Cruise Travel....

Port of the Month:
GRAND CAYMAN

Passengers arriving at the popular port of George Town, Grand Cayman, today will see very little evidence that “Ivan the Terrible” ravaged the city and the island on September 12, 2004. With several modern new shopping centers and businesses and a noticeably reinvigorated local welcome, Grand Cayman is better than ever as a top Caribbean criuse port-of-call.

After Ivan’s 150-plus mile-per-hour winds and huge storm surges, the winter cruise ship season definitely had a temporary slowdown in the Cayman Islands. However, by late last year and into 2005, ship and passenger numbers were already returning to post-Ivan levels. With practically all facilities (including shopping, dining, and shore excursions) now open--and basically better than ever--the 2005-06 season is shaping up to be a boon for both the Cayman Islands and visiting cruise-ship passengers.

“The Cayman Islands Ministry and Department of Tourism are committed to improving the tourism infrastructure and product on Grand Cayman, and to taking full advantage of the many opportunities that Hurricane Ivan has presented us with,” said Pilar Bush, Director of Tourism for the Cayman Islands. “Our goal is to provide guests with a higher standard of product than ever before and to ensure they receive an unprecedented level of customer service. There is sustained optimism on the island and a strong belief island-wide that, by working together, the resulting Cayman Islands tourism product will be better than ever.”

Grand Cayman certainly couldn't have a better location--less than 500 miles south of Miami--which blesses the land (and the quieter sister islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac) with the magnificent Caribbean Sea and some of the best year-round weather in the world. Nestled in consistently calm Western Caribbean waters, the Cayman Islands rarely report temperatures outside of the 80s. In fact, the local newspaper usually describes the weather as having "no significant features."

Unlike the weather, a visit to Grand Cayman can have many significant features. From numerous relaxing beaches to a wide variety of watersports ideal for shore excursions, you can do as little or as much as you want in this post-Ivan port-of-call.

"With its excellent beaches and shopping and wide-ranging shore-excursion opportunities, Grand Cayman has been a fixture on Carnival Cruise Lines' Caribbean itineraries for many years," says Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO (Carnival looks to call more than 275 times on Grand Cayman annually with eight of the line's ships). "The island's recovery in the wake of last year's hurricane has been remarkable, as our ships were able to return to the island fairly quickly after the storm passed. Guest response to Grand Cayman remains very strong, and we look forward to continued visits to this tropical island paradise."

Largest of the three islands at 76 square miles, Grand Cayman, is the center of trade and government for the tiny British Caribbean nation. But Grand Cayman draws the most attention because of Seven Mile Beach, one of the world's most famous stretches of sand.

On one side of the white coral sands, you'll find beachfront resorts beautifully adorned with pools, flowering gardens, elegant gazebos, outdoor cafes, and renowned restaurants. On the other side of the shoreline, you'll find the crystal-clear water as far as the eye can see. It's the ideal Caribbean beach.

Along Seven Mile Beach and at several other resort areas on the island, you can find many private areas to enjoy. But you can also take off into the sea for superior watersports including scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, boating, and even submarine experiences.

Quite possibly, Grand Cayman is the underwater capital of the world (check out www.divecayman.ky), with reefs protected by law and national park status, as well as the unique opportunity to dive or snorkel with stingrays at world-famous Stingray City. More than 125 dive sites--many less than a mile from shore--offer sheer walls, colorful coral, and an incredible quantity and variety of marine life.

If you don't dive, the Cayman Islands offer an ideal opportunity to try it or get certified. Scuba diving is an ideal sport for cruise ship passengers, one that's quite easy to learn (many cruise lines and local dive operators offer “first-timer” shore excursions).

In addition, the snorkeling is also world-class. Many great snorkel sites are within a short walk of the cruise-passenger arrival docks (as is Atlantis Submarine, where two subs head 100 to 800 feet under the surface).

When you can break away from the beach and shimmering sea, the island is fun and easy to explore. Your best bets are to enjoy a shore excursion that includes a tour, rent a car, or hire a friendly local taxi driver to take you on a tour.

Most tours start with George Town, the capital of the Cayman Islands. Visitors will find this charming waterfront town is rich in history and filled with activity. From fine British lines and china to local crafts, the shopping is both duty- and hassle-free. Unique vacation keepsakes can include jewelry crafted from black coral or a silver or gold coin retrieved from a nearby sunken vessel. Many post-Ivan shops are either brand-new or completely renovated, making shopping in George Tonw better than ever.

