The Grand Cayman Cruise Port is located in George Town, the most populated location on all three islands. The main docking spot for tenders is the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal on the northern part of George Town. Major cruise lines sailing to the port include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and MSC Cruises.
All cruise ships will anchor in the large bay right in front of George Town, and double decked local boats will take passengers to one of the three piers-terminals. Cruise to Grand Cayman where you can snorkel, scuba dive, and stare at glimmering white sands at Seven Mile Beach. Book your Cayman Islands vacation today! After making your way back to the docks, explore the port area around George Town, do some souvenir shopping, and even visit the Grand Cayman Cruise Port (George Town Cruise Port).
The cruise traveler will be tendered to the North, South, or Royal Watler cruise terminals of George Town, all within easy walking distance from town. The George Town Cruise Port operates 7 days a week, from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and opens to various shopping options. The port is rated 4 out of 5 stars and is located on the main road, Harbor Drive, with the main docking spot being the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal on the northern part of George Town.
📹 Grand Cayman Cruise Port Guide: Tips and Overview
Known for its coral reefs, white sand beaches, and opportunities to swim with stingrays, Grand Cayman is the largest of the three …
Can you walk to the beach from Grand Cayman cruise port?
There are several ways to get to Seven Mile Beach but the starting point for all is Grand Cayman’s capital and urban center George Town. Grand Cayman does not have a pier capable of handling a modern cruise ship so visiting cruise ships anchor offshore. The passengers are then ferried into one of several piers in George Town using either the ship’s lifeboats or large local tenders. (Sometimes weather conditions prevent the ships from anchoring off George Town and they anchor on the other side of the island. Passengers are then usually bused into George Town). Normally, your cruise ship will offer a shore excursion to Seven Mile Beach. These typically include transportation to the beach and often a beach chair and a complimentary drink. Some ships also have tours that allow their guests to use the facilities of one of the resort hotels along the beach. The advantages of taking one of the ship’s organized shore excursions is that the shore excursions staff does all of the thinking and logistical work. Also, you do not have to worry about the ship leaving without you. A less expensive way of getting to the beach is to travel independently via the taxis that look for business around the tender piers in George Town. Of course, you do not know which drivers are the best beforehand. But this method of transportation does have the benefit of allowing you to come and go when you want, provided there is a taxi available at the times you want. (Look for one around the resorts for the trip back to the ship). During one cruise, I had heard that some guests walk to Seven Mile Beach from George Town. Based upon my memory of the local geography, it seemed like this might indeed be possible. Since I like to walk this idea intrigued me and I decided to see how practical it was to do this during my next cruise to Grand Cayman. Walking to the beach is relatively straightforward in theory. You go out of the gates of the tender pier, turn left and eventually you arrive at the beach. However, was it really that simple? The road outside the gates of the tender piers is Harbor Drive. In George Town, when the cruise ships are in it is a busy street. The shops across the street from the piers are quite popular and so there are lots of people. The traffic has to slow down as the people cross the street and as cars and vans turn off to go to the piers or into the commercial district. You do not have to cross the street, however, to make the journey to the beach. Harbor Drive (which becomes North Church Street and then West Bay Road) generally follows the shoreline. Heading north, you can stay on the left hand side all the way. But beware that the sidewalk disappears at various points and that you will have to walk either in the parking lot of one of the restaurants or shops or on the shoulder of the road. I found the walk to Seven Mile Beach to be fairly substantial. At times, I found myself wondering whether I had somehow walked beyond my goal. However, after about a half hour of walking, I found myself at a stretch of beach that I liked.
Most of the way to the beach has been developed. In George Town, there are some multi-story office buildings reflecting the fact that Grand Cayman is an international financial center as well as a tourist destination. As you walk further, there are a few traditional residences but most of the buildings on either side of the street are shops and restaurants. These include shops specializing in scuba diving and water sports equipment as well as a shopping mall or two and, of course, the international fast food restaurants.There are some scenic spots along the way. The buildings part and you can see the rocky shore a few yards off to the left. In the bay, the cruise ships are resting in the sun with tenders going to and fro.All of the beaches in Grand Cayman are public beaches. However, they are bordered by private property and the owners of the property can prohibit the public from using their property. Therefore, look for the small brown signs with a drawing of a swimmer that say “beach access.” These indicate that the path is a public right-of-way to the beach. Some of the public access paths are easier to follow than others. As a result, you can find yourself lost in a condominium development or a commercial area.
Is Cayman Islands blacklisted?
As a consequence of this move, on 18 January 2024, the EU updated its own ‘blacklist’ of high risk third countries for AML/CTF purposes and – as expected – Cayman has been removed from that, too.
