Glory Days: Grand Cayman
Good morning from Grand Cayman! Today I’m going to be doing a Hell and Turtle Center excursion I booked on CruiseCompete.com. If you are interested in the Sensational Stingray excursion booked through Carnival, you can find my review of that one here: Vista: Grand Cayman.
It’s 8am on a Port day and not a peep out of anyone on my hall—amazing. I’m going to see if I can make the real breakfast again.
Or maybe I just slept through everything. 8:15 the cruise director makes a water shuttle announcement and it doesn’t sound like it was his first. It’s the first one I’ve heard. It’s unusual for me to sleep through announcements.
Main Dining Room
I made it down to the MDR for real breakfast again.
This is my first time to try the broccoli and cheddar scramble. It’s now my favorite item on this menu. Of course this is only my second day eating off of the menu so I don’t have much to compare it to. But it’s good. These biscuits would be good for skeet shooting.
I also wanted to try the pancakes. I liked the french toast better.
Serenity Deck
After breakfast I grabbed a coffee and headed up to my spot on the serenity deck. We’re here with Carnival Sensation. Sensation is a member of Carnival’s oldest class–the Fantasy class. That class has Fantasy, Paradise, and all of the tion’s (Inspiration, Imagination, Elation, Sensation, Fascination).
While I’m talking about classes…I’m on Carnival Glory which is a member of the Conquest Class. The Conquest Class started around the time of the Iraq War and has that kind of a theme to it. Conquest, Glory, Valor, Liberty, and Freedom.
I walked around to the other side of the ship and found Celebrity Equinox is here as well.
Atrium Bar
After I finished my coffee I still had time to kill so I headed down to the Atrium Bar for a Bloody Mary or two.
Water Shuttle/Tender
I boarded the tender/water shuttle at 10:08. I was the first person in the bottom level of the boat. We left at 10:21and arrived at 10:26. I was off the shuttle at 10:30.
Stayed tuned for my report on whether or not sea turtles actually eat straws.
Carnival Sensation
Carnival Glory
The instructions said I was to meet the tour at Capt. Marvin’s at 10:45 which was basically across the street from the terminal.
I went inside at 10:35 and gave my ticket to the girl. She had me sign a liability form and gave me a new ticket. She said Tim would be my driver and he would be calling for us at 10:50.
If you have to use the bathroom you can do so behind the building across the street.
Here is a picture of our tour guide Tim (yellow shirt).
I boarded the shuttle at 10:44 with seven other people.
We had a little delay because a couple of people boarded the bus without going inside and getting their new ticket.
We saw some things along the way.
The Governor’s Mansion and Governor’s Beach.
This is a public part of seven mile beach which is partially under construction.
I thought there was going to be more to the seven mile beach part than this but we didn’t even get out of the bus. .
We arrived at Hell at 11:10. We had 25 minutes. I only needed 5. But I guess they want you to have time to shop.
Supposedly the name came from some politician who was bird hunting there. He missed the bird and said “ah hell.”
Hell was originally white limestone. You can see some white in some of the close rocks.
Here’s a look in the gift shop where they want you to spend money. One of the big things here is you can send post cards from Hell.
11:40 we arrived at the Turtle Center
Tim dropped us off and parked bus across street. Then came back with wristbands. Our time actually started at 11:47. We were to meet Tim out front at 12:30.
I feel kind of bad because a couple of cruises ago I saw a couple of sea turtles on my glass bottom boat excursion. But I didn’t get good pictures of them. I don’t think anyone noticed but I passed this picture off as one of my own sea turtle pictures.
While that is a picture I took, that is not an actual sea turtle I saw on the glass bottom boat tour. That was one I saw in the stairway on the Carnival Dream after I got back.
Hopefully I can make up for that today.
Baby turtles. These turtles are just a few days old.
Turtle eggs
Turtle theater
They have touch tanks that you can get inside and hold some of the smaller turtles.
Moving over to the bigger turtles. This is the breeding pond.
This video is easily the most viewed item I’ve posted on instagram so far.
This group of three pools has older turtles in it. They are grouped in pools by age range.
They also have a crocodile at the Turtle Center and I was able to just barely catch a feeding.
I saw this towards the end. We were given green bracelets. If you have more time you can upgrade to another color and use their nature trail or snorkel with turtles and fish.
This is the Lagoon area where the snorkeling is happening.
On the way out I saw this where you can buy turtle feed. I wish I had seen it earlier. I would’ve definitely done it. I don’t recall seeing anyone feeding turtles while I was there.
When animals attack. We saw this from the bus. This is chicken vs. lizard. It looks like the chicken wins.
But it turns out the lizard was just playing dead and ran away when the chicken let up.
We left the turtle center at 12:35. Five people wanted to go to a beach we dropped them off. Three at a resort. We dropped them off. We arrived back at Capt. Marvin’s at 1:10. I was on the water shuttle at 1:16.
I caught this view of the ship on the way back.
Before I got on the water shuttle I noticed the bar I had the overpriced local beer in last cruise appears to be closed.
Here’s a good shot of the Sensation.
I think the best thing about the water shuttle is the unique pictures you can get.
When I got back on the ship I went up to the room and took a shower then headed to the blue iguana for lunch. I got a chicken burrito brought it up to one of my new favorite spots on the ship.
The bar is three feet behind this spot so it’s easy to get a drink.
Mango swirl
Maybe it’s too easy to get a drink. Banana daiquiri
We’re turning…
After the daiquiri I went back to the room to get ready for elegant night.
Here is a look at the dinner menu for tonight.
Clam Chowder
Crab Cake
Filet Mignon
Grand Mariner Souffle
After dinner I caught the early PG comedy show then went to the Alchemy Bar for refreshments.
This is a Vodka lime raspberry drink from Kat.
Here is a really good one from Milan
Grey Goose Vodka, Amaretto, Cherry juice, Pineapple, Orange, Orange bitters, Peychauds bitters.
Another good effort by Milan.
Vodka, Chambord, Strawberry, Cranberry, Chocolate bitters, lime juice.
After the drinks I went to late night comedy. It was really packed. We had probably 100 people trying to come in after it was clearly full. After the show I went back to the room. We’re in Cozumel tomorrow.
