By: Aaliyah-Jazmin Webb
Age 10 years
Prospect Primary School

The Cayman Islands “He hath founded it upon the seas”

Hello!

Welcome to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. My name is Aaliyah Webb and I am pleased to serve as your tour guide for the day. I trust that you will have a fascinating time and that I will be able to prove to you why my Island should always be included on cruise ship itineraries that pass through our lovely Caribbean Sea.

The Cayman Islands are known for its friendly people, white sandy beaches, crystal, clear refreshing waters and good weather. As we begin our tour we will head to the northern side of our Islands into the district of West Bay. On your left along the beach side, you will see some of the many condominiums and hotels spread along our famous Seven Mile Beach; including the Ritz- Carlton, a five star luxury hotel and condominiums; the Westin Hotel and glimpse our Governor’s Residence.

Our first stop will be the Public Beach, where we will stop for an hour before moving on to the Boatswain’s Beach home of our famous Turtle Farm. Please feel to take a quick dip wade by the shore or simply sit and soak up some sun rays; please don’t forget to apply sunscreen.

All aboard, next stop Boatswain Bay Beach. While you are here please ensure you visit our Turtle farm, which features turtles raised from birth to adults. There is also a gift shop, where you may purchase souvenirs. You can also see some species of our National Bird, the Cayman Islands Parrot, The Cayman Islands Alligator as well as the Iguana.

As we leave I expect nothing less than smiling faces, indicating that you have enjoyed yourselves and ready to visit Hell! Hell is the name given to the site of our next stop because of the unusual formations of limestone rocks and ashy smoke that rises from them over the years. Don’t forget to buy t-shirts and postcards and remember to mail your postcards from here so that they can be postmarked HELL.

As we leave West Bay and travel to the eastern side of the island, we will visit the Pirates Caves in Bodden Town and then make our way to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Botanical Park. The Park is home to many different species of plant life as well as the Blue Iguana. Please take your time to stroll and enjoy the peacefulness of a piece of our paradise.

Our return trip to George Town will take us around the Queens Highway which connects the districts of North Side to East End. We will stop in at the Pedro Castle in Savannah where you will be treated to videos of Cayman and set foot on land once inhabited by pirates.

In George Town we will stop in at the Tortuga Rum Company, where you can purchase rum cakes, to take home, feast on the tasty patties and sip on the luscious fruit punch.

In central George Town please ensure that you purchase T-shirts featuring small bits of our Caymanian dialect such as;

Who yo mama is?

Which when translated means; Who is your mother?

Or, Way you from, meaning; Where are you from?

As well as, Who you fa?

meaning; Who are your parents?

Our last two stops will consist of a trip to our National Museum and a ride on the Nautilus Submarine. As we step into our National Museum, prepare to step back in time as you view the many historical items displayed. Learn about the discovery of our Islands by Christopher Columbus on 10 May 1503, see how early Caymanian houses were built, how we cooked, battled the mosquitoes, types of transportation among many other things.

Our ride on the Nautilus Submarine will take us on a fascinating journey of our undersea world, featuring some of our famous coral reefs and exotic sea life. If we are lucky we may witness an undersea wedding.

I truly enjoyed spending this lovely day with you all and trust that you had a great time as well. As you prepare to board your cruise ships, I ask only that you tell many of your great experience in the Cayman Islands and make a promise to visit us again real soon. Please say you’ll come back, because we can’t wait to see you and say Hey Mon!


By: Clare-Louise McGrath

I believe that the Cayman Islands should be on a Cruise Ship Itinerary because of their interesting history, the rare and beautiful animals we have, our many tourist attractions we have, the low crime rate that we continue to keep, and the fact that our island has very friendly people from a variety of different countries.

Our island has a history that stretches back from the time when Christopher Columbus found it up until now when the Caymans have fully evolved into a modern county. Due to all historic events that took place in the Cayman Islands, we have a few interesting historic buildings and monuments that are easy for our visiting tourists to locate.

The Cayman Islands also holds many rare animals, such as the Agouti, which is a caymanian rabbit. Another rare animal is the Blue Iguana. It is a very rare animal and is at the point of extinction at the moment. It has few protected areas in The Caymans where it can roam about without being bothered.

On our Island we also have many interesting tourist attractions, such as Botanical Gardens. It is beautiful, peaceful and full of animals such as, Blue Iguanas in their natural habitat. It also has a historic part of it where it shows you what an average house would have looked like back than. Right next to the house it has a fruit garden and on the other side it has a cotton garden both of which you can walk around and take closer looks at the fruits and bushes.

