The Cayman Islands are in the western Caribbean Sea, about 275 miles south of Cuba, and are made up of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. It’s a British overseas territory, so you’ll likely notice some British influence in the cuisine and language, and in the popularity of sports like cricket.
However, Grand Cayman is mostly an upscale island paradise with tasty food, gorgeous white-sand beaches with clear blue water, and warm weather year-round. It stands out from its island neighbors thanks to singular features like Stingray City, where visitors can interact with the friendly sea creatures, and the Blue Iguana Conservation facility, which protects and breeds the endangered native species found only on Grand Cayman.
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Grand Cayman is a staple port of call for many operators in the Caribbean. It’s also a tender port, so guests are transported to shore in small boats. Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean all sail here, as do luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises, premium cruise operators Celebrity Cruises and Oceania Cruises, and newer lines, including Virgin Voyages and Explora Journeys.
3 things TPG loves about Grand Cayman
- Some of the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean.
- Excellent marine life that you can get up close and personal with.
- Top-quality food.
What we could do without
- The area directly by the port can house tacky souvenir shops, and items are overpriced.
- Most of the shops in George Town are closed on Sundays.
- Some people find tender ports annoying.
- It can be overcrowded due to its popularity among cruises and other visitors.
Grand Cayman fast facts
Grand Cayman is a popular warm-weather getaway destination not too far from the East Coast of the U.S. It boasts generally sunny weather, clear blue waters, and powdery, white-sand beaches, including the world-famous Seven Mile Beach.
Grand Cayman, a British overseas territory, is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and is home to the capital, George Town, where the port is located. George Town is a tender port, and cruise visitors will arrive at one of its three piers/terminals, but all are on the bustling Harbour Drive. The main docking terminal for tenders is the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal, which has plenty of taxis, souvenir shops and tourist information centers. The North and South terminals are smaller, but all three piers are within walking distance of George Town’s attractions, shops and restaurants.
If you wish to go farther afield to Grand Cayman’s attractions like Seven Mile Beach, Stingray City and Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, public buses and taxis are readily available.
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Arrival details
Cruise line tender boats will drop off passengers at one of three piers, all of which open onto Harbour Drive. The main docking terminal for tenders is the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal, which is in the northern part of George Town. If the port is busy, you might disembark at the smaller North or South terminals, which are south of Royal Watler and across from one other. Still, all three piers are within walking distance of George Town’s main attractions.
Language: English is the official language.
Currency: The Cayman Islands uses the Cayman Islands dollar; 1 Cayman Islands dollar is equal to $1.20. U.S. dollars are widely accepted, though, and you can request either currency at some ATMs and banks in George Town. However, if you pay in U.S. dollars, note that you will probably receive change in Cayman Island dollars. If you use a credit card, it will be charged in U.S. dollars.
Time zone: Grand Cayman operates on Eastern Standard Time.
Top things to do in Grand Cayman cruise port
Much of Grand Cayman’s interesting historical sites and museums are right near the port in George Town, including the (small) ruins of Fort George, Pedro St. James (the island’s oldest building, now a museum), the Cayman Islands National Museum and the National Gallery. Tons of duty-free shops — locally owned, larger chains and luxury brand stores — await visitors.
Popular Grand Cayman excursions
Seven Mile Beach
A highlight of Grand Cayman is its pristine beaches, including the renowned Seven Mile Beach beckoning with its clear waters, about a 10-minute taxi ride from the cruise port. Beyond relaxing on the white sand and swimming in the calm water, visitors can enjoy water sports like jet skiing, kiteboarding, paddleboarding, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing.
Resort day pass
Reserve a room at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman for the day for access to complimentary nonmotorized water sports and a prime Seven Mile Beach location. The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa and Grand Cayman Marriott Resort are also options, and are situated just a short distance down the beach. You can use Marriott Bonvoy points at either property. If you are an IHG loyalist, the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is also on Seven Mile Beach. ResortPass has a day pass for The Grand Caymanian Resort, which has a pool and private beachfront on the North Sound Sea, starting at $70, including a $35 food-and-beverage credit.
Diving
Divers can explore several excellent dive sites, including the wreck of Kittiwake, a sunken U.S. submarine. Set up a dive or rent snorkel gear at Eden Rock Diving Center, Divers Supply or Don Foster’s Dive Cayman.
