Sunday, February 7, 2010

Day 5 of the Disney Cruise: Grand Cayman & Sea Explorer

Because we decided we wouldn't be nut-cases (technical term) and snorkel in forecasted 60 degree weather, we decided to book a Disney excursion in Grand Cayman that takes you on a Sea Explorer/Submarine. Sounded like a good compromise.

It involved being tendered to Grand Cayman on a little ferry. And a wait. And then a short walk in Grand Cayman, to a bus. And then a wait to board. And then a wait for the bus to take us to the site of the excursion. And then a wait at the site to board another little ferry. And then a short trip to the actual sort-of submersible little ship.

We pulled up along the little ship, and a practically-a-teenager type person waited and waited until the two ships quit crashing into each other, before tying the two boats together. Then many grinning? happy? scared?. . .sea sick?. . .. people were off-loaded from the little vessel onto our ship, and we were allowed to board the little "Sea Explorer."

I wasn't sure exactly what was suppose to happen, but did ask one couple, as they lurched into a seat as the two boats continued to crash into one another, whether the child-lone-crewperson seemed to know what they were doing. They thought possibly. . . .
And then we prepared to descend. I particularly like to take photographs when I think they might possibly be the last photograph I might ever take in my life. . . . just in case. . . . .

And then, I finally figured out that this little boat actually WASN'T going to descend into the water, but WE just descended a small set of stairs, sat on benches, and looked through glass windows at the ocean around us:

I did really like looking at the schools of fish, and stingrays, and coral. . . and somewhere along the 45 minutes even remembered that my D300s could shoot video (not interesting enough to post.)



This made me wish I really could have gotten skillful at scuba diving. . . . but actually, I really would have just loved to go snorkeling in Mexico or the Grand Caymans, or Castaway Cay. Snorkeling takes me deep enough. . . .

Of course, we then had our return trips of waiting and a boat ride, waiting, and a bus ride, waiting and another boat ride.

All in all, I thought it was way too much "transport" for a very brief excursion. If you ever have a chance to go on a cruise to to the Grand Cayman's, there are much better ways to spend your time than standing or sitting and waiting. The one entertaining feature was a young couple with two little children. . . and the smallest child, about 3 years old, was practically feral!

I kid you not! He bit his mother, breaking the skin. . . . and her method of dealing with this was to try guilt-tripping him by telling him how painful it was "when you came out of me." Dad was just totally out to lunch and no help at all. It was weird. I expected someone to cue the "Jaws" music at any time.

11 comments:

Sharon said...

Great shots!

Guilt on a 3 year old? Bwahahahaha!

k said...

I love the DOF in the first fish photo! Just lovely! Great color, too!

Nicki said...

Excellent shots - looks like that 300s is handling light challenge very well. As for people and their kids - I have no clue about some, it is as if they checked their common sense and courtesy at the luggage counter while on holiday.

Maria said...

Can you imagine this child in a few years?

Meaghan said...

Sounds like fun but I have serious problems with waiting so probably not for me! As for the 3 year old, I have one of my own so no comment...:)

Suzy said...

My mouth is still hanging open from how that mother handled her child!? Are you serious?? Wow,, therapy will be needed in years to come lol.. Great pix!

Yolanda said...

The best thing about Caymen is the ocean-- One of my favorite places to snorkel-- too funny about the 3 year old-- Lord help them as he gets older!

Denita said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your underwater fish shots!!!!

Jeanne said...

Oh man, I'm sorry the excursion wasn't quite what you were hoping for, but you did get some good pictures!

I was stunned at the 3 year old's actions and the mother's reaction to it. Wow. I guess maybe it was a fitting end to a sort of not what you expected day???

Reds said...

wow - what an amazing view from inside the boat!!

Bobbi said...

Your writing cracks me up so much. I love that the lady reasoned with the 3 year old with their birthstory. I would have been cracking up!

Awesome fish pics!