Another interesting spot to visit would be Boatswain’s Beach. It replaces the turtle farm coming back with all the old attractions and many better ones. There is also a spot where you can get in the water and swim with the turtles, observing them in their natural habitat. There are also different varieties of fish to see and swim with. Stingray City is probably our most popular destination for tourists to visit. It is located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, where you can swim with the Stingrays.

Another positive point about our island for visiting tourists is the fact that it has such a low crime rate. You would be very safe to walk around almost anywhere at nighttime. Everyone works hard to keep the Cayman Islands safe including the Police who have gotten very modern in techniques at catching speeders or the few robbers we would have here.

Our island has a very large cosmopolitan mix. It has people from all over the world. This is good for tourists because it expands our variety of interesting restaurants because of all the nationalities that live here.

Overall I would think that our island would be a very important island to continue to keep on most Cruise Ships Itineraries.


By: Kyyell Coe

I feel that it is of most importance for my destination to be on the cruise ships’ itinerary for many reasons.

A cruise can be a wonderful experience, and there are many types of cruise lines, cruise ships, itineraries and amenities. Hence, it is very important to know where you are going and where the ship stops during the cruise.

Would the ship have to go through or near a country, sea lane or route that’s at war?

It would also be necessary to be notified of the weather conditions (ie hurricanes) around the time of my travel. If my destination is not a round trip then I may need to make arrangements to return home. I will need to be advised if visas to enter certain countries are needed and/or to make sure vaccinations/boosters are up to date. Information of what kind of clothing to pack would be of importance to all. It is necessary to know if the country has an embassy there in case of emergencies such as a lost passport or illness. Also if there are good medical facilities. I would like to know if it’s safe and what about the crime level is within that country. I would also like to be advised when I am disembarking at my destination what’s required of me (ie what currency should I use, what kind of id’s are required).

It is always best to be prepared and anticipate what you might need on the trip, that way you will have fun and not be disappointed. Having an itinerary will allow travelers to have an idea of certain countries indebt with reliable easy to use maps, firsthand recommendations and maybe an updated coverage on all sights, places to stay, eat and shop to suit your budget.


FCCA Essay Contest 2006

Author: Noelani Bothwell
16 years old
St. Ignatius Catholic High School

In the Cayman Islands, also known as ‘Paradise’ to some, Cruise Ship passengers can come for the few hours they have and still leave with an incredible experience. It doesn’t matter what life they lead, whether they’re shoppers, divers, adventurers, or even history buffs – we’ve got everything to offer.

The most obvious reasons of all would be our pristine waters, sandy white beaches, astonishing diving or simply put – the breath-taking scenery. Even land-lovers can discover our underwater world in a submarine from one of the many companies on the island. For divers – the Cayman Islands are home to more than 350 world-renowned dive sites to explore at your leisure with the friendliest fish and sea creatures in the Caribbean. Another one of our assets is our People.

The People of the Cayman Islands are polite people who will greet cruise ship passengers with warm smiles and kindness. Caymanians are people who know their history very well and could easily tell a visitor all the must-see spots on the island. The Islands are also hassle-free – the people of the Cayman Islands do not have street vendors, allowing a peaceful and pleasant visit as well as the freedom to wander and enjoy our capital: George Town, which possesses some of the best cooking and shopping in the Caribbean. In addition to our kind residents, our island is one of the safest in the Caribbean boasting a low crime rate.

For the shoppers, our island has great duty-free shopping different from the other destinations because we have a wider variety of products and our service is spectacular. And for those who love soaking up the glorious sunlight, we are home to the well-known Seven Mile Beach with literally miles of white sands promising a very relaxing stay.

An amazing attraction to visit is the newly refurbished Boatswain’s Beach which hosts the World’s First Turtle Farm. Our Cruise Ship visitors get a rare look at the breeding of turtles and can also enjoy the new water park and facilities. In addition, they can take a boat out to Stingray City and the Sandbar and frolic with stingrays, feeding them and petting them as they seek attention from the visitors.

So for whatever life you may lead, the Cayman Islands has you covered in any and every aspect of enjoyment, excitement, adventure and relaxation. As a Caymanian, I am pleased to welcome Cruise Ship visitors to our Islands and show them everything we have to offer in order to make their trip an unforgettable one.