How long does it take to tender in Grand Cayman?
30 minutes You should allow at least 30 minutes for tender travel time. Remember to meet on the pier at the specified time listed on your Port Adventure ticket. Towels will be provided for all water-based excursions.
Is Grand Cayman a tender port for Carnival?
The Grand Cayman Cruise Port is a tender port, and there are three terminals: South, North, or Royal Watler Terminals. All three terminals are within walking distance of each other. The port hosts a maximum of four cruise ships at one time.
The George Town, Grand Cayman cruise port welcomes the following cruise lines at all three terminals: Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages and Windstar Cruises.
Airline terminal (Photo: Dabarti CGI/Shutterstock.com)
What port does Carnival use?
Carnival cruise ports of call include Grand Cayman, Mahogany Bay, Nassau, Costa Maya, Belize, Key West, Yucatán (Progreso), Cozumel, Montego Bay, Falmouth, Limón, and Colón (Panama Canal).
Everyone should visit the Caribbean at least once in a lifetime. Just hearing the word “Caribbean” evokes the sights and sounds of the islands – white sandy beaches, blue waters, cheerful music, and glasses clinking. But, with more than 700 islands, inlets and cays, the Caribbean offers far more than just beautiful beaches. Our Caribbean cruise destinations are filled with excursions, adventures, and cultural experiences that celebrate this sunny part of the world.
Caribbean cruise routes cover three major regions: Western, Eastern, and Southern. Carnival cruises sail year-round to the entire region. If you’re not sure what islands are in the Western, Eastern or Southern Caribbean, our “Caribbean cruise maps” will tell you about all the fun to be had in every destination. Here we go!
Adventure seekers – head to the Western Caribbean right away! This little slice of heaven is ready to thrill you with water sports, hiking, and underwater adventures. Don’t worry, there’s always a place to enjoy that relaxing cocktail with a view, too.
What island is Carnival Cruise on?
Guide to Visiting Half Moon Cay, Carnival’s Private Island in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas is teeming with idyllic private islands, some of which are only accessible via cruise ship. Among them is Half Moon Cay. Formerly known as Little San Salvador, the isle was purchased by Holland America Line (owned by Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Holland America and other cruise lines including Carnival, Princess, Seabourn, Cunard, and more) in 1996. The island was officially opened as a port of call in 1997 and has been welcoming cruisers ever since. Its new name comes from the name of the ship in Holland America’s former logo (Halve Maen, which was captained by none other than Henry Hudson). Coincidentally, the island boasts a beautiful half-moon-shaped beach, making the name extra apropos. Here’s what you need to know about visiting Half Moon Cay, according to travel experts.
Getting to Half Moon Cay. Both Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line make stops at this private island paradise. “Due to the shallow waters,” notes Tiffany Formby, travel advisor at Travels by Danielle, “this is a tender port.” This means that passengers have to take a smaller boat from the cruise ship to get to land. With this in mind, she recommends “getting in line early to get tender tickets or booking an excursion/cabana to be one of the first off the ship.”
Carnival and Holland America offer a variety of itineraries from several North American ports that include stops at Half Moon Cay.
Why is Grand Cayman not accepting cruise ships?
The Cayman Islands is struggling to contend with a fast-changingcruise environment that frowns on transporting guests ashore via tender boats fewerthan four years after local voters defeated a referendum to construct thecountry’s first fixed cruise ship pier.
Cayman Islands cruise ship visits have declined sharply since2022. The downward trend is expected to continue, with visits to the destinationdeclining by half in the next two years as cruise lines opt for ever-largerships that require fixed piers.
Using cruise line data, Cayman Ministry of Tourism officialsexpect the country to host 746,000 cruise ship visitors this year, half of the1.4 million who sailed to the destination in 2022, according to a June 10Cayman Compass report.
What is the main beach on Grand Cayman called?
Water sports at Seven Mile Beach. Seven Mile Beach is one of the most popular destinations for water sports and activities in the world. This stunning stretch of sand is known for its warm, turquoise waters and gentle waves, making it perfect for some on the water fun. Whether you’re looking to swim, surf, jet ski, or snorkel, the options are endless. You’re promised to be kept entertained in Seven Mile Beach.
One popular activity in this area is stand-up paddleboarding. With its paddle attached to a longboard, this growing sport lets you explore the ocean up close and personal. And because of the calm waves and shallow reefs found along many parts of Seven Mile Beach, stand-up paddling is an ideal way to take in all the area has to offer. Other popular water sports here include kiteboarding, windsurfing, and kayaking.
