Explore the Best Beaches in Grand Cayman for Cruise Travelers
Pristine turquoise waters, soft sand, and swaying palm trees are just a few of the things to look forward to as you relax on one of the many Grand Cayman beaches.
If you’re visiting the Cayman Islands during a cruise, then visiting a few of these fantastic beaches is a must-do!
Whether you’re looking to do some swimming, get out in the water to snorkel, or you just want to spend time relaxing on the shore, there’s a beach that will suit you.
In this post, we’ll go over the best of the Grand Cayman beaches for cruise passengers to visit.
1. Seven Mile Beach
Seven Mile Beach is one of the most popular beaches on Grand Cayman and one of the closest to the cruise port.
It’s been ranked one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, with soft, white sand and gorgeous turquoise water.
And although the name may be misleading, the beach itself is actually just under 6 miles long, and the entire beach is public.
The entire beach is lined with restaurants, shops, beach bars, and hotels.
The beach is completely free to visit, but any cabanas or other equipment to rent will cost extra.
There are multiple places along the beach where you can rent water sports equipment such as jet skis or snorkel gear.
Because of its popularity, the beach is almost always crowded, so walking a bit further away from the cruise port will give you a bit more solidarity.
The best way to reach the beach from the cruise port is to either get a taxi or take the local bus. Either way is fairly cheap, typically around only 2 US dollars, and will get you there within about 15 minutes.
2. Rum Point
Rum Point is quite a bit further away from the cruise port, found on the northern side of Grand Cayman, with about a 45-minute drive to reach it.
You can also take a boat to reach Rum Point, which only takes about 20 minutes, but this isn’t as easy to do when you only have a short amount of time on the island. The best way to visit Rum Point on your cruise day is to do an island tour or book a private shore excursion.
Being well known for its sandy beach and shallow clear water, this is a popular spot to spend time relaxing on the beautiful Caribbean shore.
Hammocks hang from many of the palm trees, which are perfect for relaxing in and listening to the waves crashing into the shore, and sand volleyball nets are also available.
Many people also enjoy snorkeling or swimming in the clear waters off of Rum Point.
Red Sail Sports is located just off of the beach and rents equipment for snorkeling, kayaks, paddleboards, and more.
There are a few restaurants not too far from the beach to check out and enjoy a meal at. There is a snack shack on the beach that has pretty good fish and drinks.
3. Starfish Point
To reach Starfish Point on Grand Cayman, take the 50-minute drive from the cruise port past Rum Point in the northern half of the island. You can rent a taxi to arrive.
This beautiful Grand Cayman beach is unique from many of the others on the island because it’s home to many starfish that live on the bottom of the sea floor.
If you aren’t spending time relaxing on the sandy beach, then head out into the water for some snorkeling amongst the brightly colored starfish.
Either bring your own equipment or rent from the Red Sail Sports near Rum Point. It’s worthwhile to be able to see the starfish that live just past the drop-off near the beach.
But please remember not to lift the starfish out of the water. They are wild creatures and should be left alone.
And if you aren’t up for snorkeling, you can also just spend time swimming or relaxing. This isn’t the best “lounging beach” on Grand Cayman Island, but the starfish are incredible!
The closest restaurants to Starfish Point are just a bit further up the road, closer to Rum Point.
4. Cemetery Beach
Found on the northern end of Seven Mile Beach, a visit to Cemetery Beach allows you to experience the beauty of one of the most popular beaches in Grand Cayman and the Caribbean with fewer crowds.
Many people choose to visit this beach because it has fantastic snorkeling, just about 60 meters offshore. There is plenty of coral to explore and lots of marine life to see.
The best way to reach the snorkeling area is by taking a paddleboard.
If you aren’t interested in snorkeling, you can also just swim at the beach, which is pretty shallow and nice for wading in. Or relax under the palm trees on the soft sand of this sun-drenched beach.
From the cruise port, you can reach Cemetery Beach with an affordable 15-minute ride on the local bus.
There aren’t any restaurants or beach bars directly on the beach, so it’s best to pack some snacks and drinks for your day at Cemetery Beach.
There also isn’t anywhere to rent any water gear close to the beach, so if you’re hoping to snorkel, you’ll need to either bring your own or rent a set from somewhere near the start of 7 Mile Beach.
Because all of the beaches on the island are public access, there is no fee to visit.
5. West Bay Beach
West Bay Beach is another of the great tranquil beaches near the Grand Cayman cruise port, found just off West Bay Road.
It’s located at the far end of 7 Mile Beach, just past Cemetery Beach, and is even less crowded, meaning you can spend some nice uninterrupted time on the sandy beach.
Hang out under the palm trees on this serene beach location in the Caribbean, spend some time wading in the water, or soaking in the warm sun.
You may also want to spend some time wandering around the charming area, as there are a few different delicious eateries around to enjoy a meal at.
There are also public facilities nearby, including changing rooms, restrooms, and picnic tables.
If you’re interested in snorkeling or doing any other activities, rent from Diver’s Supply near 7 Mile Beach.
Off of the shore, between Cemetary Beach and West Bay Beach is a great place for snorkeling and scuba diving tours. The ex-USS Kittiwake was sunk back in 2011 as an artificial reef and shipwreck attraction.
To reach West Bay Beach, take a similar route that you would for many of the other beaches, by taking one of the public buses. The drive will only last about 15 minutes.
6. Stingray City Sandbar
If you’re up for a unique adventure and once-in-a-lifetime experience during your visit from your cruise ship, be sure to check out the popular Stingray City Sandbar, one of the top Grand Cayman attractions.
Just 25 miles off of the shore of Grand Cayman, this magical destination is a group of sandbars that allows you to get to know some of the ocean’s most interesting creatures, stingrays.
Stingray City Sandbar is located within a protected area of the barrier reef, known as North Sound, and is only accessible via boat and a guided tour. This is one of the most popular shore excursions for cruise ship passengers. Many tour operators offer this excursion, but you will want to book early, as the best tours fill up first.
Many of the tours will also visit Starfish Point or other beautiful locations on the island, so you can make this a worthwhile day! Most also include the snorkel gear that you’ll need, so you won’t need to worry about renting.
Because this unique area is located within the sea, there isn’t any food available, so you’ll want to bring your own snacks and drinks for your day on the water.
Some of the tours will even pick you up at the cruise port terminal, which makes for a nice and convenient way to get out and see some of the best of Grand Cayman.
