Georgetown Grand Cayman

You will be tendered to George Town’s North, South or Royal Watler cruise terminals, each an easy walk from the town.

Royal Watler cruise terminal contains duty-free shops, tour booths and a small number of bars.

In the Cayman Islands, George Town is used by 99% of cruise ships.

Bring a printable map with you.

Check the cruise calendar for this port and the tender pier your ship will use.

Grand Cayman is the largest of the Cayman Islands’ three islands, while George Town is both the largest city and the capital. Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile beach is regarded as one of the world’s finest beaches.

The main tourism office is in Georgetown, and visitor information is available at both the north and south ports.

Places within walking distance include:

The Atlantis submarine and the partially submerged Nautilus offer great underwater views for anyone who prefers not to get wet; access to both is at the harbor.

Grand Cayman’s leading attraction is Stingray City, a chain of shallow-water sand bars where stingrays have become accustomed to people through fishermen feeding them over time. A local booking should cost around $39. It can become very busy when more than one ship is in town, so a cruise-organized excursion may be the better option.

• Cayman Islands National Museum: harbor Drive, George Town; M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-2PM; entry $4/$2.
• What survives of the harbour-defence fort built in 1790 is known as the Ft. George remains, at harbor Dr. and Fort St. in George Town.
• On North Church St., George Town, Cayman Maritime Treasure Museum covers boat building, turtling and pirates; entry $5/$3.
• Hell: suitable for just a 5 minute stop.

A tour is an excellent way to see Grand Cayman. Cruise-line tours cost around $50 each, whereas the same route may be bought locally for as little as $15-20 per person. Stops include the Governer’s mansion, where you pause briefly outside, Hell, the Tortuga Rum Factory, Sea Turtle Farm/Dolphin Discovery Cove and 7 Mile Beach. Between stops, the guide explains the island and its people.

By taxi: non-metered cabs wait at the dock with fixed, posted rates; confirm the fare before setting off. New cabs have meters. Most taxis are van-sized, and drivers require a minimum of four passengers before going anywhere.

Car rentals are easy to find, but renters must be 21 years old. Drive on the left and wear seat belts, which are compulsory. Visitors need a temporary driver’s license from a police station or rental agency, obtained by showing a valid license from their home state, county or parish and paying a US$20 fee.

Mopeds and scooters can be rented on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. Helmets are compulsory; the usual daily rate is US$25 for helmet and permit.

Buses are small and fares are cheap. If you spot one on the street, wave and it may stop to collect you.

This is a British Crown Colony, so everyone drives on the left side of the street. Take great care and pay close attention when walking or driving.

Hell consists of short black limestone formations in West Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Covering roughly half a soccer field, the formations cannot be entered, but visitors can use viewing platforms. It is rather touristy.

Seven Mile Beach has pure white sand and calm turquoise water, edged by resorts, condos, shops, boutiques, bars, restaurants and every conceivable water sport, making it one of the world’s top beaches. A taxi is about $5 pp and a bus about $2.50 pp.

Cayman Turtle Centre: Island Wildlife Encounter is the islands’ largest land-based tourist attraction and receives more than 200,000 visitors annually. Educational, cultural and entertainment programmes are continually created and refreshed to improve an experience available only at this world-renowned attraction.

Pedro St. James National Historic Site offers a lovingly restored view into Cayman’s distinctive heritage and culture from the 18th century, only a 20-minute drive from George Town.

At Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, stroll through colourful gardens, botanic, lake and nature displays. Visit Heritage Garden and the Tea House for panoramic views, then see the lake, a natural habitat for the Cayman Blue Iguana and a breeding ground for many rare Caribbean aquatic birds and animals.

At Cayman Crystal Caves, a knowledgeable Tour Guide escorts you on an adventure into “Cayman Down Under”. Explore remarkable caves with stalactite and stalagmite crystal structures and otherworldly formations created by single water drops and the slow passage of time. The tour continues through the unique tropical forest under which the caves formed, home to tropical plant and animal life including strangler balsam trees, air plants, parrots and bats….

As the Cayman Islands’ capital, George Town provides extensive duty-free and souvenir shopping with a huge choice of items. Many duty-free outlets are now also within walking distance of the cruise terminal.

Be cautious about the “Cruise Line Recommended” slogan when choosing a shop. It means only that the merchant paid the cruise line a fee to advertise the business on board the ship; products bought there are usually no better than in other stores. You may actually pay more at a “Cruise Line Recommended” outlet to cover the advertising cost.

Most restaurants add a 15% gratuity to the bill automatically.

Grand Cayman uses the Cayman Dollar.

Exchange guide: CI$1 = US$1.25 = €0.78 = UK£0.62.

Pay attention to merchandise pricing, as almost everything is marked in Cayman Dollars. One U.S. dollar equals only 80 cents Caymanian. Handing over a U.S. $20 bill and seeing it rung up as $16 can be a shock the first time, so be prepared.

English is the official language.

Cable & Wireless is the Cayman Islands’ principal communications provider. Its George Town Communications Station, next to Columbian Emeralds near the Cruise Ship dock, has 5 internet terminals and opens Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Every George Town shop closes on Sundays; restaurants and dive shops are about the only places that open that day.