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The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is located on stunning Seven Mile Beach. Seven mile beach is ... well ... a seven mile stretch of gorgeous beach that fronts the main resorts on the West Bay of Cayman. The Ritz Carlton is, in our opinion, the finest luxury resort on Cayman. It offers all the amenities you would expect in a Ritz Carlton resort. If you are into out of this world service, you are going to love the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman.
The island of Grand Cayman is the largest of the Cayman Islands and offers a variety of activities for everyone. There are plenty of activities such as visiting stingray city, the turtle farm, rum point, etc. There is great shopping throughout George Town, although remember that it can get a little crowded if a cruise ship in port. Grand Cayman offers something for everyone and if you want a vacation that offers plenty of excitement and activities, Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman is a great option.
Here's our lowdown on The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
- Our Favorites -
SERVICE - The service at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman is fantastic and some of the best service we have seen during our travels. From the pool to the restaurants to the beach, the service was impeccable. At the pool there is staff just waiting to meet your needs. Want a drink? Just look up and an attendant is at your side in an instant. At the beach, the set up was great. One time the attendant was away for a moment, so I started to pick up my own towel. The attendant almost magically appeared and was mortified that I had to do something myself. He immediately apologized and proceeded to get me set up, bring me water and look after us for the rest of the afternoon. This is just an example of the service you can expect from the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. Many resorts talk about world class, five star service, the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman delivers ... and then some.
SPA - The Silver Rain spa at the Ritz Grand Cayman is an unbelievable experience. The spa offers a wide variety of treatments and a magnificent facility. Make sure you arrive early to enjoy a steam or sauna and then spend some time in the relaxation room. The services are a little pricey, but the quality of service provided makes it an experience that you will remember.
DINING - We found the dining to be exceptional at the Ritz Grand Cayman. There is a wide variety of restaurants to choose and all were excellent. We ate lunch at Bar Jack, the casual restaurant by the pool; the food was good and the cocktails were refreshing! We also had sushi at the Silver Palm Sushi lounge and the sushi was very fresh and the ambiance was very relaxing. To treat ourselves we ate at Blue by Eric Ripert and found this to be one of the finest dining experiences we have ever had. The service was exquisite. The food was unbelievable. We do not consider ourselves 'foodies", but this meal was really remarkable in every way. If you get chance to eat at Blue, do it. The experience is first class all the way and you will not be disappointed.
ACTIVITIES - If you love a wide variety of things to do on your tropical vacation, you will love the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman. The Ritz Carlton is located in the heart of Seven Mile Beach which has many restaurants, bars and nightclubs all close to the resort. The vibe at Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman is more "active" than many other Ritz Carltons. There are people interacting by the pool and on the beach giving the resort has a very festive feel. There are many activities to keep you busy at the Ritz Grand Cayman. The resort provides guests with complimentary use of snorkel gear, water trikes, kayaks, floating rafts and water hammocks, which is a nice touch. If you want to get out and explore you can visit stingray city (see below), see the turtle farm or just explore the history of Grand Cayman. One of the trips we did was a day trip over to Rum Point. We rented a car (we got it from the rental agency on property and had no problems) and drove around the North Sound to Rum Point. It took about an hour and was an easy drive. Rum Point is a beach, with hammocks and lounge chairs to relax in. There is a restaurant and a bar that pours some amazing tropical cocktails. We found it a great place to relax and soak up some local flavor. Give Rum Point a try for the great views and relaxing cocktails.
DON'T MISS
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Stingray City - One of the not to miss activities in Grand Cayman is a visit to Stingray City. Not a city, but a sand bar that allows visitors to stand and snorkel around the "tame" Atlantic Southern Stingrays. You don't even have to swim; the water on the sandbar is only 3 feet deep. The stingray are so used to humans that they swim right up to you and you can feed, pet and interact with these magnificent creatures. It's really an awesome experience and if you are in Grand Cayman, you should definitely make it a point to take a trip out to stingray city. Check with the concierge for tour information or check out one of the many online tour guides.
- Other Good Stuff -
Beach - The beach at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman is on the famous Seven Mile Beach. The beach has soft, silky sand which makes it great for long walks or just lounging at the resort. The resort has great beach service that was very impressive. There are many complimentary water "toys" (snorkeling equipment, kayaks, rafts, etc.) which are nice for enjoying the beach. One caveat, the beach chairs are close together, so you don't get as much privacy as some might wish. The beach is pretty active which is great if you are into meeting different people. While we would not consider this a secluded beach resort, the service is extraordinary and beach itself is beautiful. There is plenty to love about the beach at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman and a little something for everyone.
Pool - The pool at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman is a wonderful experience. The pool is well designed, well staffed and has some of the best service you will ever find. I would describe this as more of an active pool as there is a lot going on and some might consider it a little noisy. There is another pool across the street which looked quieter, but the design was not near as nice and it does not have the beautiful views of the beach. If you like great service and don't mind a little activity, you will really enjoy the pool at the Ritz Grand Cayman.
