean Islands and onboard activities like a ropes course, mini-golf, and water park.