The "There's Too Many Titles for This TR" Trip Report - COMPLETE!! 6/29/10 - Page 15 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Day 7 – Tuesday August 25, 2009 – Grand Cayman – Those are some big Stingrays!
I think we were up at 6:30 again this morning. Our excursion to Stingray City was leaving at 8:15, so it had to be an early start to the day! We first went up to Topsiders for breakfast again (it opened earlier this morning – 6:45 AM). Tummies full, we headed back to the room to pack up, get our water bottles, and we went down to Studio Sea to meet our excursion. It was going to be another hot day, and we were in Port with 3 other Carnival ships!
We tendered over to the shore, and then boarded small busses that took us to the boat, which was on a canal in a residential neighborhood! Strange! Once onboard, we lathered up with sunscreen! We had about a 25 minute ride out to Stingray City.
We made it out to Stingray City, along with the other 20 or so boats that were out there as well! The water was beautiful, but very, very salty!
We had a great time snorkeling with the stingrays. The tour had a photographer who got into the water with you and took pictures, but I’ve misplaced the CD that he gave us ($40) so when I find it I’ll add those pics. Plus, I still haven’t developed the waterproof camera pictures either! The water was a bit deep in parts, especially near the boat (over my head) which made for some challenges. Since they told you not to step on top of the stingrays, it was a bit freaky since you weren’t touching bottom due to the water height, and you’re feet would scrape the backs of the stingrays. I kept thinking I was going to get stung. And the rays were HUGE (some of them anyway). One of them actually came right up the back of Alexa (I think we were in shallower water) and she was done……tears started flowing. We did manage to get her back in the water, but without the snorkel (she just kept the goggles on which she was more comfortable with). Colin ended up getting cold (he’s got zero body fat) so I got out with him about 15 minutes before we were due to leave anyway. All in all, we were in the water for I think almost an hour (maybe 45 minutes) but it was a great time and I’d highly recommend the excursion. Here are some pics from the trip back to the canal. There were lizards lining the canal trying to stay cool in the shade!
Oh, to have a house on that canal! We took the bus back to the port. I was about 11:45 now. Matt wanted to walk around the area, but Colin and Alexa were done, hot, tired, and hungry, and wanted to go back to the ship! So I took them back to the ship and Matt stayed in George Town. He kept the camera and took a bunch of pictures.
While Matt was gone, I took the kids up to Topsiders for lunch (Asian buffet). I think Matt came back not soon after we got back from lunch. We went up to the pool for a bit, but then it started raining. The raincloud was basically just hanging over the ship. I could see 7-mile beach and the sun was out! It didn’t stop us. We stayed in the pool and watched the movie (Finding Nemo and then Pixar shorts). I think the kids played some foosball as well, and table tennis. Then back to the room to rest up before dinner.
Tonight was AP again, and it would be the show. Matt and I had ressies at Palo for 7:30, but I wanted to see the show, so we went to AP and we both just had a salad. Colin had his usual pizza. Alexa I’m not sure. The show was great, and Ali did more magic tricks for the kids!
After dinner, we dropped the kids off at the kids clubs, and then we headed up to Palo! Sorry, no pictures this time! L The restaurant was much busier this time! As the host was bringing us to our table (and I was admiring the ambience) all of a sudden Matt yells (and I mean yells) MICHAEL CHANG! I’m like what? He said “that was Michael Chang” that just walked by us. For those of you not in the know, or too young to be in the know, Michael Chang is a tennis player, mainly from the 1980s and early 1990s. We watch a lot of tennis in our house…….Matt used to play, and Alexa is taking lessons. Anyhoo…..Matt starts peppering the host if that was “really” Michael Chang? I told him to leave her alone. She wouldn’t be able to say if it was anyway! Geesh!
Finally seated and relatively calm, Andrea is our server again and she comes over and explains the menu. We each had a glass of wine (Pinot Grigio for me, and Muscato for Matt). As we were looking over the menu, Michael Chang came walking back thru the restaurant. Apparently he was in the private dining room in the back. For food, we each ordered the fried calamari. I think we both had the tenderloin. For dessert, Matt had the Italian Finale, and I think I had the tiramisu (we had the chocolate soufflé on a previous visit)! It was a fantastic meal and we were stuffed walking out of there. We went to pick up the kids, and found out later that Colin had paged us again right before we picked him up (I never heard it)! They did fine. I don’t remember doing anything else that night. We came back to an alligator on our bed!
The weather today was……sunny and HOT in the morning, showers in the afternoon.
The best thing today was……..snorkeling with the stingrays.
The worst thing today was…….the rain.
