If you’re planning a Caribbean cruise, chances are you’ll stop in George Town, the capital and largest city of the Cayman Islands. With its white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, George Town offers plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy during their stop.
Disembarking from Your Cruise in the Cayman Islands
Disembarkation in the Cayman Islands is done by tender boats, since cruise ships don’t dock directly at the port. This process takes quite some time to get everyone off the ship. For that reason, if you want to make the most of your stop, plan to be among the first to leave.
To board the tender boats, you’ll need to collect a ticket at one of the ship’s bars (we got ours at the Sports Bar).
Tickets start being distributed at 6:30 a.m., and the first tender boats begin running at 7:30 a.m. We boarded with ticket number 14 and left the ship at 8:15 a.m.
Top Attractions
Seven Mile Beach
One of George Town’s highlights is the famous Seven Mile Beach, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. With calm, shallow waters, it’s perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or simply soaking up the sun. The beach also has plenty of oceanfront restaurants and bars where you can taste local cuisine and refreshing cocktails.
Taxis to Seven Mile Beach from the port cost $12 per person round-trip, and you’ll receive a ticket for the return ride. The taxi (a van) takes you to a spot with beach facilities, but it’s usually packed with tourists. Chairs and umbrellas can be rented for around $15, but since we didn’t want to stay in one place, we decided to walk along the beach instead. We left our backpack under a tree and went for a swim.
After walking a few minutes, we found a quieter stretch of sand away from the crowds to enjoy a more peaceful beach day. Even though we didn’t make it to the stingray tour, we were lucky enough to see stingrays swimming right next to us on the beach—and even got to film them gliding by!
When we first arrived it was cloudy, so we couldn’t see the full beauty of the place. But as soon as the sun came out, closer to mid-morning, the water turned a stunning shade of blue—crystal clear, with soft sand that was a pleasure to walk on.
You’ll also find options for water sports like jet skiing, kayaking, and banana boat rides.
Some of the beachfront bars are part of hotels, but they allow non-guests to order food and drinks. We stopped at Coccoloba, a very pleasant bar that opens at 11:00 a.m.
Stingray City
The stingray encounter in the Cayman Islands is a unique and unforgettable experience. Visitors can swim and interact with gentle stingrays in their natural habitat. The most famous spot is Stingray City, a shallow sandbar where these graceful creatures gather and are used to human presence.
Visitors arrive by boat and, upon entering the crystal-clear waters, are greeted by stingrays gliding around them. They often come very close, allowing people to touch and even feed them. Despite their size, they are peaceful, and guides teach how to interact with them safely and respectfully.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience you definitely won’t want to miss.
Other Attractions
Another popular activity in George Town is shopping in the Cayman Islands Shopping District. Here you’ll find plenty of duty-free stores offering jewelry, watches, perfumes, clothing, and more. Don’t forget to browse the souvenir shops for exclusive Cayman Islands keepsakes.
For nature lovers, a visit to the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is highly recommended. This park features walking trails, lush gardens, and a wide variety of native plants. It’s a peaceful place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the Cayman Islands.
Returning to the Ship
The last tender boat back to the ship was at 2:15 p.m. Since the taxi shuttles from Seven Mile Beach ran every 20 minutes, we decided to leave the beach at 12:30 to be safe.
Keep a close eye on the time, as the lines to return to the ship can get very long.
This was one of our favorite stops, though the only downside was how short the visit felt.
For more tips about Cruises, read:
Cozumel Travel Guide: Best Tours and Things to Do from the Cruise Port
Planning a Caribbean Cruise: Documents, Insurance and Packing Guide
Cruise Packing Guide: What to Bring and What’s Not Allowed
If you’d like more tips like this, follow us on Instagram @beradatravel.
Did you know that when you book through the links on our blog, we earn a small commission and you support us at no extra cost? You get discounts and still help Berada Travel keep producing quality content about amazing destinations! Help us keep inspiring fellow travelers! ✈️ ❤️