Explore nature and wildlife
Grand Cayman is home to several nature and wildlife attractions worth visiting. The most popular is Stingray City, a shallow sandbar in the middle of the Caribbean Sea where friendly stingrays gather and you can gently pet them. Many boat tours to Stingray City will also stop for a snorkel and visit Starfish Beach, a small island with abundant starfish. Some excursions stop in West Bay, where you’ll find Hell — a small patch of eerie-looking black limestone. There’s also a fire-engine-red post office from which you can send a “postcard from hell.” Additionally, Rum Point is a beautiful scenic point near a bioluminescent bay.
Also, the Cayman Turtle Centre is a land-based lagoon where visitors can swim with sea turtles. A guided walking tour of Crystal Caves, on the north side of the island, about a 40-minute drive from the cruise terminal, brings you through the surrounding tropical forest area and three impressive caves with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. Queen Elizabeth II Royal Botanic Park is also on the north side. It’s home to the Blue Iguana Conservation facility, which works to protect the endangered blue iguana that is only found in the Cayman Islands and offers tours to learn about the facility’s breeding efforts to preserve this indigenous species.
Related: Shore excursions: What new cruisers need to know
Best Grand Cayman beaches near the cruise port
Seven Mile Beach
This is the main stretch of beach in Grand Cayman, and the most easily accessible from the port. It’s too far to walk to, but you can take a short taxi or ride the public bus for just a few bucks.
Once on the beach, if you don’t have a booking at a hotel, you must go to either the public beach area (look for “Beach Access” signs) or to one of the beach clubs and restaurants. There are several public beach sections that can be accessed by a path from the road marked “Beach Access.” The most popular spots are Public Beach, Governor’s Beach, and Cemetery Beach (which has excellent snorkeling). All beaches in Cayman are technically public and you can walk along the beach. However, you can’t set up a towel or chairs in front of a hotel or residential building.
Coral Beach
The only remaining beach club is Coral Beach, and it welcomes cruisers for the day. Once you pay an entrance fee (from around $5), you will have access to its swath of Seven Mile Beach, bar and restaurant, restrooms and showers, chair and umbrella rentals, snorkeling gear rentals, cabana rentals, and free Wi-Fi.
Rum Point
If you want to go farther afield, take a car taxi, water taxi or private charter to Rum Point on the island’s north coast. Some Stingray City boat tours may stop here. The beach is much smaller than Seven Mile Beach and the sand is not as powdery, but it’s more off the beaten path. It also provides facilities like restrooms, restaurants and a small shop. Be sure to get a mudslide from the bar.
Cayman Kai Public Beach
Just a few minutes’ drive from Rum Point, Cayman Kai Public Beach is a bit quieter and more secluded (boat tours don’t go here). The facilities are basic, with just restrooms, but the water is pristine and excellent for snorkeling.
Related: Tips for booking the best cruise shore excursion for your money
How to get around Grand Cayman on your own
On foot: Many of Grand Cayman’s historic sites and museums, Island Plaza, Bayshore Mall, and Cayman Craft Market are within walking distance of the cruise ship pier. All you have to do is get on your comfy shoes and take the few steps from your terminal to start exploring.
Taxi: Loads of taxis are around the port areas. Some taxis are not metered, but rates will be posted, while other will have meters. Tips between 10% and 15% are expected.
Bus: The public bus (there are 11 routes) is unsurprisingly the most affordable way to get around the island. The main bus station in George Town (known as the District Bus Depot) is by Heroes Square, one of the main landmarks downtown, and walkable from any of the port terminals. All routes start and end there. For shorter journeys, the cost is around $2.50 per person, and trips to the farthest destination can run up to about $10. You can usually flag down a bus on the street by waving.
Bike: Moped and scooter rentals are available. The typical rate for a day is $25, and you must wear a helmet. Driving is on the left side of the street.
Car: Car rentals are available, but you must get a temporary driver’s license (21 and over) from the rental agency or police station, which costs about $20. Driving is on the left side of the street.
Grand Cayman restaurants near the cruise port
Grand Cayman’s history as a home to Indigenous, African, East Indian, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, British, French, Chinese and other cultures has resulted in a diverse cuisine with ingredients from around the world. You can find many global cuisines done well here, and plenty of upscale restaurants. Freshly caught fish and seafood feature heavily, as do locally grown produce like cassava, coconut and mango. And don’t forget “tree chicken,” aka green iguana!
