Stingray City and the Sandbar from the Grand Cayman cruise port

Adventure10-15 minutes to the marina, then 15-30 by boat3-4 hours door to doorFits a typical call

Dozens of southern stingrays gather in waist-deep water in North Sound and you can stand among them. Many boats add a reef or Starfish Point stop.

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
10-15 minutes to the marina, then 15-30 by boat
Allow 45 minutes to tender ashore first. Grand Cayman taxi fares.
Cost
Independent shared sandbar-and-snorkel boats about US$40–80 per person; multi-stop half-day tours US$50–100. Cruise-line versions cost more.
Time to allow
3-4 hours door to door

Will you be back for all aboard?

Yes. On a typical 7:00 am–3:30 pm Grand Cayman call you have up to 5 h 45 min at Stingray City, enough for a visit (allow 3-4 hours door to door), 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
    8:00 am · At Stingray City
    10-15 minutes to the marina, then 15-30 by boat from Royal Watler Cruise Terminal.
  3. 3
    1:45 pm · Leave Stingray City 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

Book a licensed operator, make sure the pickup is at least 1-1.5 hours after your first possible tender, and confirm whether times are ship time or local time. Never lift a stingray out of the water.

Grand Cayman cruise port: Stingray City FAQ

How far is Stingray City from the Grand Cayman cruise port?

From Royal Watler Cruise Terminal it is 10-15 minutes to the marina, then 15-30 by boat. Grand Cayman is a tender port, so add 30 to 45 minutes to get ashore first.

How much does it cost to visit Stingray City?

Independent shared sandbar-and-snorkel boats about US$40–80 per person; multi-stop half-day tours US$50–100. Cruise-line versions cost more.

How much time do you need at Stingray City?

Allow 3-4 hours door to door. Yes. On a typical 7:00 am–3:30 pm Grand Cayman call you have up to 5 h 45 min at Stingray City, enough for a visit (allow 3-4 hours door to door), and you are back at the ship with at least an hour before all aboard.

Can you visit Stingray City on your own from a cruise ship?

Yes, it is easy to do on your own: it is 10-15 minutes to the marina, then 15-30 by boat from Royal Watler Cruise Terminal. Book a licensed operator, make sure the pickup is at least 1-1.5 hours after your first possible tender, and confirm whether times are ship time or local time. Never lift a stingray out of the water.

Tours that go to Stingray City

Checked against a typical 7:00 am–3:30 pm call with an hour's margin.

All tours

More things to do near Stingray City

All 11 places
  • Starfish Point · Nature · 50-60 minutes by taxi from the pier · 3.2 km from Stingray City
  • Rum Point · Beach · 45-60 minutes by taxi from the pier · 3.5 km from Stingray City
  • Seven Mile Beach · Beach · 10-15 minutes by taxi from the pier · 8.7 km from Stingray City
  • Hell · Attraction · 20 minutes by taxi from the pier · 11 km from Stingray City