Which do you choose: Vacation Club or Cruise?
May 18
Written By Morritt's
Which do you choose: Vacation Club or Cruise?
It’s that time of year when holidays are especially on our minds. As COVID seems to be fading in some parts of the world, many people are wondering about taking a cruise, but could there be a better way to spend your time and money? A staycation option perhaps? Let’s look at some deciding factors.
Health and safety
It’s certain that the cruise companies will be doing everything possible to follow COVID protocols, but that might not fill you with confidence if you’re in a closed space with a few thousand other people for a week or more. Even assuming high levels of cleanliness, how many people have touched that same door handle or rail before you? Let’s also remember that 284 people have fallen off cruise ships and another 41 from large ferries since 2000 – an average of about 1.5 people per month. There’s actually a website that keeps track of specific cases of overboard deaths (not including separate cases of suicide or murder).
Environmental concerns
The average cruise ship produces between 140,000 and 210,000 gallons of sewage per week, with a 3,000-person cruise ship pumping 150,000 gallons of that waste into the ocean. The ships do treat their wastewater, but satellite pictures clearly show the trails of contaminated water in their wakes. And let’s not forget their massive engines, which can produce sulfur dioxide fumes equivalent to 13.1 million cars a day!
A real experience?
Cruise ships tend to stop at the most touristy sites for a relatively short time so that you rarely get the chance to see the real island. You don’t know the best places to eat or the shops that sell the best quality gifts. You’ll probably miss the curious corners and secret nooks. Indeed, large cruise ships have been criticised for promoting the kind of mass tourism that has caused some places such as Venice to dramatically limit the number of visiting vessels.
An ethical choice?
The smiling personnel you see on a cruise ship seem happy enough in their jobs, but what about the people you don’t see belowdecks? The cleaners, the kitchen workers and the janitors are often employed from poorer nations and paid much less, spending months away from their homes and families. Just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Pets unwelcome
The majority of cruise lines don’t allow pets onboard, so you’ll have to leave Rover or Mrs Pickles at a kennel or roaming wild until you return. They’ll be sad. You’ll be sad.
Choice of activities
Modern cruises do have many onboard activities. There are pools and gyms and places to play tennis or basketball. You can even do “rock climbing” or practice your golf swing. But at the end of the day, a ship is not an island – no matter how big. There’s no golf course. There are no actual hills to go walking or climbing in, nor is there a beach onboard, though you can probably see one through your porthole.
Food and drink
Let’s be honest: you’re not going to starve or be short of a cocktail on a cruise. But what about variety? Genuine BBQ ribs need to be cooked on a BBQ grill, not in a submarine kitchen. Your freshly made salad onboard may be made of ingredients that have been refrigerated for a week or more. And when cooks are making food for 3,000 people at a time, there’s just not as much love in the food as when a local is cooking just for you.
The coastal experience
There’s a big difference between looking at the beach from offshore and being on the beach looking out to sea. Even the most exclusive cabin onboard can’t replicate an oceanfront property with palms, the smell of flowers, the whisper of surf and the tranquil night (as opposed to the ceaseless rumble of diesel engines). Onshore, you can walk out of your property along the beach to eat with your feet in the sand and return home without fear of toppling over a rail into the sea ten metres below.
The Vacation Club difference
Don’t walk up the gangplank. Choose a fabulous property onshore and enjoy the genuine island experience. At Morritt’s, you’ll be close to dozens of fantastic places to eat and drink and a stone’s throw from many more fascinating things to do and see. Bring your pets. Be kinder to the environment. Have greater peace of mind about COVID measures. And best of all: return as often as you like to the experience that doesn’t need an anchor or a port.
Recommended Reading.
Grand Cayman Hidden Gems
Whether you’re a long-time Cayman visitor or someone thinking about spending more time here, there are so many things to do beyond the great places to eat, swim, sunbathe and relax. Here, we’ve gathered a few of our favourites that you may or may not know.
Starfish Point
You’ll find this curious and isolated beach on the north side of Grand Cayman at the western extremity of Rum Point. The sea here is wonderfully clear and great for snorkeling, but the real attractions are the many red cushion sea stars that feed in the shallows. With ample parking, it’s an ideal place for a picnic and to watch the sunset but there’s little else there. Don’t expect bars or cafes. (If sea-life is your thing, you might also consider the more popular Stingray City, a series of shallow sandbars near George Town where you can swim with and pet stingrays.)