By Rachael Zimmer
Homeschooled

When visiting Grand Cayman, there are many things to see and do to keep the inquisitive and adventurous spirit of a cruise ship tourist satisfied, thus making Cayman an ideal destination on any cruise ship’s itinerary. Our island is a family friendly, tropical destination that is perfect for relaxing and spending time with loved ones. From the glistening white sand and the clear, turquoise water, to the playful green sea turtles and friendly people, Grand Cayman is the perfect place for creating memories that last a lifetime.

A lazy day at the Seven Mile Beach, lying under the warm Caribbean sun, swimming in the glorious aqua blue water is absolutely perfect for tourists who have only a few hours to enjoy the island. While visiting the world famous Seven Mile Beach, visitors can watch the blue waters gently kiss the white sand as the waves roll lazily in. For those who prefer venturing the high seas, a trip to Stingray City would give them the opportunity to cuddle with the stingrays and experience swimming with these velvety giants in their home under the water.

Grand Cayman is also a snorkeller’s paradise, world renown for its palette of tropical fish and crystal clear water. Myriads of parrotfish, angelfish, and snappers, as well as many other species call Cayman their home. A lucky snorkeller might even spot an emerald coloured sea turtle slowly cruising by.

For those who prefer going to greater depths, there is an array of beauty to be found near the ocean floor while scuba diving or taking an adventurous ride in one of our various submarines. Divers can enjoy world famous dive sites that are truly unique to this part of the Caribbean. Brightly coloured coral and sea fans would greet visitors as they venture into the depths of Cayman’s deep blue water.

Tourists can take a break from the warmth of the Caribbean sun and whet their thirst for culture by visiting our National Museum, located at the heart of our bustling capital, which is the fifth largest financial centre in the world. While in town visitors can also delight themselves by indulging in merchandize from our numerous duty free shops or if native crafts are more their taste, they can enjoy goods from the many craft vendors located near the cruise ship docks. While in town visitors also have the opportunity to taste our local cuisine. No trip to our island would be complete without trying our delectable conch fritters, mouth watering fresh fish, or our succulent lobster salad.

After spending only a few hours on our beloved island, visitors are bound to fall in love with its natural beauty and the character of its enchanting people. Visitors would know as they sailed away into a façade of amber clouds, that this was a cruise ship destination they would never forget and that the memories made here would truly last a lifetime.


Stephen Chin

There are great reasons why a cruise ship should put my destination, Grand Cayman, on their itinerary.  Grand Cayman offers something for every interest, whether it is to dive at any of the 145 dive sites or even to enjoy skating at the largest concrete skate park in the world!

Visitors are welcomed with warm smiles at our port to the sweet sound of local music playing. As soon as visitors step unto our beautiful island they immediately step into the heart of George Town, which has to offer a magnitude of stores with unique gifts, jewelry and art for every budget. Tours around our island can easily be arranged to see the five districts of Grand Cayman and learn the islands’ history at Pedro Castle.

One of the popular places that can be enjoyed by cruise ship visitors is Seven Mile Beach. Visitors can relax and sunbathe on the clean white sand or go on any of the many water activities, or put on a mask and snorkel in the clear blue water to see the large amount of marine wildlife. This is also a popular place for weddings.

Other unique attractions of Grand Cayman are Boatswain’s Beach, Stingray City, and Black Pearl Skate Park. Boatswain’s Beach is the only turtle farm in the world! Visitors can see and touch turtles of many sizes. Stingray City is very unique because it is a natural habitat for stingrays. Visitors have the rare opportunity to touch, feed and swim with stingrays. Black Pearl Skate Park is the largest concrete skate park in the world! Visitors can rent skating equipment or surf on the wave pool.

Should visitors require healthcare while here, Grand Cayman boasts two hospitals with state of the art medical equipment and staff who deliver high quality care.

During their stay, visitors will not go hungry for there are many fine dining and casual restaurants as well as many restaurants that sell local food. Visitors will experience great tastes from all over the world with a Caymanian twist.

Visitors to Grand Cayman will notice that the island is very peaceful and relaxing. They will enjoy their stay while meeting Caymanians and learning about our Caymanian culture, taste our rum cake and soak up our beautiful warm sunshine. Cruise ship visitors can pick up more information from a kiosk that is conveniently located at the port. People will enjoy every aspect of Grand Cayman and the many different things it has to offer than any other place.

Perhaps while here cruise lines could consider staying in our port longer so that their visitors can see our two sister islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, where visitors will enjoy more natural and unique experiences.

The Cayman Islands are truly unique and we are waiting to give all visitors to our shores an unforgettable experience, over and over again.