If you have a Caribbean cruise with a stop at Grand Cayman, sooner or later, you will hear about Stingray City. There’s a good chance it’s sooner if you’re looking into Grand Cayman shore excursions.
And, stingray city is a COOL experience that you totally should have on your list of considerations for tours in the Cayman Islands!
For shore excursions with stingrays, you have a few different options of what you want included with your day of stingrays. You can add on things like an extra snorkeling spot, a visit to a turtle farm, or kayaking the mangroves of the Caymans.
So, what is stingray city?
First, what do you think of when you think “stingray city”?
The “city” is actually in the middle of the ocean! Well, maybe not the middle of the ocean. You can see the Cayman islands coastline from stingray city, but it is a bit of a distance from shore.
On stingray city excursions, you basically take a boat out to the open water where there is a shallow spot because of a sandbar. So while you are a good ways away from the beach, you can still very easily stand, walk, and swim around with no problems at all.
This is also an area of natural habitat for stingrays, and they visit often.
Of course, since it’s nature, there’s no guarantee of when when stingrays will come around. But there’s a very good chance that you’ll see tons of them if you do make it out on a stingray city excursion.
You’ll be provided snorkeling gear on your stingray tour, so if Grand Cayman is the only island that’ll you’ll be snorkeling during your cruise, you don’t have to put snorkeling gear on your Caribbean cruise packing list.
Stingray city excursions are offered by most, if not all, major cruise lines that cruise the Caribbean. This includes Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, and Disney.
what to wear on a cruise – what NOT to bring on a cruise – how to prevent seasickness
So, what’s a port day in Stingray City like? Here’s a peek!
Side note!
See about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Waikiki that will give you Hawaii vibes!
Heading out to the open water by boat…
Do you see the stingray that’s headed towards stingray city? 😉
Your tour guide will show you how to hold a stingray
Stingray city is one of the most popular Grand Cayman excursions during a Caribbean cruise!
Things to maybe pack for your cruise to Grand Cayman!
Now, here are some things that you just may want to add to your cruise packing list!
- This case so you can take pristine underwater pictures or pool pictures! (It’s cheap!)
- This pouch so you don’t have to worry about leaving valuables on the beach
- These tag holders so you don’t end up with lost luggage on the cruise ship!
- These packing cubes so you can find your stuff once on the cruise
- These types of beach shoes so you don’t have to worry about hidden rocks under the sand at any of the cruise ports
- This type of beach bag that’ll help you dry things out so you can be ready for the next beach day!
- For your beach outfits, take a look at…
- These swimsuits and cover-ups for women
- This swimwear for plus-size women
- These swimsuits for men
- Cruise formal: And here are ideas for your cruise outfits for formal night!
- Seasickness: And here are ideas for snacks and wearables to prevent seasickness
- Snorkeling: And here are tips on what to wear snorkeling
HAPPY STINGRAY CITY PLANNING!
Explore pictures of more Caribbean cruise ports: turks and caicos | aruba | curacao | st kitts | st maarten | nassau | cozumel | puerto rico
what not to bring on a cruise | cruise packing list | what to wear on cruise formal night | florida cruise planning tips | more cruise tips
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🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel:
- walking sandals:
I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
see more:
- What to wear hiking
- What to wear snorkeling