Bioluminescent Bay
See the swirling otherworldly colours as you move your hands through the water and imagine yourself in a science-fiction alternate reality. The magical bioluminescence at Rum Point is best seen when snorkeling at night as part of a boat or kayak tour that can also involve an astronomy element and an introduction to the starfish. We have several companies that depart from Kaibo, Starfish point or Rum point – and our local team can help you plan your bioluminescent adventure!
Cayman Farmer’s Market
The Hamlin Stephenson farmers’ market at the Cricket Square in George Town (Mon-Sat) is known for its fresh fruit and vegetables, arts and crafts, pastries, juices, sauces, preserves and other goods from Cayman’s farmers and craftspeople. Visit to discover freshly made lemonade, cassava cakes, coconut bread, scented candles, peppermint foot scrub, towels, hand-made jewellery, smoothies and houseplants among many other treats. Perfect for sourcing local ingredients or buying presents and souvenirs. See a list of vendors here.
The Mission House
Built in the 1700s, this historic structure is one of Cayman’s oldest buildings and once housed Presbyterian missionaries. You can take a tour to walk in the footsteps of early settlers, see a collection of interesting artifacts and learn how the building’s residents lived in the 1800s. The gift shop on-site offers the opportunity to buy souvenirs (all proceeds to the National Trust) and you should also look out for the traditional cooking and craft classes held here twice monthly. HOURS: Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm; Saturday: 11am-4pm. ADDRESS: Gun Square Road, Bodden Town. TEL: +1 345-945-3769
The 1981 Brewery and Tap Room
1981 may have been a year known for the emergence of electronic pop music, but that has nothing to do with the brewery named for the nautical co-ordinates of the Cayman Islands and famous for its craft beers: Cayman Blonde, Island Session and Tropical IPA. You can take a tour of the brewery and visit the tap room to sample some of the brews straight from the source. HOURS: Tuesday-Thursday: 3pm-7pm; Friday: 3pm-8pm; Saturday: 12pm-5pm; Sunday: Closed. ADDRESS: 273 Dorcy Drive, George Town, Grand Cayman. TEL: +1 345-945-0440
Cayman Cigar Company
Created to revive the art of handcrafting premium cigars, the company uses only the finest hand-selected boutique tobaccos sourced from passionate growers using organic, sustainable farming practices. Master Roller Barbara Garcia oversees the creation of premium smokes. Unusually, this is a non-profit organisation, with 100% of net profits going back into the island through charitable donations. To book a private cigar rolling event, schedule a tour of Beacon Farms or ask questions about how to roll or store fine cigars, contact the company directly: [email protected]. TEL: +1 345-946-2447
The Mastic Trail
Fancy a walk? The Mastic Trail is a 7.4km (4.6-mile) round-trip trail near Bodden Town and should take 2-3 hours. Expect to see beautiful wildflowers, small lizards, butterflies, crabs, snakes (non-venomous), parrots and woodpeckers, as well as a variety of trees, including a fine mastic tree after which the track is named. The route may not be suitable for the elderly or very young, and you’ll need solid shoes to negotiate the odd root or craggy volcanic rock. Guided tours are scheduled Tuesday and Thursday mornings by reservation via the National Trust website.
Pure Art Gallery
A centre of local art and island-style gifts for almost thirty years, this Cayman cottage just south of George Town offers Caymanian paintings, prints, jewellery, handmade crafts, gifts and more. Great for presents or just to treat yourself because, well, you deserve it! You’ll also find housewares and tempting treats such as pepper jelly, jams, hot sauces, spices, Cayman sea salt, Tortuga rum cake and Cayman coffee. HOURS: Monday and Tuesday 9am-4pm; Wednesday: closed; Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday: closed. ADDRESS: South Church Street, South Sound, Grand Cayman. TEL: 345-949-9133
Pony Park
What do kids love more than ingesting vast quantities of sugar? Petting cute animals! In the Pony Park, children can meet Lulu the donkey, Pebbles the miniature horse, bunny rabbits and goats – all of which love to be petted. You can also book the park for birthday parties. Entry fee: $5 per child (including pony ride). HOURS: Saturday mornings 9:00am to 10:30am. ADDRESS: Halfway Pond, just off the Linford Pierson Highway. TEL: 345-516-1751
Was there anything there that that you’ve not experienced? If so, let us know your recommendations to get the best of Cayman. We’re always looking for insider tips!
April 1