Room - The rooms at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman were very nice and exactly what you would expect from the Ritz Carlton. We were in an ocean view room that had a great view. The rooms were well appointed with good fit and finish. The bathrooms were marble, with double vanities, separate shower and a soaker tub. The rooms are very comfortable and met our expectations of a five star property.
Shopping - Grand Cayman has a lot of good shopping in George Town, and it's duty free! There are many shops and stores, so if you like to do some shopping; you will find Grand Cayman to be a very good option. The resort also had some high end shops and galleries that were nice if you wanted to do some browsing while at the resort.
- And Our Not so Favorite Things -
Crowds - To us it seemed like the resort was slightly crowded and we did not get the feeling of seclusion that we like. O.K., this may just be us. If you like a lot of activity at the beach and pool you will love this resort. We just look for a little more peace and quiet. We don't normally like being so close to our neighbor on the beach. We like a little more space, just a matter of taste. But if you expect quiet and seclusion, do some careful research, as we thought it was slightly crowded.
Resort Layout - The layout at this resort is a little ... funky. The reception and the resort rooms are on one side of the road and you have to take a walkway over the beach side. Our room was on the beach side, so it was no big deal to us, but it still seemed strange. Also, I did not get much of a local feeling or vibe at the resort. You were more likely to see a staff member from Australia or the Philippines as opposed to someone from Cayman. Maybe this had to do with lack of availability of local workers. The decorations also didn't give much of an island feel. We realize the style is classic Ritz Carlton, and if you are expecting that it might be comforting. Still we usually like a little more local culture and feel at the resorts we choose to stay.
Vibe - Ok, this may seem strange, but the vibe we got at the hotel was more "see and be seen" than we like. We tend to like quiet, secluded resorts and this property seems to have more of a party atmosphere. If you like a lot activity and action on your vacation or if you have children, I think this is a perfect place. But if you like quiet, seclusion, you need to understand that this resort may be more active than you might be used to.
Resort Information
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman - [Link to Hotel Website]
PO Box 32348 KY1-1209
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Hotel Photos
Room Rates
Guest Room Features
Special Offers
Resort Room Prices
When we travel, we always look for the best deal and do not mind traveling during the off season to get the lower prices. This means you may not get to travel at the optimal times based on Temperatures and Rainfall
(see charts below).
During the Holiday season, prices at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman increase (like most properties). Also, during the winter months, prices are higher in Grand Cayman (as in most of the Caribbean). When we travel, we usually try to travel early or late in the summer months as you can get the lower rates and the weather is still fairly good.
| Season | Room Prices | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Higher | January Through May |
| Summer | Lower | June through early December |
| Holiday | High + | Mid through end of December |
| Note: the dates are approximations and may vary. | ||
Packages and Special Offers - Many times you can save some money by taking advantage of special offers from the resort. To see the latest packages that The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is offering, please click the following link: Packages .
Map of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
View Larger MapWeather on Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is located about 150 miles south of Cuba and is the largest of the three Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands have a tropical marine climate, with a wet season of warm, rainy summers (May to October) and a dry season of relatively cool winters (November to April). Terrain is mostly a low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs.
The weather is good in Grand Cayman almost year round. There is plenty of sun and warmth to soak up whenever you choose to go. In the summer it can get very hot and humid. The hurricane season is June through November, so when you travel during those times, be sure you are aware of the possibility of hurricanes. You will get a little rain being that you are in the Caribbean. But the rain doesn't usually last long and before you know it you are soaking up the incredible Caribbean sun.
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| Click to See Larger Chart |
Rainfall - Whenever we go on vacation, trying to avoid rain is always high on our list. My husband is especially fanatical about this. Since it is in the tropics, Grand Cayman, like all Caribbean islands are going to get some rain. Grand Cayman receives about 57 inches per year. This is about average for the Caribbean in terms of rain per year. Like most of the Caribbean, Grand Cayman sees most of their rain in May-November (see chart to the right). If you want to minimize your chance of rain, Jan - April has the least rain, so that might be a good option. Remember that you will pay more for avoiding the rainy season.
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| Click to See Larger Chart |
Temperature - The chart at the right shows the average temperatures for Grand Cayman. As you would expect the average temperatures (as well as the humidity) increase fairly significantly in the June-October time frame. The trade winds should provide some relief from the heat, especially in the summer months. Of course the upside is that the summer is the low season and you can get better deals. Even during the winter months, the average high temperature is still over 80°F. It may cost a little more, but getting some beautiful tropical weather during the winter months back home may be well worth it.
Before you travel to Grand Cayman, or anywhere in the Caribbean, it is always wise to keep a watch on the weather.
Check out the latest weather for George Town on Grand Cayman.
To check for storms and/or Hurricanes, please click the following link: National Hurricane Center. This is a great source for information regarding all types of storms and potential storms in the Caribbean area.
Another good source of information on storms and potential hurricanes is the Accuweather Hurricane Center
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