If your Western Caribbean cruise itinerary includes a call on Grand Cayman, you’re in for a treat. This low-lying island is only 76 square miles but offers a lot to see and do.
It begins with
the beauty of Grand Cayman’s white sand beaches, including the one at Smith Cove,
near the tender boat docks. Seven Mile Beach, Governor’s Beach, Spott’s
Beach, Cayman Kai Beach, and Rum Point Beach are popular with residents and
visitors. In addition to sunning and swimming, many beaches offer water sports like
kiteboarding, paddleboarding, and fishing.
Grand Cayman is also popular with snorkel and dive fans. The island has hundreds of dive sites, including beautiful coral reefs, steep drop-offs, and sunken
vessels like the USS Kittiwake.
Some snorkel and
dive excursions include a stop at Stingray City, where friendly stingrays
gather around a shallow sandbar for gentle interaction with visitors. You
can also get close to green sea turtles at the Cayman Turtle Conservation
Center; go birdwatching along the island’s Mastic Trail; or visit endangered
blue iguanas at a conservation facility in Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. The
iguanas are impressive, but don’t let them completely distract you from the
beautiful tropical flowers in the garden.
A must-see for
many visitors to Grand Cayman is Hell, an area about half the size of a
football field that’s mysteriously covered by jagged spikes of gray and black
limestone. The landscape is eerie and fascinating; plus, you can visit a
red-painted post office to mail “postcards from Hell” to your friends.
A visit to the Pedro
St. James historic site provides some historical perspective on Grand Cayman. This 18th-century structure, the oldest stone home in the Cayman Islands,
was built with slave labor. It’s also the place where the British Empire’s
Slavery Abolition Act was publicly read to island residents in 1835.
Additional
activities waiting for you on Grand Cayman include honey farm tours, an
introduction to the work of local artisans, foodie tours, and a close-up look
at stalactites and stalagmites in the island’s amazing Crystal Caves.
Note that Grand
Cayman is a tender port, which means the ship docks a short distance out and
smaller “tender” boats take you to shore. For more information about what to
expect on Grand Cayman and to choose a cruise itinerary that calls there, talk
with Anita, your professional travel advisor.
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