Royal Palms vs Sea Grape beach for party of 17

Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 7

Have researched these extensively - but wondering if the experts here can give me feedback on which one would be a better choice for 6 adults and 11 late teens - for a port day on a cruise. Looking at cost, facilities, and available water sports.
Thanks for any feedback!

Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject:

Welcome lbarbour - Royal Palms has by far more to offer in the way of watersports and a more diverse selection of food and beverage, all at the best prices.

Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 7

Thanks for that feedback - would also appreciate others opinions.

Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:39 am Post subject:

I agree with Joe. It's closer to port (by only a few minutes drive), but that will allow you to eek out a little more beach time. Plus, there are great watersports there and the food is awesome.

Plus, we can see you waving on the webcam!!!!

Sea grape beach is nice, but you are closer to the action of SMB at the Royal Palms. Their beach bar is huge! On most days, the water is very calm in that area and there is some decent snorkeling there. We always stay at the Marriott, which is a short walk to RP and we walk there almost every day or evening of our trip, which tells you how much we love it.

I hope your stop in GC will be the highlight of your cruise!

Jen

Native Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 2035 Location: Illinois

Where is Sea Grape beach anyway? Is that up near the Marriott courtyard?

Shelly :-)

Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject:

shelly wrote:

Where is Sea Grape beach anyway? Is that up near the Marriott courtyard? Shelly :-)

Yep, it's the cruise ship trap called Calico Jacks, home of the $10 burger and $5 beer. On heavy cruise days there are up to 1,000 people packed together like sardines with their lounge chairs about 2 inches apart. Very Happy

lbarbour - Have you thought about possibly doing something very unique and diverse that you can not do at home or any other beach in the world? Something like Stingray City or swimming horses with Pampered Ponies; perhaps a submarine adventure or helmet dive underwater tour? The Cayman Islands have the most crystal clear waters and bountiful sealife of any destination in the world with many different ways of experiencing the fascinating and diverse beauty lying just below the surface. Wink

Native Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 2035 Location: Illinois

Joe,

I remember when that was just a nice empty stretch of beach with just a few people from across the street -- and it wasn't that long ago. :-(

shelly :-)

Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

That's so true Shelly. It was basically just an extension of Public Beach. Tranquil and calm, shaded with seagrape and casuarina trees. I used to pull my car into one of the many little shaded coves that used to be there during lunchtime and eat a patty and gaze out at the sea. Now most of the trees have been pulled out to make more room for beach chairs. And if the Courtyard redesign goes as planned, it will soon be just another massive Ritz-type of structure with no road access at all. I wonder where they will bus all the cruise ship people then. Confused

Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 7

Joe Stebbins wrote:

lbarbour - Have you thought about possibly doing something very unique and diverse that you can not do at home or any other beach in the world? Something like Stingray City or swimming horses with Pampered Ponies; perhaps a submarine adventure or helmet dive underwater tour? The Cayman Islands have the most crystal clear waters and bountiful sealife of any destination in the world with many different ways of experiencing the fascinating and diverse beauty lying just below the surface. Wink

Thanks for your suggestions - but we are not the hard adventure types - the teens are happy with snorkeling - and the adults would like to relax and enjoy the scenery and the beautiful beaches. Nobody is turned on by the stingrays - and none are divers.
We are now thinking of renting a van from Andys, and taking a bit of a drive before we go to Royal Palms. Only concern is if the time is profitable, if you don't know where you are going. I remember being there last year and doing a resort tour with a travel agents group - and the roads did seem sort of confusing - with a lot of construction going on.
Do you know if there is anywhere I ca download a map so we can study the routings a bit before we get there?

Thanks for your help on this board!!

Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:51 am Post subject:

Here are some maps:

Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 7

Thanks for that - I also found them in the activity guide.
Do you think the car rental for the day is a bad idea? ie not worth the time it will take?
Another thread says it is a waste of time - not worth the hassle for such a short day.
Your input is appreciated.

Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:47 am Post subject:

I personally wouldn't rent a car for the day .... but then again, out of the last 3 trips to the island we only rented a car for one of them. And it sat in the parking lot at Comfort Suites for a large part of the time. Most of what we do is on the south end of 7 Mile so we walk or catch the buses (vans) ... all string ray and dive trips have free pick ups so that eliminates the need for a car for us quite a bit as those are the activities that we do most.

As someone mentioned in the other thread, the logistics of getting the car is time consuming... and with the tender system you would hate to miss the boat because of an unanticipated delay in returning the car ....

The last thing I would want to do with 8 hours or so is get stressed out with the traffic, driving on the left, trying to figure out where to go, finding somewhere to refuel the car, etc., etc., ... not to mention that if an accident occurs .... to me it's just better to let the island experts cart me around ... plus I like to drink!... and Cayman jail is no place to spend a vacation!

Good Luck with your choice!!

Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 7

Good points - I guess unless there is something in particular that you wanted to see.
I have not found any tour operators for a land sighseeing tour. Thats why the car rental looked good.

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

Just a follow-up question. We're arriving on the 14th on a cruise. We have been to GC multiple times for a week at a time but haven't been to the Royal Palms. We have a group of 11 ( includes 5 kids) and I know the beach is nice in that area. How much do lounge chairs and umbrellas cost for 1/2 a day as we are doing the Soto Stingray City tour at 9AM?

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