Bonney's
Vacation Sagas

Cruise Group

John and Debbie have a friend who lives in their condo building who also has a nice home on Grand Cayman Island. He had invited John and David to visit his house and was kind enough to arrange for the rest of us to visit "Stingray City," a sandbar about 15 minutes away from the main island.

Captain Jack, as John calls him, hired Double Trouble Charters to take all of us and I would recommend them, Daniel Bennett or Alan Bennett, to anyone wishing to do a water adventure.

Double Trouble Charters.

So, on the boat ride we all just chatted. Some of us planned to go in the water while others planned to be the photographers (the chickens).

When we arrived at the sand bar there were six or more other vessels loaded with tourists. There were seven ships in the harbor that had to tender in to the dock, so I'm sure there was representation from each one.

The first chore was getting everyone into the water that was just a little bit cool. I was first, then Cindy, Priscilla, Don, Chris, Crystal, Tina, and Page joined in.

Bruce had to pass on this part of the adventure because he was still recuperating from his open heart surgery only about four weeks ago. Debbie had visited the stingrays on a previous time, I think. And Manny was still traumatized from a previous water adventure he and Tina had on another cruise. Jody must have come along for the beer.

Our guide rounded up our first stingray. He told us the large ones were all females and this one's name was Big Mama. They can tell by unique markings which rays are which, similar to the way whales have their own marking identification. I wasn't shy, but Big Mama kept floating away from my arms. So the guide kept showing how to hold her. Notice how far back everyone else was?

Our guide went hunting for another stingray because Big Mama was not in the mood to hug and kiss another smelly tourist. So he came up with one that was born without a tail named "Frisbee." Frisbee was friendiler, escpeially when the bait bucket came out and we learned how to feed her.

Eventually, everyone had their turn to feed, hug, and kiss Frisbee.

After we had all returned to the boat and started to dry off, John, David, and Captain Jack came roaring in on Jack's fancy boat named "Silver Ray."

John wanted to play with the rays, but Debbie was concerned that we were running out of time if we wanted to eat and make it back to our ship before it was scheduled to leave. So she was telling John he didn't have time to play.

It wasn't until after John, David, and Captain Jack zoomed away toward our lunching restaurant in the speed boat and we were following at a slower pace that Debbie realized her phone time and ship time were not on the same hour because her phone had automatically updated in the new time zone.

We eventually caught up with them at the restaurant where we had to wait a while for a table. Our tour guide and boat left us there. While we were waiting, Captain Jack invited the rest of us to board his boat and look around. It was super! Bruce didn't have any problem finding the drinks.

I didn't know it was possible to have so many bad hair days in a row.

We ate a lovely lunch at an outdoor patio table, then exited the area to catch our shuttle back to the ship.

Cindy was starting to feel sickly and went to sleep. I spent some time over at the Royal Suite (said in a snooty British accent). I know we ate dinner, but I haven't a clue who all was there at our tables.

John and Debbie had two fantastic towel animals greet them on their return.