Testing the Waters: Grand Cayman Introduction to Cruise Life

When we booked our first-ever cruise, we weren't sure if cruise travel was for us. We deliberately chose a short itinerary - if we hated it, at least we wouldn't be stuck on a ship for too long. We loved it so much that this turned into the first of eight cruises (and counting).

Getting to Know George Town

Our tour started with a drive through George Town, where our guide shared stories about Caymanian life - both the island's history and how locals live today. It was the perfect introduction to understand the place we were visiting, giving us context before diving into the day's activities.

Browsing the Local Craft Market

We stopped at a local craft market that was buzzing with energy. Local artisans had set up shop showcasing their handmade crafts, and what made it special was that everything was created using materials native to the island. We loved seeing the creativity and skill that went into each piece - it felt authentic in a way that typical tourist shops don't.

The Highlight: Cayman Turtle Centre

The real star of the day was the Cayman Turtle Centre. This place is officially called the Island Wildlife Encounter, and it completely exceeded my expectations.

The facility is set up to both educate visitors and help with turtle conservation. We started at the Breeding Pond and Turtle Hatchery, where we learned about their conservation efforts. The Education Center was fascinating - seeing turtles ranging from tiny hatchlings to massive 600-pound adults really put their growth into perspective.

The Touch Tanks were probably our favorite part. We actually got to hold one of the yearling turtles, which was an incredible experience. They're heavier than you'd think.

Beyond the turtles, the park had more to explore. We walked the Nature Trail through the woodlands, which was a nice break from the sun and gave us a glimpse of the island's natural landscape. The free-flight Bird Aviary was beautiful - watching the birds move freely in their habitat felt more respectful than seeing them caged.

Why We Became Cruise Converts

This shore excursion - and really the whole cruise experience - completely won us over. There's something convenient about waking up in a new place without repacking or changing hotels, and having organized tours that handle all the logistics. The Cayman stop gave us just enough time to get a real taste of the island without feeling rushed, and we were back on the ship in time to enjoy everything it had to offer.

We went from cautious first-timers to full-on cruise enthusiasts. That short "test" cruise turned into seven more cruises, each one showing us a different part of the world. If you're on the fence about trying a cruise, we'd say do what we did - book a short one and see how you feel.