Grand Cayman Port Guide
About the Grand Cayman Cruise Port
Grand Cayman is a port of call offering cruisers crystal clear aqua waters and sugar-soft white sands. It is a great port for beach lovers, snorkelers, and adventurers, as there are some really cool bucket list adventures to check off (more on that in a bit). Note, however, that the Grand Cayman cruise port has a couple of downsides, which are important to consider as you plan ahead for your stop here.
My Grand Cayman Insider Tip
The first downside of Grand Cayman is that it is a tender port. It also has three terminals at Grand Cayman which are very small. The tendering process can be lengthy. It takes up to 45 minutes to an hour, which is difficult for those who hate lines and waiting (hi, it’s me).
Also, the tendering process eats into what, for most cruise lines, is already a very short call, which is the second downside of Grand Cayman. On a recent visit to Grand Cayman on Carnival Cruise Line, for instance, the call time was 8 am to 3 pm.
Given that cruisers with priority status and those who purchase cruise line excursions are provided first dibs on the morning tenders to shore, most other cruisers can’t set foot on land until 9:30-10:30 am at the earliest.
With a 3 pm departure time, the “return to ship” time will generally be around 2:15 pm. I tend to err on the side of caution when cruising and always return to ship at least 2+ hours before the return time, so if you’re like me, this really makes this a short call.
So, while I typically prefer to purchase independent excursions or explore on my own, Grand Cayman is the rare port where I now strongly prefer and advise others to spring for a cruise line-sponsored excursion. That way, you can maximize your time at a great port that, unfortunately, has a very short call time and also avoid the risk of the cruise ship leaving you if your excursion runs late. This advice, of course, applies to cruise lines with short calls at Grand Cayman.
About the Grand Cayman Cruise Port
Grand Cayman is the largest and westernmost of the Cayman Islands, with the other two islands being Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Spanning around 76 square miles and 22 miles long, it is home to just 70,000 full-time residents.
The cruise port is located in the capital city, George Town. There are three cruise terminals here, all of which are tender ports that require cruisers to take a small boat. This is called a tender boat or water shuttle. It is from the cruise ship to the terminal versus just stepping out onto a pier. The terminals are clustered together within walking distance of one another and consist of South, North, and Royal Watler Terminals.
The port can accommodate up to four ships at one time; unlike other popular Caribbean cruise ports, like Cozumel and Puerto Plata, where the terminals are expansive, and chock full of amenities, bars, restaurants, and shops, the terminals in Grand Cayman are small and sparse. Cruisers are essentially deposited into downtown George Town. Although several world-class beaches are nearby, no beach is directly accessible from any Grand Cayman cruise port terminal.
Language and Currency in Grand Cayman
The official language of the Cayman Islands is English. While the country has its official currency, the Cayman Islands Dollar (CI$)US currency is generally accepted, especially around cruise terminals and in tourist areas. Credit cards are generally accepted, although not universal, and many of the taxi services only accept cash. Because of this, and the generally higher cost of things in Grand Cayman, plan to bring ample cash.
It's important to note that Grand Cayman is an expensive area, especially compared to other Caribbean cruise port destinations.As one example, where a standard tourist T-shirt might run $8-10 in Cozumel, a basic shirt will set you back $30-35 in Grand Cayman at the shops near the terminals.
Free Things to Do in Grand Cayman Cruise Port
An upside of Grand Cayman is that once cruisers step off their tender boat and through the small cruise terminal, they’re right there in downtown George Town.
Exploring Town
Once off the tender boat and in George Town, cruisers can wander through colorful streets with shops, boutiques, and restaurants. The downtown area, especially along the waterfront, is relatively easy to navigate on foot, but the infrastructure might not be as pedestrian-friendly outside the main downtown area.
Some roads may lack sidewalks or have limited pedestrian crossings, and traffic can be busy, especially during cruise ship days. It’s also important to note that vehicles are driven on the left-hand side of the road.
Beach Day in Grand Cayman Cruise Port
One of the top free activities in Grand Cayman is to enjoy a beach day. The most popular beaches are Seven Mile Beach, Governor’s Beach, and Rum Point, detailed below. While these beaches are free, transportation to them is not, and unfortunately, taxis in Grand Cayman are pricey; also, more on that below.
Renting chairs and an umbrella from a local will also set you back some money. These factors, coupled with the reasons noted above, are additional reasons why it may be more advantageous for cruisers to book a cruise line excursion here.
Cultural Experiences
There are also opportunities to explore the country’s cultural sites. You can learn about its history for free or at a low cost. The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands is a vibrant arts organization. It has a 9,000sq ft gallery that is home to a growing National Collection of significant Caymanian works of art and hosts eight major exhibitions annually. Admission is free. The National Museum is not free, but it offers low-cost (well, low-cost by Cayman standards) admission for $12.50 US per person.