Caribbean favorites like cracked and fried conch, goat curry, cassava cake, fish fry, lobster, and whatever fish is freshly caught appear on many menus that serve local cuisine.
With panoramic views of the azure Caribbean Sea, Heritage Kitchen is on the sleepy Boggy Sand Road in West Bay. The food coming out of the adorable, brightly colored cottage includes fresh local seafood like conch fritters, Cayman-style grouper and coconut mahi mahi, while Sundays bring a barbecue. Order your food at the window and enjoy your meal on a picnic table or sit along the sea wall.
Macabuca tiki bar is the place to go for conch in all forms: breaded cracked conch, conch fritters and conch chowder. You’ll also find smoked jerk pork rib, Cayman-style lobster tails and blackened mahi, plus beautiful waterfront views at the casual eatery that juts out into the ocean on a rocky slip.
Grand Old House and its sister spot, the Wharf Restaurant, both offer high-end waterfront dining with plenty of fresh fish and seafood. Each evening, patrons gather to watch the massive tarpon fish get fed on the dock.
For the finest fine dining on the island, book a table at Blue by Eric Ripert, the famous chef of Michelin-starred Le Bernardin in New York; Ripert’s only restaurant outside of Manhattan is here, inside The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Splurge on the seafood-heavy tasting menu and enjoy the best wine selection on the island.
You may want to visit the island’s only distillery, Cayman Spirits, which has been making small-batch spirits at a state-of-the-art facility in George Town since 2013. It offers three daily guided tours and tastings. The Seven Fathoms Premium rum is aged in casks in the ocean, where they roll with the current.
Grand Cayman cruise port shopping
Shoppers looking for authentic, handmade souvenirs should head to the Cayman Craft Market, just a five-minute walk from the port, on the corner of Boilers Road and South Church Street. There, you’ll find items like handwoven hats, wood carvings, paintings, and jewelry made from local shells and black coral, as well as spices, jams, hot sauces, pickles and other locally made food products. Hair braiding is also done here.
The popular Tortuga Rum has a duty-free shop at the cruise terminal, and many cruisers buy rum cakes as souvenirs. Also close to the port is the Island Plaza shopping mall, which features mostly locally owned shops alongside major international brands. Blackbeard’s Liquors and Churchill’s Cigars are ideal for any spirits and cigars (including Cuban) you may want. You’ll also find Pandora, Swarovski, Ulysse Nardin and other international brands. Cardinal Avenue features luxury shops like Cartier Boutique, Magnum Jewelers, Kirk and La Perfumerie. Artifacts Ltd for antiques and collectibles and La Casa del Habano for Cuban cigars are also nearby.
For serious shopping, head to the opposite side of Harbour Drive by South Terminal to the massive Bayshore Mall, which is filled with luxury shops, both local and international. Kirk Freeport and Kirk Gallery are must stops for luxury items. There is also the day spa Tips n Toes, Timezone, Swatch, Lalique and souvenir shop Grumpy Turtle.
Related: Things you should never buy on a cruise ship (or in port)
Free things to do in Grand Cayman
About 3 1/2 miles from the cruise port (close to Seven Mile Beach) is Camana Bay, a multiuse town center with shopping, dining, a local artisan market and fun outdoor spaces. Kids will love the two interactive fountains here. The fountain in Jasmine Court is ideal for the smaller ones. Older kids will dig the fountain on the Crescent, with dancing waters and skyward bursts that reach up to 30 feet. A 75-foot-tall observation tower provides panoramic views of Grand Cayman. The stairs up are lined with a stunning mosaic mural.
Bottom line
Grand Cayman has plenty of overcrowded touristy spots and shops and restaurants that feel expensive. However, the Cayman Islands’ largest island is a diverse location where you can find historic attractions, some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, eclectic cuisine, extensive shopping, and excellent nature and wildlife excursions. Grand Cayman’s excellent weather, beautiful landscapes and marine animal encounters make the port a must-see on Caribbean cruises.
Of course, lounging on one of Grand Cayman’s white-sand public beaches is free and a fabulous way to spend the day.
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