Stingray City from Grand Cayman: ship excursion or on your own?
Booking Stingray City independently from Grand Cayman saves about $24 per person compared with NCL's excursion (Carnival $88, NCL $123 vs $99 independent, November 2026). Safety for going on your own: 4/5. Be back at the tender pier 90 minutes before departure. Carnival's own excursion is cheaper than booking independently.
What ships sell
- Carnival: 8 excursions that include Stingray City, median $88 per adult, e.g. "Stingray Sandbar, Star F".
- NCL: 8 excursions that include Stingray City, median $123 per adult, e.g. "Turtle Centre & Stingray".
Ship excursions that include Stingray City often bundle other stops or lunch, so compare what each tour includes. NCL prices were read from NCL's European website in euros on 2026-11-02 and converted at the ECB reference rate of 1 EUR = 1.1172 USD (2026-10-30). NCL's US site may show slightly different dollar prices.
Independent Stingray City tours we compared
- Grand Cayman: Catamaran Cruise with Stingray City & Snorkel · $79 · 4.7★ (346 reviews)
- Grand Cayman: Stingray City & Reef Snorkeling Tour · $99 · 4.9★ (18 reviews)
- Grand Cayman: Stingray City, Starfish Point & Crystal Caves · $99 · 4.8★ (6 reviews)
- Grand Cayman: Stingray City Catamaran Sunset Tour · $59 · 4.9★ (15 reviews)
- Cayman: Starfish Point, Stingray City and Coral Gardens · $129 · 4.9★ (22 reviews)
Getting back to the ship
This is a tender port. The last tender back to the ship usually leaves 30 to 60 minutes before departure, and the queue for the last few tenders can be long. Plan to be back at the tender pier at least 90 minutes before the ship sails.
- tender port: the last tender leaves before the ship does.
Questions
How much is the Stingray City excursion from Grand Cayman on Carnival?
Carnival's Stingray City excursions start at a median of $88 per adult (8 options, $62 to $114).
How much is the Stingray City excursion from Grand Cayman on NCL?
NCL's Stingray City excursions start at a median of $123 per adult (8 options, $89 to $177), converted from €110.
Can you visit Stingray City on your own from the Grand Cayman cruise port?
Yes. Independent tours cost a median of $99 per person (5 tours compared, from $59). It is close to the pier, so even a taxi works if you keep an eye on the time.
Is it cheaper to book Stingray City independently?
Usually: the gap is about $24 per person, or $97 for a family of four, against NCL's price.
All Grand Cayman excursion prices · Carnival in Grand Cayman · NCL in Grand Cayman