Grand Cayman Port Taxis
Ride-share options like Uber are not present in Grand Cayman. However, taxis are readily available, both at the cruise terminals and tourist areas. Note, however, that, unlike Cozumel, where taxis are affordable, taxi prices in Grand Cayman are comparatively expensive. Transportation here are also generally shared with others, as they are at the St. Thomas cruise port, and are often referred to as “shuttles”.
Instead of organized taxi stands just outside the cruise terminals, in Grand Cayman, cruisers will be greeted by a somewhat chaotic scene of vendors offering shared shuttles (buses) to the area’s most popular destinations, namely the beaches.
On a recent visit in late spring 2024, the round-trip cost per person from the cruise terminal area to Seven Mile Beach in a shared bus was $12 per person, so $48 for my group of four people (compared to a private taxi in Cozumel at a cost of $18 for all four of us.
Note that the vendors pack these buses to capacity, including making use of a fold-down middle seat, so this mode of transportation isn’t always the most comfortable. When purchasing a round-trip shuttle service, the vendors will generally provide riders with a plastic card that must be presented when it’s time to go back to avoid paying again for the transportation fare. Be sure to keep hold of this ticket. Busses stand by at popular destinations to return cruisers back to the terminals, so it’s easy to get back.
Best Beaches in Grand Cayman
The most sought-after activity at the Grand Cayman cruise port is its beaches, many of which are close to the cruise terminals. These recommendations are free public beaches, but local vendors are on hand to rent umbrellas and chairs to visiting cruisers. On a recent visit in late spring 2024, the cost was $25 for two chairs and one umbrella at Seven Mile Beach, although these prices are often negotiable. Some vendors accept credit cards, but others only take cash, although US currency is generally accepted.
Seven Mile Beach
Widely acclaimed for its soft white sand and crystal-clear waters, Seven Mile Beach stretches along the western coast of Grand Cayman. Depending on traffic, it’s approximately a 10 to 15-minute drive from the cruise terminal in George Town. Seven Mile Beach and Governor’s Beach are the two closest to the cruise port.
Governor’s Beach
Adjacent to Seven Mile Beach, Governor’s Beach offers stunning views of cruise ships and calm waters for swimming. It’s just a short drive away, about 8 to 12 minutes from the cruise terminal, and offers stunning views of cruise ships and calm waters for swimming.
Rum Point
On the island’s quieter north side, Rum Point offers a more secluded beach experience with calm, shallow waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling. It’s about a 45-minute to 1-hour drive from the cruise terminal. Before setting out for a visit here, however, make sure to do a calculation of the time you have at the port. As noted above, Grand Cayman is a tender port where short calls are common. You don’t want to risk missing the last water shuttle (tender boat) back to the ship.
Activities at Grand Cayman Beaches
Some cruisers prefer Grand Cayman beaches for a relaxing day in the sand and sun, or a fun time splashing in the crystal clear waters, or even snorkeling close to shore. If visiting a beach at this cruise port, however, and you seek a bit more adventure, there are some options.
There are local vendors at each of the three most popular beaches offering services such as parasailing, jet skis, and banana boat rides. On a recent visit to Seven Mile Beach, I rented a jet ski for $80 for 30 minutes for 1-2 people and participated in the banana boat experience, which cost $20 for adults and $15 for kids.
Best Excursions in Grand Cayman
Beach days in Grand Cayman are nice, but the public areas can get crowded. The costs can add up when you consider the expensive transportation to get there, along with umbrella and chair rental. Because of these factors, an excursion may be even more appealing at the Grand Cayman cruise port compared to others.
Here are some of the most popular excursions at this port. Stingray City and Starfish Point are two “bucket list” adventures for many. I was fortunate to experience them both on my first visit to Grand Cayman. These sites are located near one another, so most excursions offer them both and often include snorkeling. A vendor transports cruisers by boat first to one of these sites, then over to the other, before returning them back to shore.
If traveling with a group, don’t forget to explore pricing for a private boat charter. This is what my family of 12 people did on our visit, and it ended up being a unique and luxurious experience, and one that ended up being cheaper than doing this through a traditional excursion, given that we were able to spread the cost across all 12 of us. This option, for example, offers private boat transportation for up to 8 people for under $650, making the per person cost just around $80 per person.
While I’m a big fan of booking independent excursions versus the more expensive and less flexible options the cruise lines offer, this is the one port where cruisers may be better off booking direct for the above reasons.
Grand Cayman Cruise Port Ship Schedule
The Grand Cayman ship schedule can be found at the Cayman Port Authority website.
Grand Cayman Time Zone
Keeping track of time zones can get complicated when cruising. This is especially true for itineraries with multiple time zone changes on one sailing. Your captain will make announcements during the cruise to update you on these changes.
However, it’s good to be aware of these differences ahead of time when planning your stop at the port, especially for excursions. Most cruise lines operate on “ship time” set to the time of their departing port, so for sailings out of the Florida ports, a standard departure port for ships sailing to Grand Cayman, the ship time is likely Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Grand Cayman also operates on Eastern Standard Time (EST) when standard time is observed (November through March), but operates on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) when daylight saving time is in effect (March through November).
Exploring the Grand Cayman Cruise Port