The funniest thing today was…Ali and his magic tricks!
Today we tried……snorkeling
And the result was…….lots of fun!
The most magical moment today was….snorkeling with the stingrays, and seeing Michael Chang (for Matt)!
Coming up next…….Cozumel…….Ooh, my back, and more snorkeling!
What a great trip you are having, can't wait to read more!
The Dolphin looks great! I would love to stay in the Boardwalk area, but just don't know if we can swing the price of the BC or YC. My mom suggested checking out the Swan or Dolphin. So it is a close walk to everything? The room looks large and comfortable. And the pools are nice?
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Melissa
What a great trip you are having, can't wait to read more!
The Dolphin looks great! I would love to stay in the Boardwalk area, but just don't know if we can swing the price of the BC or YC. My mom suggested checking out the Swan or Dolphin. So it is a close walk to everything? The room looks large and comfortable. And the pools are nice?
We didn't really walk anywhere from the Dolphin, so I can't help you there, but it is just past the YC (the Swan is the furthest one). The room is comparable in size to a room at the BC/YC IMO. The beds were very comfortable. The pools were very nice. Most of them are closer to the Dolphin, so if you want to use them a lot, I'd suggest the Dolphin over the Swan.
What a great day. the Stringray excursion sounds like so much fun, I also probably would be panicking that I would get stung but it must be great seeing them in their natural habitat. Glad everyone enjoyed and that you had some time to relax on the ship before heading to dinner. You meal at Palo's sounded delicious. Glad you were able to see the show at AP and still get to your dinner as well.
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Sorry about Alexa and the stingray. Your trip sounds awesome. I'm glad I'm alone in the house because I'm aaaaaahhhhhing and ooooohhhing out loud. Your husband's making me laugh. Can't wait to see what he does next!!!
Aw, too bad Alexa didn't like the stingray saying hi! I would've loved it! And, wow! Michael Chang! He's from here, along with Andre Agassi - so we know who he is...
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What an awesome time with the stingrays. I think I probably would have freaked out too if a stingray came up behing me like it did to Alexa. How funny that Matt yelled out Michael Chang in the middle of Palo. Too bad Michael Chang did stop by your table to chat. More please
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The water at Grand Cayman is just gorgeous! Absolutely beautiful!
I think I would cry too if a Stingray wiggled up my back. Yikes! Isn't it nice to swim and lounge around on the deck when the ship is in port? There's usually nobody around, I loved that! What a nice dinner for you guys. Sounded
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What a wonderful day! We did the stingray city excursion several years ago and it is just one of the experiences you can't miss. Sorry about Alexa though. I was a little freaked myself when we first got in the water with the stingrays but I am glad now that I did it. Matt is too funny but I think all men would have probably done the same if they saw a sports figure like that. I do remember Michael Chang but I am not sure if I would have recognized him!
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The water was beautiful, but very, very salty!
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The water was a bit deep in parts, especially near the boat (over my head) which made for some challenges. Since they told you not to step on top of the stingrays, it was a bit freaky since you weren’t touching bottom due to the water height, and you’re feet would scrape the backs of the stingrays. I kept thinking I was going to get stung. And the rays were HUGE (some of them anyway). One of them actually came right up the back of Alexa (I think we were in shallower water) and she was done……tears started flowing. We did manage to get her back in the water, but without the snorkel (she just kept the goggles on which she was more comfortable with). Colin ended up getting cold (he’s got zero body fat) so I got out with him about 15 minutes before we were due to leave anyway. All in all, we were in the water for I think almost an hour (maybe 45 minutes) but it was a great time and I’d highly recommend the excursion. Here are some pics from the trip back to the canal. There were lizards lining the canal trying to stay cool in the shade!
We took the bus back to the port. I was about 11:45 now. Matt wanted to walk around the area, but Colin and Alexa were done, hot, tired, and hungry, and wanted to go back to the ship! So I took them back to the ship and Matt stayed in George Town. He kept the camera and took a bunch of pictures.
He said “that was Michael Chang” that just walked by us. For those of you not in the know, or too young to be in the know, Michael Chang is a tennis player, mainly from the 1980s and early 1990s. We watch a lot of tennis in our house…….Matt used to play, and Alexa is taking lessons. Anyhoo…..Matt starts peppering the host if that was “really” Michael Chang? I told him to leave her alone. She wouldn’t be able to say if it was anyway! Geesh!
. Can't wait to see what he does next!!!
Katie's graduation
Isn't it nice to swim and lounge around on the deck when the ship is in port? There's usually nobody around, I loved that! What a nice dinner for you guys. Sounded 
ANGIE
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