Smith Barcadere from the Grand Cayman cruise port

Beach5 minutes by taxi1.5-3 hoursFits a typical call

A small public cove south of town with showers and toilets, and a quieter alternative to Seven Mile Beach, with decent snorkelling around a marker buoy about 50 m out.

Getting there from the ship

From
Royal Watler Cruise Terminal
Grand Cayman has 4 cruise piers; your line confirms which one the evening before. Pier guide.
Travel time
5 minutes by taxi · 2.4 km
Allow 45 minutes to tender ashore first. Grand Cayman taxi fares.
Cost
Free public beach.
Time to allow
1.5-3 hours

Will you be back for all aboard?

Yes. On a typical 7:00 am–3:30 pm Grand Cayman call you have up to 6 h 5 min at Smith Barcadere, enough for a visit (allow 1.5-3 hours), and you are back at the ship with at least an hour before all aboard.
  1. 1
    7:00 am · Ship anchors
    Tenders usually start running within the first hour; tour groups go first.
  2. 2
    7:50 am · At Smith Barcadere
    5 minutes by taxi from Royal Watler Cruise Terminal.
  3. 3
    1:55 pm · Leave Smith Barcadere by
    That gets you back to the tender dock an hour before all aboard, with time for the tender queue.
  4. 4
    3:30 pm · All aboard
    Typical for Grand Cayman; your ship's time may differ. Check ship time vs local time

Tip

Water near the shore can be cloudy; visibility improves farther out. Facilities are basic and shade is limited.

Grand Cayman cruise port: Smith Barcadere FAQ

How far is Smith Barcadere from the Grand Cayman cruise port?

From Royal Watler Cruise Terminal it is 5 minutes by taxi, about 2.4 km. Grand Cayman is a tender port, so add 30 to 45 minutes to get ashore first.

How much does it cost to visit Smith Barcadere?

Free public beach.

How much time do you need at Smith Barcadere?

Allow 1.5-3 hours. Yes. On a typical 7:00 am–3:30 pm Grand Cayman call you have up to 6 h 5 min at Smith Barcadere, enough for a visit (allow 1.5-3 hours), and you are back at the ship with at least an hour before all aboard.

Can you visit Smith Barcadere on your own from a cruise ship?

Yes, it is easy to do on your own: it is 5 minutes by taxi from Royal Watler Cruise Terminal. Water near the shore can be cloudy; visibility improves farther out. Facilities are basic and shade is limited.

More things to do near Smith Barcadere

All 11 places
  • Eden Rock · Snorkeling · 3-5 minutes by taxi (walkable) from the pier · 1.8 km from Smith Barcadere
  • Cheeseburger Reef · Snorkeling · 3-5 minutes by taxi (short walk north) from the pier · 2.5 km from Smith Barcadere
  • Royal Palms Beach Club · Beach · 10 minutes by taxi from the pier · 4.0 km from Smith Barcadere
  • Seven Mile Beach · Beach · 10-15 minutes by taxi from the pier · 8.1 km from Smith Barcadere