When your shopping spree is complete, have some lunch at a local restaurant and then soak up some island history on the "George Town Historical Walking Tour," which takes you past the churches, memorials, homes, and buildings that played a historic role in the islands' past. A map (and much more information about big-time preservation in the Cayman Islands) can be found at the National Trust headquarters office in the heart of George Town (just ask any local for its location).

For a more in-depth view, history buffs should head to the Cayman Islands National Museum. Here exhibits and videos vividly display the history of the Cayman Islands, including their emergence out of the ocean and early seafaring days. It's a great way to understand more about the main island (and the others) before heading further afield.

Grand Cayman has much more to offer than bustling George Town. Small towns, friendly people, big-time attractions, beautiful beaches (in addition to Seven Mile Beach), and local dining can all be a part of exploring outside the George Town city limits. Taxis and tour sbuses abound, but a rental car offers total flexibility for a half-day or more of exploration. If you do rent a car, don't forget to drive on the left!

Along with Seven Mile Beach, outing options include: a visit to the unusual Cayman Turtle Farm, where visitors can see green sea turtles ranging from the tiniest hatchling to the massive adults swimming in the breeding pond; sending a postcard from the town of Hell, named after its strange rock formations; exploring Grand Cayman's woodland interior at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park (or hiking the Mastic Trail); beaching it at Rum Point; or jerking it in Bodden Town.

The Turtle Farm is a Cayman classic for many cruise ship passengers. When Christopher Columbus first spotted the islands in 1503, he named them “Las Tortugas” (The Turtles). According to legend, there were so many turtles on the three islands then that it looked like the islands were covered with rocks.

The Turtle Farm has been in operation since 1968 and is dedicated to educating visitors about the benefits of a proactive conservation program for sea turtles. It’s the world’s only commercial green sea turtle farm and is home to more than 16,000 sea turtles ranging in size from six ounces to 600 pounds. From the tiniest hatchlings to huge adults, kids and kids at heart love the Turtle Farm--many end up sponsoring the release of a turtle into the wild. In early-2006, the Turtle Farm is scheduled to become part of Boatswain’s Beach, a new 30-acre (and $45 million) marine theme park that will include a huge saltwater snorkel lagoon, an aviary, an iguana sanctuary, a street dedicated to Caymanian cuisine and heritage, and much more.  

Nearby, the “town” of Hell offers up strange rock outcroppings that were turned into a tourist attraction many years ago. The opportunities for pictures, souvenirs, and sending a postcard with “Hell” as its postmark are all popular possibilities.

On the other (east) side of George Town, Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park beckons with 65 acres of Caymanian flora, fauna, history, and beauty. Be sure to check out the Heritage Garden, the Floral Colour Garden, the Nature Trail, and the Iguana Habitat--those lizards grow huge here!).

For those with a bit of cabin fever who just want a long walk, Grand Cayman’s Mastic Trail offers a natural diversion. Once a route of commerce before roads were built, the two- or three-hour (out-and-back) trail passes through mangrove swampland, palm savannah, and rocky outcroppings. A rental car or organized excursion (through the National Trust in George Town) is needed to enjoy the Mastic Trail.  

Rum Point offers cruise ship passengers a great way to spend a classic day at the beach. Reached by car, bus, or ferry, this scenic spot is renowned for clear and calm waters lined with tall pines. Watersports, hammocks, and a lively bar and restaurant make Rum Point a grand Grand Cayman excursion for cruise passengers.

On the way to any of these diversions east of George Town, be on the look out for several “jerk” stands and restaurants. These “locals-only” places offer up Grand Cayman’s spicy version of jerk-style pork, chicken, and more, all washed down with an ice-cold (and locally-made) Stingray beer.

From George Town to Hell to jerk and then back to the ship, the motto of the Cayman Islands beckons passengers: "He hath founded it upon the seas." A port call by the sea provides a perfect interlude and Grand Cayman provides perfect sea, sand, sun, shops, and much more.

Know Before You Go

*Ships That Call: Virtually every major cruise line plying the Caribbean calls on Grand Cayman at some point. These include: Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Crystal, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Radisson Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Swan Hellenic, and others. A great overview of calls on Grand Cayman (past, present, and future) can be found by visitingwww.caymanport.com.

*Weather: Grand Cayman temperatures average 80F in winter and 86F in summer--meaning it’s “summer” year-round. Tropical rain showers are always possible, but typically short-lived.

*Money Matters: Cayman Islands currency is the Caymanian dollar (CI), which is currently fixed at $1.00CI to $1.25US. Credit cards are widely accepted in George Town and ATMs are quite prevalent.

*For More Info: Contact your travel agent of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (Cruise Travel Magazine), 3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10036; 877-4 CAYMAN or 212-889-9009; or log on to www.caymanislands.ky.