In addition to its beautiful beaches, Seven Mile Beach is also known as an ideal spot for swimming, sunbathing, and soaking up some rays. With shallow water that stretches out into the sea and no strong currents, it’s easy to splash around or go for a relaxing dip any time of day. The shallow waters make it great for families with young children who want to learn how to swim.
What is the closest beach to the cruise ship port in Grand Cayman?
Can cruise ship passengers visit Seven Mile Beach?. Yes, cruise ship passengers can visit Seven Mile Beach.
It is about a 10-minute drive from the cruise ship port in George Town to Seven Mile Beach.
You can get a taxi from the cruise ship port to Seven Mile Beach. The taxi driver will know where to take you.
Is Seven Mile Beach free?. Yes, Seven Mile Beach is completely free. All beaches in the Cayman Islands have free access.
What side of Grand Cayman is Seven Mile Beach?. Seven Mile Beach is located on the west-side of Grand Cayman.
Can you use US dollars in Grand Cayman?
You should not need to change money in Grand Cayman, because U.S. dollars are readily accepted, though you may get some change in Cayman dollars. ATMs accepting MasterCard and Visa with Cirrus affiliation are readily available in George Town; you usually have the option of U.S. or Cayman dollars. The Cayman dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at the rate of approximately CI$1 to $1.25, and divided into a hundred cents, with coins of 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, and 25¢ and notes of $1, $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100. There’s no $20 bill. Traveler’s checks and major credit cards are widely accepted. Be sure you know which currency is being quoted when making a purchase.
Prices throughout this guide are given for adults and unless otherwise indicated are in U.S. currency. Substantially reduced fees are almost always available for children, students, and senior citizens.
Credit Cards. It’s a good idea to inform your credit-card company before you travel. Record all your credit-card numbers—as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen—in a safe place, so you’re prepared should something go wrong. Both MasterCard and Visa have general numbers you can call (collect if you’re abroad) if your card is lost, but you’re better off calling the number of your issuing bank, since MasterCard and Visa usually just transfer you to your bank; your bank’s number is usually printed on your card.
How many home ports does Carnival have?
Carnival Cruise Line offers cruises generally from three to eight days with almost all of its ships departing from 14 convenient U.S. homeports.
📹 Port Guide: Grand Cayman – Everything We Think You Should Know Before You Go! – ParoDeeJay
Looking to explore Grand Cayman? Welcome to our Port Guide series! Join us as we share our personal experiences, let you …
I think I have the perfect do-it-yourself excursion, for Dee and Jay. It’s cheap and easy, that’s why we have done it many times when we have been in Grand Cayman. So we exit the port area, and take a public bus to the best snorkeling and beach ever. But MAYBE I shouldn’t give it away, since it’s always serene and uncrowded when we are there. Ok ok, take the public bus to cemetery beach. So the bus (looks like a van), is easy to find and cheap, like $3 a person. Cemetery beach is located on 7 mile beach. This beach is quiet, has a few picnic tables, trees, and wonderful snorkeling. One thing to note, there are no bathrooms or restaurants on this section of the beach, but that is why it stays pristine. There is a good variety of fish, and the entrance is so much easier than Eden Rock and places like that. I get a little nervous climbing slippery ladders, when the waves are rough. Last time we where there, we seen at least 25 varieties of fish, lobster etc.
We did stingray city with a private company and it was much cheaper. There was a photographer on board and we bought a flash drive with all of our pictures. I think it was $25 or $35 for that and my friend and I shared it. Ours was one of the few tours that actually let us feed the stingrays because there are limits of how much they are allowed to be fed. I wish I remembered the name of the tour.
This was very helpful! We are going to Grand Cayman on March 21, which is the first day the port has opened since the beginning of thr pandemic. All the ship excursions are sold out, but we were going to see if we could take a taxi to 7 Mile Beach. Now I know that there are additional tours at the peer and definitely taxis. Thanks so much!
My family and I will be taking our first ever cruise in July 2022 through Carnival and I stumbled across your website and LOVE it! Quick question I have: One of our stops will be Grand Cayman and I am wondering if those who purchase excursions get priority boarding the first few tender boats. (We spent a week in Grand Cayman a few years ago and experienced much that the island had to offer, so we were not planning to book an excursion.) With that said, we would like to spend the most time we can there and didn’t know if there is a system in place to try and get on the first few tender rides that go out in the morning once we get to Grand Cayman. Thanks !!
I hate being told to wear a life vest in the water. When I was younger, I could dive quite deep and even though I can still hold my breath a lot longer than average, my big problem is getting under. Now, I float way more than I want to. I don’t want flotation. I want weights. At least enough to get me buoyancy neutral.