As a longtime resident of Florida, the hurricane season (June through November) is something I've become familiar with. Some years we are spared from hurricanes while other years we have a very active hurricane season - just like this year. Hurricane Maria followed by Irma wreaked havoc across the Caribbean and Florida. While some Islands suffered extensive damages others like Jamaica and the Cayman islands were spared.
Almost all the Caribbean Islands depend on tourism as their main source of revenues, and one of the best ways to help them rebuild is to continue visiting these islands for vacations. Cruising has always been my favorite way to see three, sometimes four islands without breaking the bank. My family and I are avid cruisers, and George Town, the capital of the Cayman Islands, and one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s destinations, is one of my most memorable Caribbean cruise destinations.
We absolutely loved the white sand beaches, clear blue waters, duty-free shopping, restaurants and cafes. As we always do, a tour of George Town was a must. Our tour took us to the west end of the island where we visited the Turtle Farm, made a trip to Hell and back, and ended with a visit to the Tortuga Rum Factory.
The Turtle Farm was amazing. We saw thousands of sea turtles of different sizes in many holding tanks – some were only a few pounds while others weighed hundreds of pounds. We got to hold a few of the smaller ones and as I contemplated how to liberate the small turtle I was holding, our guide told us that while the farm was originally built to provide turtle meat it is now a conservation center and breeding facility and that the majority of the turtles we saw would be released into the sea (whew!).
Our visit to Hell was... interesting. Our first sight was a sign which read “Welcome to Hell.” And it did in fact look like what one would imagine hell to look like –a rock formation of jagged dark limestone. There’s also a post office, painted red, where you can mail a postcard to someone (or yourself) straight from hell!
We also visited the rum distillery where we got to enjoy free samples of a variety of flavored rums while taking a friendly tour inside the facility. We then moved on to the Tortuga Rum and Rum Cake Factory where we sampled the world famous rum cake and some more local adult juice. Tortuga Rum is awesome and their rum cakes are to die for. I had to buy a few to take home and share with family and friends!
As we traveled from one location to the next, there were many photo opportunities that included stops in front of the Governor's House, and also in front of a tin-roofed traditional, island-style house. We had a fabulous time visiting George Town, Grand Cayman and would absolutely recommend your next vacation be a cruise to Grand Cayman or any of the other Caribbean islands.
Norwegian Cruise Line is now sailing to Georgetown, Grand Cayman. Visit them here for more information and to book your next vacation in support of the rebuilding of Caribbean islands.
Although I've received products and/or compensation for writing this article, all opinions expressed are my own.
